Water in my trunk!

Dine · 12-09-2013, 03:27 PM

So I opened the trunk today after about 7 days of straight rain and I had standing water. I believe it's coming from around the drivers side taillight housing. Anyone have this issue before?

newbizie · 12-09-2013, 05:38 PM

I think this has been discussed a few times I did find a memo from bmw about the taillights leaking but u may also want to check the 3rd brake light or the gasket where the power wire runs out of the trunk

Dine · 12-09-2013, 06:12 PM

the only thing i really found was a guy who seemed to have my issue and a few people suggested the 3rd brake light but there was never a conclusion to the thread. based on where it was wet (and more importantly where it wasnt wet) i think its got to be coming from somewhere around the drivers side taillight. My money is on a seal as i can't see any cracks or damages. now that ive got the trunk dry i will line it with newpaper and see if i can't pin point the exact spot

brock5ga · 12-09-2013, 08:15 PM

Let the top part of the way down and then stop it. Carefully run your hands around and inspect where the canvas of the top meets the body for rotting. This happened on the first one I had and I could find no water trails from there to the battery compartment.

pelerojo · 12-09-2013, 08:28 PM

The OP has a coupe.

Pheonix · 12-09-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brock5ga

Let the top part of the way down and then stop it. Carefully run your hands around and inspect where the canvas of the top meets the body for rotting. This happened on the first one I had and I could find no water trails from there to the battery compartment.

I think the OP has the Mcoupe (as shown on his avatar).

Dine · 12-09-2013, 09:49 PM

Yea sorry I didn't specify. It's a coupe. That's the other difference, this seems to be a roadster problem...my cars having an identity crisis I guess

StickMon · 12-09-2013, 11:23 PM

I did this to myself.
Ran my XM antenna wire between body and right side tail light housing.
Figured the foam on the back of the housing would seal well enough; wire is pretty small.

Major fail.

The wire acted as a gutter and channeled water into the trunk.
Ruined all 14 volumes of my owner's manual.

Fixed the problem by pulling the tail light assembly back out and applying copious amounts of silicone calk.

elerner61 · 12-10-2013, 09:44 AM

A suggestion I can make (from ferreting out leaks on a 944 hatch, and a Miata top) is to rig up a hose and mimic a rain pattern. Dousing with a full open hose may not reveal the problem. If you can rig a camera along with a flashlight in the trunk that could be useful. Maybe using talcum powder around the perimeter might help to spot where the leak is coming from.

AmmarYasirA · 12-10-2013, 04:25 PM

Off topic but I feel OP's pain. The rain in ATL has been a PITA. Sorry to hear water got in the trunk.

Dine · 12-10-2013, 04:39 PM

it sucks however i just pinpointed where its coming from so now i can fix it. its leaking around one of the 2 screws that are visable when the hatch is open. the ones that hold the taillight assembly in place. theres a plastic part that goes down into the trunk (visible if you just look in the back 2 corners of the trunk) and the water just pour in around that screw

newbizie · 12-10-2013, 08:00 PM

glad u found the problem and it was nothing to serious the memo from bmw actally has a pic of the screws in question

Dine · 12-11-2013, 03:11 PM

do you have a link to that memo by chance?

chickdr · 12-11-2013, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dine

do you have a link to that memo by chance?

Ask and you shall receive(sometimes...)

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...1&postcount=67 I would have thought your car would be past the 10/06 cutoff, but maybe you have an early '07?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=186 - they have a whole section of how to's and TSB's

newbizie · 12-12-2013, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dine

do you have a link to that memo by chance?

Ask and you shall receive(sometimes...)

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...1&postcount=67 I would have thought your car would be past the 10/06 cutoff, but maybe you have an early '07?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=186 - they have a whole section of how to's and TSB's

+1

newbizie · 12-12-2013, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickdr

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dine

do you have a link to that memo by chance?

Ask and you shall receive(sometimes...)

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...1&postcount=67 I would have thought your car would be past the 10/06 cutoff, but maybe you have an early '07?

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=186 - they have a whole section of how to's and TSB's

+1

12-09-2013, 03:27 PM	#1
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	So I opened the trunk today after about 7 days of straight rain and I had standing water. I believe it's coming from around the drivers side taillight housing. Anyone have this issue before?
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12-09-2013, 05:38 PM	#2
newbizie Private 5 Rep 92 Posts Drives: 05 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ft Walton Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	I think this has been discussed a few times I did find a memo from bmw about the taillights leaking but u may also want to check the 3rd brake light or the gasket where the power wire runs out of the trunk
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12-09-2013, 06:12 PM	#3
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	the only thing i really found was a guy who seemed to have my issue and a few people suggested the 3rd brake light but there was never a conclusion to the thread. based on where it was wet (and more importantly where it wasnt wet) i think its got to be coming from somewhere around the drivers side taillight. My money is on a seal as i can't see any cracks or damages. now that ive got the trunk dry i will line it with newpaper and see if i can't pin point the exact spot
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-09-2013, 08:15 PM	#4
brock5ga Enlisted Member 1 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Monroe, GA iTrader: (0)	Let the top part of the way down and then stop it. Carefully run your hands around and inspect where the canvas of the top meets the body for rotting. This happened on the first one I had and I could find no water trails from there to the battery compartment.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-09-2013, 08:28 PM	#5
pelerojo Private 1 Rep 77 Posts Drives: '06 Z4M Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (1)	The OP has a coupe.
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12-09-2013, 09:49 PM	#7
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	Yea sorry I didn't specify. It's a coupe. That's the other difference, this seems to be a roadster problem...my cars having an identity crisis I guess
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12-09-2013, 11:23 PM	#8
StickMon My other car is on Mars 639 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	I did this to myself. Ran my XM antenna wire between body and right side tail light housing. Figured the foam on the back of the housing would seal well enough; wire is pretty small. Major fail. The wire acted as a gutter and channeled water into the trunk. Ruined all 14 volumes of my owner's manual. Fixed the problem by pulling the tail light assembly back out and applying copious amounts of silicone calk. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts. Last edited by StickMon; 12-11-2013 at 01:08 AM..
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12-10-2013, 09:44 AM	#9
elerner61 Major 159 Rep 1,108 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	A suggestion I can make (from ferreting out leaks on a 944 hatch, and a Miata top) is to rig up a hose and mimic a rain pattern. Dousing with a full open hose may not reveal the problem. If you can rig a camera along with a flashlight in the trunk that could be useful. Maybe using talcum powder around the perimeter might help to spot where the leak is coming from.
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12-10-2013, 04:25 PM	#10
AmmarYasirA Ammar 73 Rep 406 Posts Drives: a lot Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Off topic but I feel OP's pain. The rain in ATL has been a PITA. Sorry to hear water got in the trunk. __________________ E85 ///M Roadster -SapphireBlack/Imola - Garage Queen 2018 F150 Platinum - Black/Black - Leveled on 34's - DD
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12-10-2013, 04:39 PM	#11
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	it sucks however i just pinpointed where its coming from so now i can fix it. its leaking around one of the 2 screws that are visable when the hatch is open. the ones that hold the taillight assembly in place. theres a plastic part that goes down into the trunk (visible if you just look in the back 2 corners of the trunk) and the water just pour in around that screw
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12-10-2013, 08:00 PM	#12
newbizie Private 5 Rep 92 Posts Drives: 05 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ft Walton Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	glad u found the problem and it was nothing to serious the memo from bmw actally has a pic of the screws in question
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12-11-2013, 03:11 PM	#13
Dine Private 4 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 silver Grey Z4mc Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0)	do you have a link to that memo by chance?
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