Footwell Leak

[Timelord]

Hi All,

Just joined today due to a problem with a leak. Got some panel damage fixed on drivers side and it had to be removed during the fix. Then I got a company car and left my baby in the driveway for a couple of months. When I got into her today she was damp and mouldy and I am just gutted. The question is, does anyone know if drainage channels etc or any other pipes could be affected by this repair work or is it caused by water ingress through the usual suspect areas? I'm just suspicious as it seems to have coincided with the repair. The damp seems to be primarily in the drivers footwell. I've also had the battery out to see if I could spot anything. There is rust on the battery tray and I am wondering could it be getting in there? All help would be greatly appreciated. I own this 320i since 1990 and I'd rather lose the family dog than her! I have already read some very helpful tips on this site but note related to repairs causing a leak. I have noticed that the black sealant that usually sits on top of the seal where the RHS wing joins the bonnet was not replaced and I would like to know is there a way through to the passenger compartment from this area. There is a hairline crack now where the panel was reattached.

[Brianmoooore]

Welcombe to the zone on behalf of the team!
The sunroof drains are plastic pipes that run down through the screen pillars and the door hinge pillars. I destroyed one of those once when doing some welding.
Most likely problem is the " elephant's trunk" drain from the area under the two grilles at the bottom of the windscreen is blocked, and water is overflowing into the heater.

[smithy318i]

if you can whip out the seats and carpet (to dry them out) and have someone stand over the car with a hosepipe, you should be able to find were the water is coming from.

[kevin316i]

Was the windscreen removed or disturbed during the repairs? Could be a possibility for your waterleak.

[Timelord]

It's just great to get such a quick response. Like to thank you all for taking the time to reply. Do I need to take off the plastic grilles just under the wipers or can that drain pipe be accessed through the engine bay?
Cheers

[Brianmoooore]

Drain pipe is in the engine bay, right hand side of the bulkhead, near no 6 sparkplug.

[Timelord]

Cheers Brianmooore for all the help. I think I should check-out the channels to this pipe too, as a search on this problem in the forum revealed than they too can contain blockages. Are those grilles under the wipers clip-off or is it tricky to access the windscreen-wiper drain channel?

[Brianmoooore]

Grills are clipped on. Lever up the bottom edge, held by three spring clips.