Open drain port in Cowl (Scuttle) - Should it be open ?

[Z4Mariner]

Hi -

I'm the new third owner of my 2006 Montego Blue Z4 Coupe, and the immediate previous owner neglected a few things which I'm working to remedy. The windshield cowl was very sun-ravaged and brittle. When I removed it for replacement, I found a large dog-hair mouse nest on outer side of the cabin air filter.

Thankfully, the odor was gone, so I cleaned everything well and reassembled it with the new cowl molding. It now looks as it should - BUT I have a nagging question. There's a circular opening which drains the center portion of the Scuttle area (under the cowl) - it's in a low spot to the left of the car's centerline. This drains the area in which the windshield wiper motor and mechanism are located. Should that round port have a rubber drain grommet or some sort of screen ? This seems to be the 'back door' that a mouse used under the PO's watch to set up housekeeping !

For reference, I checked my good friend's 2006 Z4 Roadster. His car has this same opening with no screen or drain grommet. I cannot find any indication of a grommet or screen in RealOEM. Please respond if you can shed any light on this.

Thanks !

 

[Z4paul]

This section of my 2007 roadster shows how the water is drained from the windscreen cowl area through the engine bay. It's not round but it does have a rubber flap- to stop upward trajectory of mice I reckon!!

 

[patriot66]

There's another smaller scuttle drain just right of centre high up behind aircon pipes. Has a small rubber flap and always gets blocked with leaves/detritus

 

[Z4Mariner]

Thanks for the response and pictures. I should have included a phot to better explain what I'm trying to describe - so here's my engine bay:

The drain to which you both referred me is noted in the rectangular yellow box, but the hole I am trying to find out about is in the bottom of the metal scuttle (cowl) about where the yellow arrow points. In the photo, I placed a silver paint cap approximately under the hole. The silver plastic cap is only partly under that hole, because the cables won't allow it to move enough to the right side of the photo (left side of the car).

I have checked, and the hole is circular (25 to 30mm diameter), and it is pressed into the steel so that it flares slightly downward. I imagine that it is a secondary drain to keep the wiper motor assembly dry in case the windshield cowl and the cowl drains in the fenders don't catch all the water. It just seems strange that there is no screen or rubber valve/grommet in the hole - and it was a surprise when my friends '06 Z4 Roadster also had nothing fitted into the opening.

Anyone with an explanation, please share. Thanks !

 

[patriot66]

Hi Z4Mariner. Didn't realise you're car was lefthand drive and looking at your photo the two drain holes look the same as those on righthand drive, just on opposite/flip side of the engine bay. Both just have a rubber flap, no other form of protection against animal ingress

 

[Z4paul]

There's another smaller scuttle drain just right of centre high up behind aircon pipes. Has a small rubber flap and always gets blocked with leaves/detritus 20200126_152424.jpg

Fair play. No idea that was a potential issue, will check it today. After s recent drama involving crows dropping a stone on my soft top rear window it would be good to intervene in any plans mice might have to set up camp !!

 

[Z4Mariner]

I think I found the answer - and the RHD picture of the added little flap valve helped.

Found this thread on another forum : https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1720718

I ordered BMW P/N 64116915666, and I'll post back about installation. I can see it could collect junk and clog, but cleaning it periodically and preventing critter intrusions may be worth that.