Back Seat Leak

[dudoy]

I just recently found a leak in my 89 325ix. The carpet is damp right behind the drivers seat. I tried smelling it but could not figure out what it is. Here are a few pictures of the location and what is DIRECTLY under the leak. Thanks!

Basic location:


Under the carpet:


What's under:

[glnr13]

does it smell like antifreeze? could it be leaking all the way back from your heater core?
leaks don't go up so forget about looking at what's below the wet area.

[dudoy]

So, I finally got around to finding the source of this leak.

I was told by a specialist that it could be coming from the sun roof. Has anyone experience this type of leak from the sun roof? If so, how was it fixed??


BUMP!

[Cletonius]

try checking your rear sunroof drains, as well as the sail panel behind the rear quarter glass. I had a bunch of foam seals that dried up and let water in to my car, rear passenger footwell used to get soaked.

[dudoy]

I cant seem to find which panels to remove to access the rear driver side sunroof drain tube. Help anyone?

[Todd Black 88]

It drains through a tube at the vent in the jack compartment in the trunk.

[dudoy]

I checked that end of the tube earlier today and it seemed fine. Ran water through it and flowed perfectly. I'm guessing there might be a leak somewhere in between since the carpet behind the drivers seat is damp. Any suggestions on how I can inspect the tube around that area?

[clarkbmw325is]

There are also drains on the rocker panel (I think 2/side). If those drains get clogged or crushed closed, the water draining from the sunroof spills over the rockers and gets your rear floorboards soaked. I bet there's a picture or two floating around r3V on what these inconspicuous rocker panel drains look like - I'll see if I can find something and post it up.

[clarkbmw325is]

Check this post... and search more on sunroof drains. The rocker panel drains are more like sheet metal "perforations" than actual holes in your rockers.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=89648&highlight=sunroof+drains

[dudoy]

Thanks! Ill see what I can find...

[Varinn]

Check the little seals under the trim piece at the rearward edge of the back doors. There should be three little rubber caps on each side where the trim clips on and the seals were causing this exact leak on my last e30. They're also conveniently overlooked almost every time as a possible leak source

[Northern]

My ix coupe gets soaked in the same spot. Definitely not the sunroof/sunroof drains since it doesn't have one. I feel its either the drivers' door seal, rear side window seal, or rear window seal.