Have I bought a pup? - Not at all....
- Thread starter Ala5dair
- Start date
Hi all. The good news is that, following a trip to my local Malvern Tyres depot, the kerbside tyre deflation issues are solved. It was just some crud between tyre and wheel preventing a good seal. So no new wheels needed, and some money to spend. Phew.
I’ve not managed to check the drains yet, but the weather was great yesterday, and so the hard top came off. The motor is working fine, and when re-fitting the hard top, I checked and applied Vaseline to the seal, which seems to be effective, so this is not an urgent job.
The water in the boot is the greatest concern, and I think I have found the cause. Earlier posts mention ingress through the light fittings as the water runs down the channel on either side of the opening, but this doesn’t happen on mine. On either side of the top of the boot, there is a clear gap between two horizontal metal sheets:
.
In the photo, the fir needle is pointing into the gap, and some deposit from earlier water can be seen.
Water runs between these 2 sheets and then exits from 2 different locations behind the rear wheels. Given that the gap is the same on both sides, and both sides of the boot are wet, I suspect that somehow water is finding its way into the boot. I’d appreciate it if anyone has ever come across this, and can provide any advice...?
I’ve not managed to check the drains yet, but the weather was great yesterday, and so the hard top came off. The motor is working fine, and when re-fitting the hard top, I checked and applied Vaseline to the seal, which seems to be effective, so this is not an urgent job.
The water in the boot is the greatest concern, and I think I have found the cause. Earlier posts mention ingress through the light fittings as the water runs down the channel on either side of the opening, but this doesn’t happen on mine. On either side of the top of the boot, there is a clear gap between two horizontal metal sheets:
.In the photo, the fir needle is pointing into the gap, and some deposit from earlier water can be seen.
Water runs between these 2 sheets and then exits from 2 different locations behind the rear wheels. Given that the gap is the same on both sides, and both sides of the boot are wet, I suspect that somehow water is finding its way into the boot. I’d appreciate it if anyone has ever come across this, and can provide any advice...?
That looks pretty normal to me - Don't forget, there will be a bead of "panel sealant" underneath accounting for the little "step" between the panel edges.
Did you check the big grommet?
Mike
Did you check the big grommet?
Mike
Hello and Welcome to the forum. Car looks great. It just needs a little TLC. My old 3rd brake light in the bootlid leaked as it was cracked and the seal perished. Also check the neoprene foam gaskets on the reverse of the rear lights for perishing. From your photo it looks like a chip/damage to the lower edge of the hardtop rear window. I doubt this is the source of any leaks as the hardtop seal itself sits on the bodywork and prevents any water ingress. You could 'hide' that damaged glass edge with a length of rubber u-section panel trim like this :
Buy a piece the same length as the edge of the window and just push it on. Car Builder Solutions supply this kind of thing for kitcars etc. 
Buy a piece the same length as the edge of the window and just push it on. Car Builder Solutions supply this kind of thing for kitcars etc. Ducklakeview said:
Mike,
I looked briefly for the grommet, but it wasn’t obvious, and as the carpet is also wet on both sides of the opening, I didn’t think this was likely to be the cause. The car is covered at the moment, but I’ll have another look tomorrow.
PS - I’d like to arrange a roof motor relocation in the near future, and I wonder if you can do a cdv delete at the same time? I’ll email you once I have a timescale, and once I’ve driven the car more than 50 miles in one go...
Ala5dair said:
No probs, can have a look at the water leak as well if you want.
Mike
patriot66 said:Hello and Welcome to the forum. Car looks great. It just needs a little TLC. My old 3rd brake light in the bootlid leaked as it was cracked and the seal perished. Also check the neoprene foam gaskets on the reverse of the rear lights for perishing. From your photo it looks like a chip/damage to the lower edge of the hardtop rear window. I doubt this is the source of any leaks as the hardtop seal itself sits on the bodywork and prevents any water ingress. You could 'hide' that damaged glass edge with a length of rubber u-section panel trim like this :
0017109_115-x-6mm-rubber-u-channel-for-3mm-panels-per-metre.jpegBuy a piece the same length as the edge of the window and just push it on. Car Builder Solutions supply this kind of thing for kitcars etc.
Thanks,
I’ll check all lights once a) the rain stops and b) the new third light arrives....
Ref the glass - good idea about the trim. I’ve actually applied some clear epoxy to the crack, and it’s looking better. Once it is trimmed to shape, I think it will be hardly visible, and will prevent any further damage.
Ducklakeview said:
Hi Mike
I’ve spent the morning disassembling the rear of the z.
Is the grommet you mention as shown in the photo below?. If so, there are 2 and they are in place and intact.
Returning to another possibility, there is no sealant between the two panels either side of the boot opening, meaning water passes between them, (shown.by the double-headed arrow), and there is a gap between these and the light housing, which means that water pours directly into the cavity where the lights are mounted. There doesn’t seem to be any ingress via the lights themselves, but it seems to be entering the light trim mounting holes and then getting in via the rear
On the kerbside, it’s also getting through the grommet for the parking sensors, on the rear inner panel
The car is drying out, and now that I think I know the cause, I can address it, but I’d like to understand the supposed route for water that enters the boot rim. Should it pass as it does, between the 2 horizontal panels and then out between the inner and outer rear quarter panels, or should it flow along the boot rim channel and then out over the rear bumper?
Can’t anyone advise the best way of solving this problem?
I could silicon all of these gaps, so that water runs down the boot rim and over the rear bumper, but this might look a bit messy and cause problems elsewhere.... Any and all advice welcome...
The upper panel looks a different colour? Has it been in an accident in the past at all? Wondering if the cause could be a bad repair job.
