Leak from heater into passeger footwell

Post Thu May 05, 2005 9:00 am

I have just bought a 318is. This morning i noticed a damp patch in the passenger footwell. Judging by the staining on the carpet this is something that has happened before. The stain seems to indicate the the leak is from the heater - possibly the valve that controls the folw of hot water. Has anyone else experienced this problem and, if so, what is the likely cause and cure. I don't want to take it to bits just to have a look and find its something else - the heater seems to be a bit of a b*gger to get to...

Cheers

Post Thu May 05, 2005 10:20 am

I had this in my 318iS, I remember that I was losing coolant and the blowers were chuckin out steam.

Take the glovebox out and move the brake servo out the way and you get slide out the heater matrix and fit the new one..sorted my problem anyway.

Post Thu May 05, 2005 10:27 am

Would probably be the matrix.Thats a guess because I had the one in my mini go and basically boiling hot water poured out onto my foot!!!

Post Thu May 05, 2005 1:35 pm

Sorry had the wet footwells, but never been the matrix, three E30 all had the same problem, rust holes, inside front wheel arch, base corner, and sometimes, the rubber seals around the main loom.

Regards Mark

Post Thu May 05, 2005 2:37 pm

Thanks for the advice guys.

I don't think its the matrix because I have had this happen on another car and as you say the car fills with steam...

It certaily isn't rust holes - anyway the damp patch has a definite blue/green tinge so it is almost certailny coolant.

I was wondering if it could be the heater valve itself as I only noticed the problem after I turned the heating on on a cold morning - does anyone have any experience of this failing?

Post Thu May 05, 2005 6:04 pm

could be the heater valve, or if its the same as the leak i had it was coming from the 'o' ring seals which go onto the pipes which are right next to the heater valve.

Post Fri May 06, 2005 1:46 am

jUST GOT THE LEAK & STEAM ON MY 318 IS THIS WEEK, JOB FOR SAT. ???

Post Fri May 06, 2005 1:55 am

Stripped the carpet from mine a couple of days ago but my swimming pool was in the drivers side. Not had a chance to find the leak yet but going to check the usual suspects. When I started to clean the carpet I found a dark grey,oily wet patch on the foam backing where the carpet fits between the steering column and clutch pedal.

Any ideas where this could be from?

Post Fri May 06, 2005 10:13 am

A nasty job to do!! lol

I spent the afternoon on boxing day 2003 in the freezing cold fitting one to my car!

The things we do for our E30's!!

Post Fri May 06, 2005 11:24 am

I've had this problem on my last 318iTouring

It was the heater valve and not the matrix. It was messy to replace but could have been worse if the maytrix had leaked. Ãƒ”šÃ¢”š¬20 from a breaker for the valve.
As I didn't have time to do it immediately I took a piece of copper heating pipe & two jubilee clips and cross circuted the two hoses that take the coolant into the heater just in front of the firewall. This stopped the leaking until I had time to fix it. It was summer so the lack of heat wasn't an issue.
If leak is in drivers footwell it could be the matrix but if it's in the passenger footwell it's likely to be the valve only. Good luck

Sharknose

Post Fri May 06, 2005 1:55 pm

Hello Sharknose

Can you remember how much you had to strip down the dash/heater to get to the valve? Does the whole lot have to come out or can you get to it from the side by removng the glovebox?
Thanks
Robin

Post Fri May 06, 2005 2:51 pm

I took off the glovebox completely, the plastic panel inside it, the front section of the centre console as it reaches right back to the front of the footwell. I stripped nothing on the drivers side except the long piece of the centre console and I didn't need to touch the rest of the dash.

It took about 2 hours in all.

Sharknose

Post Fri May 06, 2005 5:20 pm

Hello Sharknose

Thanks for the info - not too bad then. It's a shame that I broke a 325 about 6 months ago to start the kit car and let the heater go to the scrappy with the shell. It looks like I will have to buy one now

Cheers

Robin

Post Fri May 06, 2005 5:24 pm

martinclan,

If all you need is the valve it won't be too expensive. I paid Ãƒ”šÃ¢”š¬20.

I'd suggest you take off the trim and monitor it to see it the valve itself is leaking as was mine or if the leak i from behind it in the matrix.

To save your carpet if you can't do the job soon, try my heater bypass suggestion.

Good luck