Wet carpet behind passenger seat? any ideas

[gmf_uk]

Ok people, the carpent behind my front passneger seat is getting wet, i have checked sunroof drains and they are ok, the boot was leaking but sorted that, thought problem was solved. just been into the car after a very heavy few hours rain and guess what the carpet is wet again. I have no clue where its getting in, it does not seem to be wet any where else apart from the carpet.
Anyone point me in the direction to look??
Thanks in advance!

[Jim320i]

Behind the glove box.

[Jim320i]

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust

[mark_i]

the grommets that hold on the external c-pillar trim (shark fin) are a common cause of water leaks into the passenger footwell

[gmf_uk]

cheers for the replies gents, dont think its behind the glove box as its the carpet behind the passenger seat and due to the shape of the floor id think there would need to be quite alot for it to travel up over the 'hump' also the caprt is dry at the front only the back carpet is wet, will try the grommits that hold the c pillar trim on. Cheers!

[greg124]

Incontinent passenger?

[TheDutch]

the grommets that hold on the external c-pillar trim (shark fin) are a common cause of water leaks into the passenger footwell

This caused the exact same symptoms for me.

[gmf_uk]

how do i remove the 'shark fins ' ?

Cheers

[TheDutch]

I recall it's just a press fit, the piece has four studs which locate into the grommets in the body. If you lever it out be careful what you use as a pivot, some of the surrounding trim can be very soft.

This diagram might help : http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=51&fg=20

[gmf_uk]

cheers thankyou for your help

[Brianmoooore]

Note that if you remove the shark fins, new fixing grommets are required. Even if these weren't leaking in the first place, they will be if you try to reuse them.
The main cause of wet carpets behind the fronts seats in an E30 is a problem with one of the two large round metal plugs in the floorpan. These are held in place by three lugs, and if one of these corrodes, the plug will come loose and let water in. This will only happen when the car is driven in the wet though, so it won't be the problem if water get in when it's parked.
Another possibility is the sunroof, if it has one. Water that gets past the hatch at the sides and front drops into fixed gutters and drains away by one or more of four drain tubes, but water that gets past the rear of the hatch drops into a sliding gutter that is attached by a link at each end to the interior fabric panel of the sunroof. The joints between the sliding gutter and the links can rust away, leaving the gutter positioned that it doesn't collect the water dripping through, which will then drip straight through the headlining fabric, and onto the carpet.

[gmf_uk]

thanks for your input, the sunroof drains all work and the head lining stays dry tho it could be travelling along and down, the carpet does get wet while parked up and its been raining, so i think i will go down the shark fin route to try and isolate this annoying problem,

[gmf_uk]

ok just an update took the shark fins off and only the top and bottom tabs had grommits on them, so the other two would have been letting the water in! new ones fitted and will be hoping that is my problem sorted!

Thanks for the help guys!