HELP! water in boot

[chrisj900]

been looking for days to try and work out how every morning the two cubby holes each side of the boot are full of water . well today being slim i managed to climb into the boot and got my girlfriend to pour water on the zed. first it was looking fine then about 15 seconds in water stated pouring in. ive circled the exact place on the second image!!

has anyone had this problem or know how to stop it please

 

[cj10jeeper]

Interesting you say it's coming in there. Most seem to report it gets in around the light seal iirc. Are you sure it's not running by that on the way down?

If so I'd be looking to ensure the roof drains are clear and free draining, unless you have the hardtop on??

Lots of threads on cleaning them

 

[chrisj900]

yea im sure it was coming in there. and yes ive got a hard top on. i could hear the water running down between the panel before it started to come in!!

i can see that the black thing was a one way valve but whats its purpose???

 

[cj10jeeper]

Ventilation I believe

 

[chrisj900]

going to remove the vent tomorrow and see if there is a way to make a tighter seal unless someone comes up with any ideas???

 

[craig3.2]

As cj said,its usually the light seal,or so i have read..it was apparently a problem on some (e46) 3series'.

 

[chrisj900]

yea i thought it was the light as well but after hosing it down nothing happened. i cant understand how the water gets to the vent but ive seen in streaming out there with my own eyes

 

[cj10jeeper]

I'd remove that vent to inspect but would be looking for a source not just sealing that until I'd confirmed between the skins is a proper draining route (which I doubt other than for odd drips)

 

[chrisj900]

thanks cj. will have a deeper look tomorrow

 

[thefmister]

I've a similar problem. I thought it comes in from the screws that tighten the plastic ligning of the rear lights. I thought this because on the inside there was a drop of water hanging on the inside of the screw. Not sure if I'm clear without pictures

 

[chrisj900]

right guys. ive just had the vent of and the sponge gasket is shot but that aint the problem. the cavity goes right up to the tail-light plastic and im sure now thats where its getting in.. although i tightened them last time around, there was still a gap so ive shot some clear sealant into each screw hole and under the lip. so when it dries il be back on here showing a thumbs up or thumbs down

 

[cj10jeeper]

So looks like it was the light after all

Glad you appear to have tracked it down

 

[RichardG]

Great work, I've got to hunt for a leak when I get home week after next and this sounds exactly like the situation I'm faced with, water getting in the off side but coincidentaly only after fitting the hardtop.

 

[chrisj900]

might not be the light still some getting in even after sealing it so i created a bulk head and i think some might be getting down through the torx screws that hold the boot lid frame on.

only problem is i dont own a torx sex so i guess it will be next week before i find out

 

[gannet]

torx sex

what's one of them :?

 

[Beedub]

im dreading this problem as it seems that it will happen eventually

 

[chrisj900]

torx sex

what's one of them :?

if your on about the torx screw
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=torx+screw&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&biw=1600&bih=707&authuser=0&tbm=isch&tbnid=AtaGF99exYufFM:&imgrefurl=http://myword.info/definition.php%3Fid%3Dt_drive_1-a&docid=jDz6ykI5vkSLiM&imgurl=http://myword.info/images/t_drive_1b.jpg&w=372&h=360&ei=mTPiTpO6LIa_8wOTp_TmAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=514&vpy=179&dur=172&hovh=221&hovw=228&tx=145&ty=129&sig=103367048832154601497&page=1&tbnh=148&tbnw=144&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

 

[flyingscotty]

I had the same problem, drove me nuts ! turned out to be the seals just under the powerhood, there are two and they normally catch debris with two bungs on the underneath of the car, if you remove the seals and bungs and force water through that should cure it. search this forum for water in boot and electric roof seals. sorry have not got enough time at the moment to search but that should do it.

 

[cj10jeeper]

If you still think it's leaking then go for the roof drains that was my second suggestion and what I think flyingscotty is referring to.

Likely with wet weather they are full up and overflowing into the boot.
In any event you need them 100% clear else you'll be fitting a new roof motor in spring

 

[chrisj900]

ive got a hardtop on so the soft top should be well out the way and therefore my drains wont be getting used. for testing ive had the boot lid open and pouring water into the runnoff gap at the side so the ony place it can be coming in is around the fittings.

i stole this picture of dario ( hope he doesnt mind)
the circle shows where ive been pouring and the arrows show the torx screws which is the last place it can be getting in