leaky 316.

[E30-Ritch]

Good evening chaps.

I've recently bought a 4 door 316 on a H plate. It's been dry stored for 20 years and as far as I can tell Its pretty well rust/rott free.

The Mrs has been running about in it now for a few days and we've noticed a puddle in the drivers side rear foot well. My thoughts are a blocked, worn, broken sunroof drain pipe but I've not had a close inspection as of yet. I read on another thread about a disc in the floor pan under the front seats?? I've not come across these before but that thread was for a cab?? Any thoughts or ideas on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers in advance.

[Brianmoooore]

Same part on a saloon. It's right under the centre of the front seat base, and easily checked from underneath.

[TPS]

Mine failed the MOT, a couple of years ago, the disc had rotted away, & it was within certain distnce of the seat belt mount.

[E30-Ritch]

Ah right cheers guys I'll take a look. My 325 touring had a similar issue in the front drivers foot well. That leak was easier to find. Bloody big hole in the bulk head near the battery tray. That was not a fun time for the 325.

I'll have a look at the belly of the 316 although I have to admit I had it on some ramps the other day n it all looked pretty solid. Didn't notice any thing untoward although I wasn't looking specifically in the area of this disc. Any ideas as to the purpose of this disc?

[Brianmoooore]

Any ideas as to the purpose of this disc?

None, once it's left the paint shop at the factory.

[E30-Ritch]

Any ideas as to the purpose of this disc?

None, once it's left the paint shop at the factory.

Ha fair enough. Maybe it's to let excess paint run out, but of course this would go against German efficiency laws.

[E30-Ritch]

Right chaps quick update.

I had a look at the floor pan and located the offending discs, about 150mm in board of the sills. They're solid as is the rest of the floor pan. So I've had a closer look inside the car and found damp under the rear seats. The drivers side rear foot well appears to be dry. Most of the moisture appears to be to the rear of the rear drivers side foot well. Are there any drain channels/pipes that run down the rear a pillars or into the rear wheel arches? I think this is most likely the problem as the car is solid no rott to let water in any where more likely rubber pipes or seals have perished as the car hasn't done many miles in the last 20 year's.

I was hoping to not have to remove the interior but it's starting to look more likely that I will.

[BHadley]

If you have a sunroof the drain tubes run down the back of the rear a pillers (by the rear windows aka c pillers).

There is also the side flaps in the boot behind the side carpet.

[E30-Ritch]

If you have a sunroof the drain tubes run down the back of the rear a pillers (by the rear windows aka c pillers).

There is also the side flaps in the boot behind the side carpet.

Tar very much I thought this would be the case I'll investigate further.

Would removing the fear seats and boot lining be enough to get to these pipes?

[BHadley]

Go in the boot and remove the side carpets.
You will see the hose and that runs up the c puller to the back of the sunroof cassette as far as I know

[Brianmoooore]

Unfortunately, there won't be anything wrong with the pipes themselves. If the water in question is from the sunroof, then the best you can hope for is that someone has pushed a pipe off of the stub on the cassette tray in the roof, by over enthusiastic 'rodding', but it's a lot more likely that the cassette has rusted through.
Park the car facing slightly uphill. open the roof, and slowly pour water in.

[E30-Ritch]

Cheers guys it's great to have your input. I'll have a play over the festive brake. I'm pretty sure it'll be pipe related and not rott. I've owned a few e30's and know how and where they tend to go but I've never seen one as original, clean and rust/rott free as this one. The guy I bought it off had owned it since 1994 and it was his company car from New so it's pretty well one owner from new. He kept it in a garage while he owned it. When I viewed it before purchase all the carpets and interior were dry the damp has come in since we've owned it n it is parked slightly up hill on our drive.

I'm sure it'll just be a damaged or dis lodged pipe. Fingers crossed.

[E30-Ritch]

Evening chaps and a happy New year to you all.

So I took the rear bench and boot lining out of the 316 to investigate. Inspected the drain pipes in the boot they are attached and in good condition however when I ran water down the drivers side sunroof drain and water flooded in down the rear c pillar. So there's obviously a problem with this drain pipe. I did the same with the passenger side and the water ran out the pipe as it should. The roof lining it's self is dry.

So am I right in thinking my next job is to remove the head lining to investigate/repair the damaged pipe. If this is the case how easy is it to remove and put back with out ruining it? Or is it best left alone and repairing the pipe by some other means. Maybe fitting a new pipe inside the original as a liner?

Or can I just remove the lining on the c pillar in the hopes the pipe is damaged close to this point?

Thanks in advance as always.

[BHadley]

I think the starting point is to remove the sunroof lid liner carefully

( try looking in the wiki under sunroof adjustment to see how to remove)

Then push the liner back and shine a torch in side the sunroof cassette to see the state of play from the inside of the drain stub rather than the out side ( which would prop need rear windows and rear screen out)

I think that's a good starting point

[BHadley]

Oh, if it is blocked electrical cable (like extension lead type) is good to use so I'm told