Wet Boot

[Smelf36]

So I noticed a nasty damp smell in my car yesterday, you know that old gym towel been left in your school bag for a week kind of smell and couldn't work out why until I looked in the boot. The inside of the boot lid had condensation and the carpet in the little well on the near side behind the wheel arch was sodden!
I did a bit of research and decided it must be coming from the positive pressure vent behind the carpet (the previous owner had also taped it up, and so this seemed the obvious culprit), went to BMW and ordered a new one (cheaper than eBay I might add, for the main dealer). However on closer inspection during a big downpour I noticed a dribble of water coming down the inside of the nearside wall from behind some electrical whatsit (technical term) bolted to the back of the wheel arch. I removed this and found a rubber bung bout the size of a 50 pence with water dribbling out! I removed this and a gush of water came out sticking my finger in the hole, the area inside the wing was full of water!!?
I have soaked up as much as I can and silicone'd the bung back in place to seal it - but my question is this, how the feck did the water get there and how do I get rid of it/stop it filling up again? the drain holes all seem clear, roof works OK, roof seals seem fine?
The water only appeared when I parked the car on my sloping drive with the car pointing uphill ( don't need the obvious advice of park it the other way then either lol)
Any ideas??
Cheers All

 

[Beatman]

So I noticed a nasty damp smell in my car yesterday, you know that old gym towel been left in your school bag for a week kind of smell and couldn't work out why until I looked in the boot. The inside of the boot lid had condensation and the carpet in the little well on the near side behind the wheel arch was sodden!
I did a bit of research and decided it must be coming from the positive pressure vent behind the carpet (the previous owner had also taped it up, and so this seemed the obvious culprit), went to BMW and ordered a new one (cheaper than eBay I might add, for the main dealer). However on closer inspection during a big downpour I noticed a dribble of water coming down the inside of the nearside wall from behind some electrical whatsit (technical term) bolted to the back of the wheel arch. I removed this and found a rubber bung bout the size of a 50 pence with water dribbling out! I removed this and a gush of water came out sticking my finger in the hole, the area inside the wing was full of water!!?
I have soaked up as much as I can and silicone'd the bung back in place to seal it - but my question is this, how the feck did the water get there and how do I get rid of it/stop it filling up again? the drain holes all seem clear, roof works OK, roof seals seem fine?
The water only appeared when I parked the car on my sloping drive with the car pointing uphill ( don't need the obvious advice of park it the other way then either lol)
Any ideas??
Cheers All

if anyone does have an answer to the post I would be interested. As I'm suffering with the same issue

 

[MACK]

I had this with a blocked drain recently. Same scenario slightly inclined front higher than rear. I cleaned the drains out and have started reversing on my drive instead of off and it's been fine for a good few months now. The drainpoint is at the front of the channel so it does make sense that parking front uphill can give issues

 

[road warrior]

so are you saying the wings were full with water ??

 

[Trav]

I am also unsure, but really interested. Is this in the rear side panels? I would like to know if this is another drain/bung we need to be checking. Please can you give some more info of what direction the water gets in if possible. Is it water getting in to the wrong place through a bad or broken lower roof seal. I thought all the water was supposed to get directed in the bucket that ruins the roof motor?

 

[ben g]

I've had the same wet boot issue for years. Never can seem to get to the bottom of it. Both my rear side compartments get wet now

 

[Smelf36]

So the only way I think the water got into the rear wing was when I cleaned the hood. I partly opened it to get to the section of good normally hidden under the body panel around the bottom edge. I was careful to rinse this gently, but I guess this let the water pass the drain chanel ????
Anyway, after copious amounts of silicone around the bung and along the weld seem It appears to have worked. Had some flippin heavy rain of late and all is dry.....fingers crossed.

 

[Smelf36]

I've had the same wet boot issue for years. Never can seem to get to the bottom of it. Both my rear side compartments get wet now

have you checked around the negatives pressure vents behind the carpet in the little wells, these are apparently common water leak points, don’t get em off eBay if it is, they are only 6 or 7 quid from main dealer, eBay sellers are asking £15!!!

 

[Z4 Gaz]

Parking nose uphill seems to be a common problem for leaks.
Last year mine got soaked in the boot while in Bavaria when it poured down all day. Found some forum posts saying to turn the car round. Did this and the leaking stopped.
Now if I ever park in the rain, which is unlikely as it is a dry day and garaged car, I will just make sure it is always boot uphill

 

[Beatman]

so are you saying the wings were full with water ??

as mentioned in Smelfs post. Behind the electrical gismo on the left side of the boot. There is a rubber gromit. If you remove this water comes out. And looks to be between the inner / outer wings

It does it with the roof up. And I don't think the idea of sealing the gromit seems to be the best idea. As water seems to be between the panels.

 

[road warrior]

so are you saying the wings were full with water ??

as mentioned in Smelfs post. Behind the electrical gismo on the left side of the boot. There is a rubber gromit. If you remove this water comes out. And looks to be between the inner / outer wings

It does it with the roof up. And I don't think the idea of sealing the gromit seems to be the best idea. As water seems to be between the panels.

dont suppose you have a pic showing where do you ?

 

[ben g]

I've had the same wet boot issue for years. Never can seem to get to the bottom of it. Both my rear side compartments get wet now

have you checked around the negatives pressure vents behind the carpet in the little wells, these are apparently common water leak points, don’t get em off eBay if it is, they are only 6 or 7 quid from main dealer, eBay sellers are asking £15!!!

Do you mean the vents that sit behind the rear bumper? If so, I replaced those a few years ago hoping it would fix the leaking issue. No luck though

I really need to get inside the boot and let someone drench the car with a hose pipe, but that would require a massive amount of contortion :lol:

 

[tug]

I wonder if your drain holes are blocked! The one that causes the roof motor problem. If it is, then eventually it will fill up and spill out into the interior causing this problem.

Cheers, tug

 

[Beatman]

I wonder if your drain holes are blocked! The one that causes the roof motor problem. If it is, then eventually it will fill up and spill out into the interior causing this problem.

Cheers, tug

no roof drains are clear, as I have already moved the roof motor. So can be seen from the top.
And if you pour water in, flow straight out the bottom drain

 

[Beatman]

so are you saying the wings were full with water ??

as mentioned in Smelfs post. Behind the electrical gismo on the left side of the boot. There is a rubber gromit. If you remove this water comes out. And looks to be between the inner / outer wings

It does it with the roof up. And I don't think the idea of sealing the gromit seems to be the best idea. As water seems to be between the panels.

dont suppose you have a pic showing where do you ?

The photo is of the hole with the gromit and the electronic box in front removed. When the gromit was in plac if you pressed it water would leak in. Once removed any water behind came in to the boot.
I have try to remove as much water as I can, but you can still feel some water in the section behind, if not much.
The screw you can see, I believe is one of the outer wing bolts.