Front scuttle drain locations

[Peggy924]

Hi all,
My front scuttle on my E86 seems to be filling up with water. My drive is quite a big slope, with the car facing upwards. When I wash the car the scuttle under the plastic panel has about an inch of water in it. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where the drains are, so I could check to see if they are blocked or not.
Thanks in advance.
PW

 

[patriot66]

Hi there Peggy924. There are 2 drains from the scuttle area. One exits through a rubber flap in the bulkhead immediately behind the engine on the offside/drivers side
This is fed by a circular rubber grommet just below and to the nearside of the wiper motor. This gets easily blocked with leaves.
The nearside/passengers drain exits in the lower nearside rear corner of the engine bay against the bulkhead. It's a peculiar plastic pipe with rubber flap on the end.
This is fed from around the plastic intake for cabin air on the nearside scuttleThere are also drains at either end of the scuttle in the form of a small black plastic chute that drains water outwards through a hole in the inner wing.
These are fed through the small grids at either end of the scuttle panel itself

 

[Peggy924]

Hi patriot66,
Thanks for your fantastic in depth reply. The pictures show clearly where all the drain locations are. I think that some/all are blocked because there is a build up of silt in the scuttle. I have only owned the vehicle a few months, and I know before it was standing about a lot outside. I just hope the wiper arms come off easily, and all clips remain intact.
Thanks again.
PW.

 

[enuff_zed]

You can get replacement plastic clips on eBay. The square mounts they fit into tend to break off but if you fit them back on with superglue it will be good as new.

 

[Peggy924]

Finally got around to checking scuttle drains. Ending up taking off scuttle panel altogether. Scuttle was absolutely full of leaves etc. Drivers side drain rubber outlet, had been removed by a previous owner. Passenger side drain was full to the top. So took all drains off, cleaned out and replaced. Took the opportunity to lubricate wiper linkages, and applied Lanoguard to the entire scuttle area. Wiper arms were a bit of a pig to remove, and nearside drain was a pig to replace. But hopefully water drains away now. No clips broke, so all good there. I bet there are a lot of Z4 around with the scuttle full of rubbish. I was surprised how much rubbish was in there.

 

[patriot66]

Finally got around to checking scuttle drains. Ending up taking off scuttle panel altogether. Scuttle was absolutely full of leaves etc. Drivers side drain rubber outlet, had been removed by a previous owner. Passenger side drain was full to the top. So took all drains off, cleaned out and replaced. Took the opportunity to lubricate wiper linkages, and applied Lanoguard to the entire scuttle area. Wiper arms were a bit of a pig to remove, and nearside drain was a pig to replace. But hopefully water drains away now. No clips broke, so all good there. I bet there are a lot of Z4 around with the scuttle full of rubbish. I was surprised how much rubbish was in there.

Agree. If, like mine; your E85/86 isn't garaged or covered then removing the scuttle panel at least annually for a good inspection and clean-up is a damn good idea. It's worth checking the hood drains regularly also

 

[Peggy924]

Hi,
That's a problem I don't have, the roof drains blocking up, being an E86. But I know that gives E85 owners problems. The excellent guide gave me the confidence to take the scuttle panel off, and know exactly what I was looking for. One clip was already broken, because it was held on by thick mastic, but it seems to hold the scuttle better than the clips. But no more clips broke. Now I have got to pluck up the courage for cruise control kit I have got to fit!
PW.

 

[StudioWizard]

What happens of those drains near the engine get clogged? Would it cause water to seep into the cabin?

 

[colb]

Yes it will find its way into the cabin.
When you have the scuttle off its worthwhile removing the wiper mechanism turning it over and taking off the backplate (6 bolts) to reveal the metal contact plate, it is usually covered in grease that has migrated from the worm drive. Grease will affect the parking of the wipers so it should be cleaned off to restore the parking function so the blades stop in the lowest position. Do not over grease the worm drive, it doesn't need much otherwise it will migrate again and cover the metal contact plate again.

 

[StudioWizard]

Is there a way to test the drain from the scuttle? Where does water drain out when it's working properly?