E30 Zone

Hi to all

I have just got my 86 325i coupe and have found a pool of water in the passenger footwell can anyone help me with this.

Also is it the norm for the car to only kick in after 4500 rpm as it seems to be a bit slow before this!

With the water leak, I had this problem. Your best of removing the glovebox completely from the bulk head and check for signs of where water might be coming from. Try tipping talcom powder over the scuttle and bonnet and roof areas and wash down. When this dries, it will leave white powder where the water is getting in. Have a look on the battery tray, under fuse box for signs of water. It should be dry. If you can look up under the glovebox with a touch and see where it is coming from. It could be through the heater matrix or rusted through the bulk head. Mine was coming in under the fuse box and rusted through the bolt holding the glove box on.

Three definate possibilities (just to add to jon's post above)..

A hole can appear below the A pillarin the area where the main loom passes through the front bulkhead. As Jon says, with the glovebox out and torch in hand have a good look for signs of tracking water.

A hole has manifested itself near (usually just behind the leading vertical face of the box section behind the arch) the jacking point on that side thereby letting the weather in. It'll soak into the carpet which at that area is a little thicker like a big sponge. If the water is actually pooling then this is unlikely.

The third possibility is the heater matrix and/or water pipes to it have developed a leak around the joiunts or within the matrix itself. It'll run down the passenger side transmission tunnel and into the footwell.

The remaining areas could be sunroof drain blockage causing water to filter into the cabin via either or both of the A pillars. Windscreen seal or structural windscreen surround could be rotten, again giving water a hole through which to pass. Few other items could cause it but but the first three are the most likely plus what jon_d_h posted above.

I hope it's just the heater matrix. The other areas pretty much entail bodywork patching/welding repair.

thanks for your help lads

yours dom