help with leak and vapour barrier question. bmw e46

help with leak and vapour barrier question. bmw e46

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finglas

Original Poster:

59 posts

93 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
hi folks, first of all i am fairly new here and i'm not certain i'm posting this in the correct sub forum. if not, then I apologise.

Anyway, iv got a bmw e46 330ci m sport and there is a leak somewhere on the door. the water is gathering in the drivers door card pocket. Now when i close the door and the window moves up it all looks fairly tight and flush but when i pour water over the door some water gets in between the seal on the door frame and the end of the window. just above the door panel.



i have circled the area where the water gets in. thing is, although the water does run in here, not much gets in and it doesn't seem to gather in the door pocket.

further to this, the passenger door also lets water in if i throw a bucket of water at it at the same point but again none gather in the door card pocket and it doesn't let it in when its just raining.

I have been told to check the vapour barrier but im not overly experienced with pottering about with cars so was wanting to understand a few things first.

if the vapour barrier was intact and fully functional but if the door still had a leak somewhere then what would happen ? would the vapour barrier stop the water from getting into the cabin but would it then gather in the door ? or would there be drain holes for it be released from the door ?

could the leak be due to clogged drain holes ?

its frustratingly unclear where the leak is coming from for the water to be draining into the door card pocket.

id really appreciate any help.

thanks a lot,

jamie

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Monday 5th September 2016
quotequote all
You need to remove the door card (the trim panel on the inside of the door) and check that there is a plastic sheet or similar stuck to the metal of the door covering all apertures.
Rain will run down the outside of the glass & much of it will be deflected away by the waist seal but some will get into the door. Once inside it should drip off the bottom of the glass mechanism, be kept inside the door by the vapour/weathersheet and then out of the bottom of the door via the drainage holes.
If the sheet is missing/damaged/not stuck to the frame then water can get into the car. Common issue & often causes much headscratching.

finglas

Original Poster:

59 posts

93 months

Thursday 8th September 2016
quotequote all
Hi paintman, apologies for the late reply. I very much appreciate you getting back to me. had the problem for ages but hopefully now ill be able to fix it. thanks very much,

jamie

finglas

Original Poster:

59 posts

93 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
positronicray thanks very much for that. had a read about they sites you've linked and they seem to be very informative.

thanks a lot,

jamie

PositronicRay

26,957 posts

182 months

Friday 9th September 2016
quotequote all
Pelican parts guides are pretty easy to follow, with only the occasional mistake. (Just to keep you on your toes!)

finglas

Original Poster:

59 posts

93 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
quotequote all
Okay folks finally got round to getting the door card off. Ill attack an image on my next post. basically it looks as though there isnt any vapour barrier, just a small part left!! So im assuming this is the problem ?

Does any one know where i could purchase a new one ? And any advice on installing it/what to use etc, i have heard butyl tape ?

Thanks again everyone

Jamie


finglas

Original Poster:

59 posts

93 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
quotequote all


Heres the pic

Thanks again

Jamie