Coupe Rear Seat Water Leak

[mars_colt]

I have recently noticed on my 91' coupe that the rear passenger footwell has accumulated water after a decent rain. I started to pull apart the interitor to dry and rustproof, and found generally where the leak is coming from. I took pictues of where the water was running, but I can't pinpoint exactly where it is coming from. So far I have chacked both front and rear sunroof drains, which are both clear.

I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar problem or any ideas as to what could cause this issue.




You can see where the water was flowing (the dirt that trails down)

[tim88325is]

Are your flip-up windows adjusted to a tight setting when closed?

I think the bracket on the body side can be moved back and forth, I remember correctly??

[Mixedbyjairo]

Same problem on my convertible


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[mars_colt]

Are your flip-up windows adjusted to a tight setting when closed?

I think the bracket on the body side can be moved back and forth, I remember correctly??

I don't have flip up Windows, I'll look further into it and post a fix if I find one

[tomstin]

Have you looked at the fuel filler neck gasket? Could the water be running down the fuel filler neck into the car? Strange area to get wet.

Rear window gasket along with that side window would be worth investigating. Climb in the car and have someone hose down the outside one area at a time giving time for the water to find its way.

[mars_colt]

So I inadvertently found the root cause of the leak while changing my tires. It turns out a hole rotted through the inner wheel well and water was running over both sides of the wheel well, both into the trunk and into the passenger compartment. Fortunately since its an area the nobody will see, I welded on a patch and slapped on undercoating and a little bondo and called it a day.


passenger side wheel well looking up

[zaq123]

good you found it. My "rust free" e30 had some hidden spots as well. Luckily, I think I found them all: typical right side front of the wheel well (under the windshield washer tank), and two spots on the passenger side under the carpet --->I strongly recommend to check those thru threaded studs that hold the heatshield right above the exhaust H joint and the wiring loom clip under the carpet. If you see any bubbling around them from under the car, scrape the undercoating around them and you will find the rust, guaranteed. If you catch it early enough, It wont be a thru hole...in my case one of them was a thru hole. Also poke around in the channel where transmission slide bolts are sitting. It wasn't coated from the factory, just primed. Looks like the oil from rear main seal/front input shaft leak saved the left side. Right side wasn't so lucky. Bitch of the spot to get into for the repair