Z4 condensation problems

[CTrickle]

Hi all,

This is my wife's Z4 and it always seems to huff up like this now the cold weather is here.

Has anyone else had this sort of problem? I have a suspicion it's usually caused by damp in the car?

Any help appreciated!

Ed

[gizlaroc]

Does she turn the climate control off?

[CTrickle]

gizlaroc said:

Does she turn the climate control off?

Only when she turns the engine off. How do you turn it off? Infact i'm not convinced it has climate, just has the three dials - fan, heat and direction.

I know im coming across a bit daft there!

[Sardonicus]

You have water coming into the cabin somewhere IMO that is an abnormal amount of moisture on the interior glass left over night for example

[CTrickle]

Sardonicus said:

You have water coming into the cabin somewhere IMO that is an abnormal amount of moisture on the interior glass left over night for example

You confirm my fears, what if I told you it had only been parked for an hour...?!

[ManiacGT]

Yep this could be a number of things. You've either a leak into the cabin (and for this, check door and window seals, check under the doors as the internal lining could be leaking. Also check the footwells for water and under/behind the seats. If anywhere is wet, you have a leak. ... or it could be that you are simply not using the air con enough. You must use air con in such a small car over winter as you take a lot of wet into the car on your clothes, you, feet etc and air con will remove this. You should run the air con at the same time as heat as its not only more comfortable but the heat will remove the moisture into the air and the air con will then remove this and drain it outside the car.

My car looked very similar just last night and its only because the weather is changing and I'm not running the air con enough.

[JuanGandini]

ManiacGT said:

Yep this could be a number of things. You've either a leak into the cabin (and for this, check door and window seals, check under the doors as the internal lining could be leaking. Also check the footwells for water and under/behind the seats. If anywhere is wet, you have a leak. ... or it could be that you are simply not using the air con enough. You must use air con in such a small car over winter as you take a lot of wet into the car on your clothes, you, feet etc and air con will remove this. You should run the air con at the same time as heat as its not only more comfortable but the heat will remove the moisture into the air and the air con will then remove this and drain it outside the car.

My car looked very similar just last night and its only because the weather is changing and I'm not running the air con enough.

This.

Also worth checking whether the car has ever had a new windscreen. That is sometimes a cause of water ingress and resultant moisture problems if the windscreen wasn't fitted perfectly.

[CTrickle]

ManiacGT said:

Yep this could be a number of things. You've either a leak into the cabin (and for this, check door and window seals, check under the doors as the internal lining could be leaking. Also check the footwells for water and under/behind the seats. If anywhere is wet, you have a leak. ... or it could be that you are simply not using the air con enough. You must use air con in such a small car over winter as you take a lot of wet into the car on your clothes, you, feet etc and air con will remove this. You should run the air con at the same time as heat as its not only more comfortable but the heat will remove the moisture into the air and the air con will then remove this and drain it outside the car.

My car looked very similar just last night and its only because the weather is changing and I'm not running the air con enough.

Ah! There lies a problem, the air con has needed re gassing all year so hasn't been used. I shall do this first and see if it solves the problem....!

I'll also check for damp but the air con thing could well be it...

[Sardonicus]

ManiacGT said:

Yep this could be a number of things. You've either a leak into the cabin (and for this, check door and window seals, check under the doors as the internal lining could be leaking. Also check the footwells for water and under/behind the seats. If anywhere is wet, you have a leak. ... or it could be that you are simply not using the air con enough. You must use air con in such a small car over winter as you take a lot of wet into the car on your clothes, you, feet etc and air con will remove this. You should run the air con at the same time as heat as its not only more comfortable but the heat will remove the moisture into the air and the air con will then remove this and drain it outside the car.

My car looked very similar just last night and its only because the weather is changing and I'm not running the air con enough.

CTrickle I would agree with the above ^ after your last update

[Jez m]

Definately an abnormal amount. Mine looks nothing like that in the mornings. I do run the aircon all the time i am using the car though.

[CTrickle]

Jez m said:

Definately an abnormal amount. Mine looks nothing like that in the mornings. I do run the aircon all the time i am using the car though.

Cool, I'll get that re-gassed tomorrow and see if it solves the problem.

Thank you for the info!

I'll report back in a couple of days!

[Sardonicus]

In the mean time I suggest you get some silica gel sachets or similar under the seats etc you have a lot of electronic modules in that car that will not thank you if they get damp/wet

[Sticks.]

Cat litter's probably cheaper - in a resealable container, cake tine or similar. Change it every few days (and don't let the cat in the car).

[CTrickle]

Sticks. said:

Cat litter's probably cheaper - in a resealable container, cake tine or similar. Change it every few days (and don't let the cat in the car).

Haha! I was wondering if i was going to have to buy 15 leather jackets to get the packs!

Cat litter is a good idea, especially as we have a cat!

[CTrickle]

So I got the car regassed and that all works a treat.

Sadly I also checked behind the passenger seat and the carpet is soaked, has anyone had this before?

I'm going to have a look at it on Saturday morning with the hose pipe, then if I can't fix it I'll drop it to a garage on Tuesday.

[ManiacGT]

Its quite common on this model. I'd ask on the z4-forum.com as they've had it. I think its a door/lining panel seal that goes.

[ManiacGT]

I did a bit of looking for you;

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&am...

Hope that helps.

[crossy67]

JuanGandini said:

Also worth checking whether the car has ever had a new windscreen. That is sometimes a cause of water ingress and resultant moisture problems if the windscreen wasn't fitted perfectly.

Because all windscreen replacements leak, right? Sorry for the sarcasm but I have seen screens fitted so badly it's a wonder they haven't fallen out yet there was no water in the car. Not saying they don't leak but why do some people always assume it's the screen before anything else?

Door membrane on BM's is very common. Check under the sound deadening, it's rubber backed sponge that can hold loads of water but as the rubber is between the sponge and the carpet it's hard to feel if it's wet. If it is wet either remove or VAX it as dry as poss. The rubber backing means it will probably never dry out on its own.

[CTrickle]

ManiacGT said:

I did a bit of looking for you;

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&am...

Hope that helps.

You sir are a real gentleman, thank you.

I'll whip the door card off at the weekend and have a look.

Ed

[Sardonicus]

ManiacGT said:

Its quite common on this model. I'd ask on the z4-forum.com as they've had it. I think its a door/lining panel seal that goes.

replaced my E46 front door speakers the other day and the passenger door membrane lower was coming away (no water leaks yet) this is a common complaint on many many manufacturers cars I could mention and one of the most common causes of water ingress along with leaking rear lamp seals/gaskets ham fisted glass fitters often tear these sheets/membranes on glass renewal