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View Full Version : Water in footwells???


BimmerWill
09-19-2013, 03:48 AM
Came out to the car this morning and noticed about a 1/4 cup of water in the passenger foot well. I've got a pretty beat up windshield cowl. Could that be the cause? It rained pretty steady last night so I'm thinking this was the cause.

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Ryans323i
09-19-2013, 04:16 AM
There's a couple possibilities. The two most common are the vapor barriers on the doors and the windshield and sunroof drains. If you've been inside your doors lately (speaker installation or regulator fix) that's probably it. If not, it's likely the drains. Google around for videos on cleaning them out.

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danewilson77
09-19-2013, 05:02 AM
There's a couple possibilities. The two most common are the vapor barriers on the doors and the windshield and sunroof drains. If you've been inside your doors lately (speaker installation or regulator fix) that's probably it. If not, it's likely the drains. Google around for videos on cleaning them out.

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This.

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BimmerWill
09-19-2013, 05:45 AM
Haven't been messing with that door at all. So I'm guessing it might be the drains. So no chance of the windshield cowl being the cause? It's got some decent pieces missing out of where it mates to the windshield so thought it might be the culprit.

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brettbimmer
09-19-2013, 09:31 AM
As Ryan & Dane said, most likely the sunroof drains if not the vapor barriers. Any chance you park near trees that may drop leaves/dirt that manage to get caught up in the drains? The cowl is totally outside the windshield/interior, so it should not be causing this problem. Good luck finding the culprit!
E_Rak
09-19-2013, 10:07 AM
I once needed my AC drain cleaned out by the stealer (although they did it for free). Also had some issues with the vapor barrier coming un-stuck. Don't rule it out, that could be your easy fix.
BimmerWill
09-19-2013, 12:36 PM
The puddle itself was in the middle of my passenger footwell pooled up due to having the rubber floor mats so I'm thinking it's got to have come out from the dash somewhere and dripped down.

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330i ZHP
09-20-2013, 06:29 PM
if coupe it could be the window seals - notorious for leaking
BimmerWill
09-20-2013, 06:41 PM
Four door so there's a frame on the door. I still haven't tracked it down. Thinking about taking a water hose to it and seeing if I can replicate it and figure out where it's coming from.

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Barefoot-ZHP
09-22-2013, 04:08 PM
Replacing the cowl would be a good idea as well, especially if it has pieces missing.
BimmerWill
10-18-2014, 04:17 PM
Okay pulled the a pillar trim off the passenger side and looked to see if the leak was coming from a disconnected hose as had heard from multiple places that this is common. No luck however so I'm back to square one. I'm going to try and look up how to check the windshield and sunroof drains and see if that's it. If not then I'm at a complete loss as to the source. This is really bugging me that's for sure.
SoCalZman
10-18-2014, 05:45 PM
Did you check the door vapor barriers?


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BimmerWill
10-18-2014, 09:02 PM
Not yet. Was hoping to avoid taking them off if I could help.
SoCalZman
10-18-2014, 09:41 PM
Taking off the door cards to check them are not hard. If I can do it anyone can. Just some screws and pull it off the clips and watch for the electrical/airbag connections


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ELCID86
10-19-2014, 05:26 AM
I need to do that to Colin's car when he's home. I noticed a bit of a musty smell when I was driving his car in SC the other week. Passenger's floor felt a bit damp. I need to adjust the window regulator on that side anyway.


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BimmerWill
10-19-2014, 10:48 AM
I just don't understand how if the car has been stationary when it rained how would water get in through the door if the car wasn't moved.
E_Rak
10-20-2014, 06:26 PM
Sometimes the gunk that seals the vapor barrier just comes loose over time and lets water get to the inside of the door.
ELCID86
10-21-2014, 12:04 PM
Sometimes the gunk that seals the vapor barrier just comes loose over time and lets water get to the inside of the door.

It still amazes me that it would then drain into the car and not out of the bottom of the door!


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BimmerWill
10-21-2014, 07:20 PM
It still amazes me that it would then drain into the car and not out of the bottom of the door!


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I completely agree!
E_Rak
10-21-2014, 09:35 PM
It's a fundamental issue with the way the vapor barriers are used. They attach to the inside part of the door, so if the bottom of the barrier detaches, water can flow down the material of barrier itself and have a clear path right to the inner part of your door behind the door card rather than to the drains in the bottom of the door and the door sill.

This is not limited to our cars; if the barrier was attached to the other side of the door cutout so as to prevent leakage even if it detaches, it would be next to impossible to remove and replace it to get at the window motor and regulators.