Water in glovebox? Ideas?

[z31maniac]

Just ran out to my car to get something out of the glovebox, haven't looked in it for about 2 weeks since I put the TMS chip in.

All the paperwork was wet and the "felt" was still damp to the touch.

Couldn't see anything with a quick inspection.

Windshield gasket most likely culprit? The car did get snowed on this weekend and had it melt off, so possibly the snow sitting/melting on the car for a few days let it get past the seal?

[Raxe]

Yup, leaking windshield.

[z31maniac]

Thanks for confirming my suspicion.

Went ahead and ordered the gasket, hopefully I'll be able to get it replaced ASAP.

[markseven]

The Otter Pops thawed out?

[shiftbmw]

Do you have an elephant drain on your firewall in regular E30's? On M3's there is a drain shaped like an elephant trunk on the firewall that gets clogged and leaks water into the car when it rains. It will soak the inside of a glovebox.

[Jean]

Yep, all e30s have it...but even w/o one it's not going to leak into the glovebox though (just looking at where it is and what's above the glovebox)...

[freeski27]

check the seals on the firewall... one where the harness goes through and i think the other is part of heater or a/c lines ( will try to find a pic)

[freeski27]

The ones in the back left

[Kershaw]

in my experience the "elephant drain" will flood the foot well. but its definitely worth checking.

[shiftbmw]

Yep, all e30s have it...but even w/o one it's not going to leak into the glovebox though (just looking at where it is and what's above the glovebox)...

Jean, not having one will not cause a leak inside the car, you are correct. However, it is when that drain gets clogged and water pools up(this drains the area under the vents next to the wipers) it starts to spill in to the cabin.

And if you don't catch it, it can spill a shit ton of water...soaked my entire floor front and rear before I knew about it. Also got everything in my glove box, but this was after an extremely heavy rain.

[der affe]

Just ran out to my car to get something out of the glovebox, haven't looked in it for about 2 weeks since I put the TMS chip in.

All the paperwork was wet and the "felt" was still damp to the touch.

Couldn't see anything with a quick inspection.

Windshield gasket most likely culprit? The car did get snowed on this weekend and had it melt off, so possibly the snow sitting/melting on the car for a few days let it get past the seal?

it was me, i pee'd in your glove box.
sorry, i was drunk.

[z31maniac]

^Fucker!

Guys I don't think it's the Elephant drain/seals under hood. I didn't see anything from them, and the glovebox has never gotten wet during previous rain storms/car washings/etc.

I knew I should have pulled it inside this past weekend when the snow came, oh well.

In reality, it lets me fix the problem before it has a chance to fester for who knows how long and start rusting the window frame.

[bobm123]

Dammit Der Affe, mine too? Next time please try not to get so much on the carpet.



Actually this explains a few things. Like why there was condensation on the inside of the windshield when I first saw the car, and the rust on the passenger side floorpan, and why the PO kept the glove box so clean, yet it reeked of cologne, and why his boat registration is still tucked above the sun visor...

It also explains why the flashlight was still in there, it was rusted to the charging jacks!

[ohthejosh]

I think the headlight fluid line ruptured and is leaking into your glovebox.

[dannyyisntt]

Dammit Der Affe, mine too? Next time please try not to get so much on the carpet.

Just be happy he didn't shit in there