Water leak above transmission? '86 325es

[hawaiie30]

Hey all,

The floor pan under my gas pedal has rusted through, and I'm having trouble finding the source of the leak. I have a feeling it's related to the AC, I've been driving with the AC off the past couple of days and the carpet has dried up considerably. I've found what look like two drain holes above my transmission, one on the passenger side which drains liberally (AC?), and one on the driver's side at roughly a 90 degree angle that seems to be spilling water into the rubber engine lining that wraps around the bottom of the car. The rubber was soaked with water, and it was right below the big rust hole. You can see part of the pedal mount exposed.

I could be way off on this, this is my first E30 and I'm just trying to describe what I'm seeing

A video is worth a thousand words, so here's what I'm seeing. **Note**, in the video I say passenger side at the start, but I'm actually on the driver's side.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSfKkinivI4

And a few photos showing it as best I can:

[ScottSneed]

https://web.archive.org/web/20121110174518/https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=89648

Theres a few drain passages that are led by tubes in this car. I think one may be clogged or fell off in this situation.

[hawaiie30]

Thanks Scott. I did some more digging since I posted this earlier, I think I may have found what it is. I removed the panel under the dash on the driver's side and took a look around to see where water could be getting in, because the carpet gets very damp when I run the AC. I've left the AC off the last two days, and the carpet has started to finally dry out. When looking under the dash, I saw a rubber grommet that looked a lot like the one on the left:



I didn't know what I was looking at then, but after reading through this old thread (https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/arc...p?t-89648.html), "iwantspeed" posted something that looked familiar in that photo above. It looks like condensation making its way through the rubber grommet and down into my carpet.

It looks like part number 64531372609 (02 on this page https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=64_0742), but "iwantspeed" said there was another rubber grommet on the passenger side behind the glovebox that looks a lot like that one. Just trying to figure out which two rubber grommets I need.

[hawaiie30]

This is the grommet pictured above: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/64111370809/

The grommet for the passenger side: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...et-64531372609

Got these ordered and will replace them when I tear out the interior to fix the rust hole in the floor. Has anyone ever replaced these grommets before? Not sure what I'm getting into! Cheers.

[jeffnhiscars]

Those look like the firewall grommet for the AC hoses above the glovebox and could not be a source for a water leak. If it only leaks with the AC on it's likely the evaporator drain hose that is either damaged or dislodged.

[hawaiie30]

Those look like the firewall grommet for the AC hoses above the glovebox and could not be a source for a water leak. If it only leaks with the AC on it's likely the evaporator drain hose that is either damaged or dislodged.

Thanks Jeff, I'll check that. It does only seem to leak when the AC is on. Is that hose #9 in this diagram? https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=64_0525

[jeffnhiscars]

Thanks Jeff, I'll check that. It does only seem to leak when the AC is on. Is that hose #9 in this diagram? https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=64_0525

It would appear to be.

[tomstin]

There are three drain hoses under the HVAC box. When the hoses crack they tend to leak under the carpet (where you can’t see it).

[hawaiie30]

I found another potential leak where it’s rusted through the firewall, possibly from the driver’s side vent drain. It’s up under the dash to the left. Looks like the dash is coming off for this repair.