Anyone have an E30 BMW? Mine leaks!

[xarqi]

I've scoured the 'net to no real avail, so maybe someone in this fine forum can help.

I've traced a leak that's causing wet floors in my 1990 E30 325i RHD coupe and established that the water that is getting in is ultimately that which enters through the left exterior air vent below the windscreen. Ultimately, it is coming into the inside through a plastic/sponge fitting at the top left of the LH front footwell.
I've eliminated the sunroof drains as possibilities, and cleaned out the elephant trunk and RH plenum drain. The LH plenum drain may be blocked, but I can't get at it.

I've managed to pull the exterior vent off, but I can't get in there that way to clean it out as my hands are too big. I think I have to take off an access panel on the firewall to get at the blower fan area to proceed, but that looks like a mission.

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed for a mechanical newbie?


Oh - it's photography related because I sometimes drive to places to take pics! :)

[Jim G]

I can't help you but I thought I'd say that the E30 series is one gorgeous series of car... if If I had the free money I'd have one but sadly I don't. Good luck!

[cris_m]

Hi
I have owned 2 e30's and they have both leaked around this area, problem is that part, cant remember what its called( I think its called a scuttle panel) it also has the manufacturers id stamped on it, as it is one hell of a bit to replace. They actually rust from the underneath up and when the rust shows thru it has pretty well destroyed the surrounding area. On the 2 I had I just cut the bad bits out and replaced it with new steel. Hope that helps. Looks and sounds worse than it actually is.

Cris

[xarqi]

Thanks for that. Sounds like a job that could be beyond my skill level (which would not be hard), and, sadly more than I can at the moment afford to have done for me.

Any thoughts on getting in to clean out the plenum drain? Does that firewall access panel have to come off and if so, is it a big deal?

If I can get it off, and find why the water isn't going out the drain it is supposed to, and fix that, I may not need to address the "scuttle panel" issue yet.

P.S.
Hmmmm - As I was playing around today - pulling off the glovebox to get access, and having a good feel of that leaky part, the plastic backing pretty much disintegrated - broke into 6 or so pieces - brittle with age - now just held together by the foam layer.
Since it's obviously knackered, I'm wondering if I should just pull it out in pieces - that may give me a chance to shove something waterproof in there.
I guess that then raises the question of where the water would then go, or form pools. I end up back trying to figure out how to get the water to run where it is supposed to - out of the plenum drain.

[DennisW1]

I've scoured the 'net to no real avail, so maybe someone in this fine forum can help.

I've traced a leak that's causing wet floors in my 1990 E30 325i RHD coupe and established that the water that is getting in is ultimately that which enters through the left exterior air vent below the windscreen. Ultimately, it is coming into the inside through a plastic/sponge fitting at the top left of the LH front footwell.
I've eliminated the sunroof drains as possibilities, and cleaned out the elephant trunk and RH plenum drain. The LH plenum drain may be blocked, but I can't get at it.

I've managed to pull the exterior vent off, but I can't get in there that way to clean it out as my hands are too big. I think I have to take off an access panel on the firewall to get at the blower fan area to proceed, but that looks like a mission.

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed for a mechanical newbie?


Oh - it's photography related because I sometimes drive to places to take pics! :)


When did this become a BMW repair forum..???

[xarqi]

Thanks for the bump!

[Mark Vuleta]

Those BMW's must be built in the same factory as those Sigma Lens(es) ;) :rolleyes: :D

[xarqi]

Cheeky bugger.
Truth be told I had a few teething probs with the 325i, but most got sorted under warranty. The old horse has stood up fairly well, but having been in the open under trees for 10 years is starting to take a toll.