The grommet is around the big thick positive cable behind the battery.
More
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The black rectangular air vent (featured in your last pic) are a common water leak. There's one on either side of the car and I think they have a seal/gasket that fails. Remedy IIRC is either new vents or some sealant to stop them leaking around the edges.Ala5dair said:
I’ve been on the car again today, and it is now clear that it has suffered accident damage to the rear, which has been poorly repaired.
The RHS air vent is damaged, (thanks, Mack) and is the main cause of ingress to this side. At £6 per pop, I’ve ordered 2 and have a temporary fix in pace until they are available.
The LHS leak is caused by the grommet for the parking sensors being fitted the wrong way round, with the protective side inside the car. I will reverse this when I have more time, but Vaseline will prevent further ingress for the moment.
This just leaves the battery compartment which, despite the car being covered last night, had water in again this morning. #puzzled. I’ve checked the grommet, Mike, and it is there but there does seem to be a gap around the red cable. Is this normal, or should there be a snug fit?
I’m not sure if this is the cause, however as:
a) the new water is to the rear of the separator whilst the front (where the grommet is) remains relatively dry.
b) I’ve inundated the wheel arch with water, and see no ingress, so I am not sure where such ingress could come from.
If this is the cause of ingress to the battery compartment, from where will the water come, so that I can check it?
The “original’ third brake light was also a non-OEM part fitted with only 2 bolts, and the springs are very weak. I’ve fitted my new, white one, with Vaseline around, with a temporary fix on the third bolt, but I don’t think this is the cause of the leak to the battery compartment as the floor was dry.
So, I’m clearly getting there, but if anyone has further comments, I’d really appreciate them...
The RHS air vent is damaged, (thanks, Mack) and is the main cause of ingress to this side. At £6 per pop, I’ve ordered 2 and have a temporary fix in pace until they are available.
The LHS leak is caused by the grommet for the parking sensors being fitted the wrong way round, with the protective side inside the car. I will reverse this when I have more time, but Vaseline will prevent further ingress for the moment.
This just leaves the battery compartment which, despite the car being covered last night, had water in again this morning. #puzzled. I’ve checked the grommet, Mike, and it is there but there does seem to be a gap around the red cable. Is this normal, or should there be a snug fit?
I’m not sure if this is the cause, however as:
a) the new water is to the rear of the separator whilst the front (where the grommet is) remains relatively dry.
b) I’ve inundated the wheel arch with water, and see no ingress, so I am not sure where such ingress could come from.
If this is the cause of ingress to the battery compartment, from where will the water come, so that I can check it?
The “original’ third brake light was also a non-OEM part fitted with only 2 bolts, and the springs are very weak. I’ve fitted my new, white one, with Vaseline around, with a temporary fix on the third bolt, but I don’t think this is the cause of the leak to the battery compartment as the floor was dry.
So, I’m clearly getting there, but if anyone has further comments, I’d really appreciate them...
Three months of ownership and 1,500 miles later, I just wanted to update all those interested with progress:
The tyre issues have been resolved at minimal cost. It was only beading issues, so a re-seat solved all four tyres. I’ve had the front suspension rear arm bushes replaced, with standard units, which has dramatically improved the front end. There is still a little tramlining / steering “stickiness” after long journeys, and it’s very vague when the tyres are cold, but I put both of these down to the RFT’s which will be replaced for standard when they get low.
The ingress into the boot, which resulted from an undeclared rear end shunt has also now been sorted. Silicon sealant between panels and new vents in the rear, and the boot is bone dry.
I’ve fitted a ZDP gear knob, and deleted the CDV, both of which have improved the drive of the car no end. A rocker cover leak was also repaired (by the dealer, at no cost) and so the car is now a delight. Pity then, than I’ve gone and got a job with a company car (3 series) and so the zed will soon be relegated to my second car. Pity, but it’s no pup, it’s a delight.
The tyre issues have been resolved at minimal cost. It was only beading issues, so a re-seat solved all four tyres. I’ve had the front suspension rear arm bushes replaced, with standard units, which has dramatically improved the front end. There is still a little tramlining / steering “stickiness” after long journeys, and it’s very vague when the tyres are cold, but I put both of these down to the RFT’s which will be replaced for standard when they get low.
The ingress into the boot, which resulted from an undeclared rear end shunt has also now been sorted. Silicon sealant between panels and new vents in the rear, and the boot is bone dry.
I’ve fitted a ZDP gear knob, and deleted the CDV, both of which have improved the drive of the car no end. A rocker cover leak was also repaired (by the dealer, at no cost) and so the car is now a delight. Pity then, than I’ve gone and got a job with a company car (3 series) and so the zed will soon be relegated to my second car. Pity, but it’s no pup, it’s a delight.
Ala5dair said:
Hi and welcome to the forum!
regarding the wheels I can share my previous experience on an E91 showing similar tyre pressure symptoms: the problem turned out to be due to corrosion on the beads; I had the wheels completely stripped and refurbished; they find a small crack in one and welded it: problem solved, no more air leaks.
I think it is worthwhile trying to fix the issue rather than disposing of the wheels (you may want to have an additional set).
Enjoy your Z4
Nice looking Zed! Seems like you've sorted a few problems too!
Only thing I'd add is that quite a few people have re-trimmed steering wheels themselves. There is a Chinese one that some people have. have a quick search, they seem really good and having seen one, it feels good and looks on point for relatively little money - considering a full retrim is £100+
Only thing I'd add is that quite a few people have re-trimmed steering wheels themselves. There is a Chinese one that some people have. have a quick search, they seem really good and having seen one, it feels good and looks on point for relatively little money - considering a full retrim is £100+