Water behind passenger seat in rear footwell.

[jaistanley]

When I lift the carpet behind the passenger seat in my 1991 E30 coupé, the sound insulation foam is soaking. Its beggning to get that 'ford' smell about it and I'd like to know if anyone else has had this, and what you did about it??

As far as I can see there are no holes in the floor! It seems the door inner moisture seal is in good condition and glued all the way around but I will check this this evening..

Any help is much appreciated as I dont want the car rotting from the inside out!

Cheers.

Jai

[Treeman612]

Hi, Jai - I had exactly the same problem on my 320i - it turned out that there are two 150mm diameter blanking plates in the rear footwell (one each side) In each hole is a metal plate with tabs on the outside - mine were completely powdered rust! - not easy to see as the plates are under the stuck-on insulation, but any leak here means water in to the back every time you hit water. Also found out that water coming in to the rear footwell ends up in the front footwell when you hit the brakes, so the front carpets get soaked (actually, the foam insulation on the back of them soaks up water like a sponge!)

[325iconv]

I would check the drainage hole in the sill(in the bottom seam in about he middle)
Mine was clogged with dirt and carpet was always wet otherwise you have a hole somewhere
hope this helps dude

[dippae30]

had this problem too... i tell ya, shat myself after i found out where the source was....

...picked up the carpet, same soaking sponge thing, took it to my local garage, advised me a i need a new boot seal????

got one help but didnt cure it, done some digging round in the boot, took out the carpet on the right hand side in the boot...so now u can see the petrol cap and stuff....there was a foooking hole there...the wole arch had rusted through - nearly.....took out the little plastic compartment and there was a mini swimming pool there.....

had to get some welding done there...the usual giveaway for bad arches is there best a rust patch on the lowest panel on the bumper....

good luck to ya mate......

[kevin316i]

I have the same problem in my 318iS. The sill drainage hole on the passenger side was pinched closed. Haven't dried out the underlay yet, so don't know if problem fixed or not. The drainage holes are on the inner part of the lower sill.

[e30bemer]

had that problem too!
sealed up the plate on the inside!
with some clear silcone
and sprayed underseal, underneath the car
since then no more swimming pools in the footwells!!

[kevin316i]

Some previous owner of my car put some holes in the round plate in the floor, to let out the water I guess? So the water must be coming in from somewhere else. Unless of course the carpet was dry before the holes were made.

Some people don't deserve to get their hands on E30s

[Bob_S]

can anyone get a pic of the drainage holes? I have this problem too

[irish320i]

ifr your car has a sunroof and its the same problem as mine its leaking from a hole in the sunroof tray rolling across the head cloth down the pillar and on to the floor beheind the seat an some is getting into the boot all from the one place but i pours in cause none of it is getting as far as the drain easiest way to check is pour water down the back drainage hole of the sunroof and see how much of it gets down as far as the pipe in the boot mines totally rotted and no water is getting that far

[Bob_S]

right, just been over to my mates house and his rear clusters are leaking, this will also lead to the problems you have encountered

[ian332isport]

ifr your car has a sunroof and its the same problem as mine its leaking from a hole in the sunroof tray rolling across the head cloth down the pillar and on to the floor beheind the seat an some is getting into the boot all from the one place but i pours in cause none of it is getting as far as the drain easiest way to check is pour water down the back drainage hole of the sunroof and see how much of it gets down as far as the pipe in the boot mines totally rotted and no water is getting that far

Been there - done that

[irish320i]

how much hassle did you have getting the head cloths back in place right my rear window seal is so stiff that now ive moved it of the head cloth it does nt sit back on it right

[ian332isport]

how much hassle did you have getting the head cloths back in place right my rear window seal is so stiff that now ive moved it of the head cloth it does nt sit back on it right

Sorry, can't help much with that one.

I bought a new headliner, and had a Trimmer install it.

Ian.

[irish320i]

ok thanx might end up getting a new screen on my cover the rear heaters only working on a couple of bars aswell know i could probaly fix it conductive paint but it would be jut as easy to get and new one and fit a new headliner with it