Found the source of my trunk leak...but need a solution!!! (Gas door stopper)

[ZM Blue Devil]

from the factory there is black slicone in the holes where it meets up. You should be able to access it from the pass side. two person job, one person holds while the other screws.

[audiquattrot]

from the factory there is black slicone in the holes where it meets up. You should be able to access it from the pass side. two person job, one person holds while the other screws.

great thanks levent! gonna take a closer look tonight

[frankenbeemer]

I took these pics, then got too busy at work to post. Hope they help.

[audiquattrot]

perfect thank you! I have that piece back there...just checked. Gonna see if i can align it properly to the screw so it catches. Thanks a bunch! i owe you one =)

[frankenbeemer]

perfect thank you! I have that piece back there...just checked. Gonna see if i can align it properly to the screw so it catches. Thanks a bunch! i owe you one =)

Glad it helped. I was gonna suggest a donation to Yan as payment, but you already did, so it's a freebie. If you figure out a way to do it with one person, I'm all ears.

[audiquattrot]

ok so i was able to locate the black thing you took a picture of, and it wasn't reaching the screw. So i finally got it to reach (one arm in the trunk, the other screwing it)....and it was tight. I took a hose to it.....and it was still leaking water into the trunk!!! ughhhhhhhhhh

I tried plan B....which was to disconnect the actuator, and used a thin piece of rubber ...sort of as a gasket between the body of the car and the black piece thats held in by 2 screws (that i initially took a pic of)....what was good here is the rubber completely covered over the pin.....but that didn't work. Was still allowing water to penetrate.

btw I'm 100% sure its coming from this area as I hose down every inch around it....and cancelled everything out but.

So I'm going w/ plan C for now....until I can find another remedy....which is siliconing the 2 holes + the area around the pin. Since I disconnected the actuator, its not gonna pop out if i lock the doors.

what a PITA!!!

[frankenbeemer]

I wonder if the rubber boot that covers the actuator rod is the culprit. I can't see why it would leak arond the screws if you sealed it.

[audiquattrot]

I wonder if the rubber boot that covers the actuator rod is the culprit. I can't see why it would leak arond the screws if you sealed it.

i thought so too at first. But i hosed that area down...and had my hand in/up/around that black boot....not a drop. My conclusion is that its seaping in right around that rod area (which is not much of a gap)....but enough to get water into the trunk.

[frankenbeemer]

Doesn't that black piece in the trunk cover the rod and screws enough to provide some sealing in that area? It appears to be designed to do so, with the rubber boot to seal the actuator rod hole which would not be sealed otherwise because it penetrates that piece. I'm trying to say I think the seal is provided by the piece in the trunk, not the piece in the gas flap side.

[audiquattrot]

Doesn't that black piece in the trunk cover the rod and screws enough to provide some sealing in that area? It appears to be designed to do so, with the rubber boot to seal the actuator rod hole which would not be sealed otherwise because it penetrates that piece. I'm trying to say I think the seal is provided by the piece in the trunk, not the piece in the gas flap side.

yeah it does seem like it does. Thats why i was puzzled why water was still getting in there. I can't get a great look back there to see if its sealed properly...but it appears there is a silicone sealant around it to keep it water tight. I did run my hand around the black rubber thing, and didn't feel a drop of water as I was running the hose. But the water was still trailing into the trunk

If you look at the pic below...there are 2 sets of holes (2 layers of sheet metal)....My only logical way of thinking here is that the water is dribbling between that gap, and running water into the trunk.

Last night I took aluminum/silver colored silicone & dabbed it all around the rod (i disconnected the actuator) & 2 holes for now....until I can figure out a solution.

[BMWtyro]

Hey, Levent,

I have been trying to help Audi with this on BimmerForums as well.

If he has already managed to install the boot behind the panel (as it seems that he has), could he simply remove one screw at a time and squeeze some black RTV into its hole . . . thereby making it a one-man job?

Jeff

[ZM Blue Devil]

if in fact you got the screw to catch and hold I have a hard time believing the water is coming in from those holes.

PS you are so lucky its the 3rd week in December and its still 50 degrees out, I keep picturing you with a hose outside, your neighbors must think you are nuts.

[audiquattrot]

if in fact you got the screw to catch and hold I have a hard time believing the water is coming in from those holes.

PS you are so lucky its the 3rd week in December and its still 50 degrees out, I keep picturing you with a hose outside, your neighbors must think you are nuts.

trust me it doesn't make any sense to me either! I feel like I'm getting punked here b/c i've pointed this hose directly to this tiny area...and its coming in from here for sure. The two screws grabbed really good...even had one hose out & my head in the car, and no water was coming thru the black rubber thing on the backside at all....unless it somehow peeled off the body (where I can't see). The water streams in somewhere where i can't see, since the wheel arch in the trunk blocks my vision.

Does anyone know how that black boot is held in place...in the event i wanted to replace it? It appears that its siliconed on there...and a tight spot to get to.