Dreaded wet footwell

Post Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:47 pm

Vacuumed the car mats and noticed that the driver's side (LHD car) is damp. The trickle down the side of the centre console, plus the recent foggy windscreen, makes me think it's a heater issue.

The car's an aircon/equipped model, so I'm presuming it's this RealOEM page:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=64&fg=15

Which parts are likely to have failed? I'm hoping it's just gaskets, but what else is worth ordering from the dealers before I start? I don't want to be ripping the interior out twice.

Post Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:17 pm

"Aluminium inlet pipe" is the bit you need to look for in the ETK diagrams to distinguish between air con and non aircon bits.
We all hope it's the gaskets, but unfortunately it rarely is. IF you are sure it's coolant (rub finger tip and taste), then it's most likely to be the electric valve. You should be able to check this by taking off the under dash panel on the driver's side. There will be stains running down from the join across the middle of it if it's faulty, and it may have partly pushed apart.

Post Sun Dec 22, 2013 6:01 pm

I took off the cowling under the steering column, and I can see the aluminium pipe meeting the plastic pipe with the heater valve. Right under that joint was a fat drip of coolant.

I now need to see whether it's that particular seal, or whether it's leaking from the hose the other side of the bulkhead and trickling down the outside of the aluminium pipe (if that's possible).

Post Sun Dec 22, 2013 6:22 pm

Grrrmachine wrote: or whether it's leaking from the hose the other side of the bulkhead and trickling down the outside of the aluminium pipe (if that's possible).

Very possible, especially if the hose under the bonnet is pushed up tight to the grommet. May be just a loose hose clip. It's not that easy to get a socket on, and may have been left a bit loose.

Post Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:12 pm

Hopefully you're right Brian. I repositioned and retightened the clamp on the top hose with a 6mm spanner, then started the engine and I didn't see the drip move, so hopefully that's cured it. I'll need to do some miles to properly confirm it though.

Post Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:48 pm

I had a failed O ring between the heater matrix outlet and the stub that exits the bulkhead, number 12 in your link

Post Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:50 am

Time to revisit this. The E30 turned into a daily driver, and I noticed a serious damp patch in the carpet where I rest my foot. Took the tunnel off to reassess the heater plumbing, and that drip on the pipe is still there. So it looks like the O-ring has failed.

I haven't got any decent rubber seals laying around (unless aircon rings work) - would it be ok to seal this with instant gasket? I know it's a bodge, but it'll take a week to order parts in otherwise.