Do Chimaera's leak?
Discussion
Hello all. I've just joined as i'm about to purchase a Chimaera. I should have it by the weekend so quite excited. I was wondering if they leak if left outside in the rain?
My old 450SE did and the carpets became damp. The Chims roof seems alot better but every owner i've spoken to keeps there's in a grage and is unable to answer this simple question.
If mine does leak then is there anything that can be done?
I'm rather hoping to get a good enough response so to get an average idea. It won't stop me buying the car, but will determine the purchase of a hood cover.
Cheers
Gilo
My old 450SE did and the carpets became damp. The Chims roof seems alot better but every owner i've spoken to keeps there's in a grage and is unable to answer this simple question.
If mine does leak then is there anything that can be done?
I'm rather hoping to get a good enough response so to get an average idea. It won't stop me buying the car, but will determine the purchase of a hood cover.
Cheers
Gilo
They're all a bit individual, but if the roof is not treated, and the seals are in not so good condition they will definitely leak. My S leaked quite bady when I got it. A few coats of Thompsons later and it was fine, same went for the Griff, although in really heavy rain the water does come up past the door seals. Personally I would buy a hood cover for it regardless. If the car is going to be standing out in the rain for any length of time it won't do any harm. I had one for both my S and for my Griff. The Leven one is pricey but works very well.
There are lots of places water can get into the car. I have tried to seal up all the usual areas and I regularly waterproof the roof, but I would still only describe it as "shower proof".
Others will no doubt have had more success keeping out the elements, but as far as I can tell most suffer from some "ingress of water" from time to time!!!! I keep mine in a garage anyway.
Others will no doubt have had more success keeping out the elements, but as far as I can tell most suffer from some "ingress of water" from time to time!!!! I keep mine in a garage anyway.
it does seem to vary.
mine lives out on the street (I have no garage) and does not leak.
that said.
I have had water ingress (the weekend i bought it) at high speed when it was pissing it down there was a small amount comming under the windscreen. I packed the spot with silicon grease and nothing has come through since.
as I understand it there are a couple of places where there can be leaks such as round the clutch cylinder and I've a friend who can get water if he parks if pointing uphill but since he changed how he parks in his drive it has no problems. careful use of a good mastic/silicon sealant wold fix this problem for him and he may have dome this.
mine lives out on the street (I have no garage) and does not leak.
that said.
I have had water ingress (the weekend i bought it) at high speed when it was pissing it down there was a small amount comming under the windscreen. I packed the spot with silicon grease and nothing has come through since.
as I understand it there are a couple of places where there can be leaks such as round the clutch cylinder and I've a friend who can get water if he parks if pointing uphill but since he changed how he parks in his drive it has no problems. careful use of a good mastic/silicon sealant wold fix this problem for him and he may have dome this.
Previous posts have pretty much summed it up.
Most of the time the hood will not leak, provided that it is regularly treated with Fabsil or equivalent. And by regularly I mean annually, before you worry.
They can leak, of course, but so long as the seals are sound then they shouldn't.
A Leven hood cover is a good investment to be on the safe side if keeping the car outside in all weathers.
Most of the time the hood will not leak, provided that it is regularly treated with Fabsil or equivalent. And by regularly I mean annually, before you worry.
They can leak, of course, but so long as the seals are sound then they shouldn't.
A Leven hood cover is a good investment to be on the safe side if keeping the car outside in all weathers.
In short - most of them probably do, and almost all can probably be made watertight easily.
Mine leaked quite badly when I got it - see my earlier threads - but I think many of the problems are simply because most owners keep cars in garages and never drive in heavy rain, so they don't know their car leaks, until someone else buys it and leaves it outside. Most of them just need a good treatment of Thompsons Water Seal or similar. I thought I had mine watertight until it started leaking really badly again a month or so ago - but it just needed another couple of coats of Thompsons - should be done at least twice a year if the car stays outside.
We had really torrential rain and high winds last week and mine was bone dry apart from some very slight dampness in one corner behind passenger seat - so it can be done. Don't let it put you off!
Car covers are an option but they vary in quality. Mine claims to be breathable but it isn't (it wasn't cheap either) and that's worse than no cover at all because it was causing my paint to blister on the bootlid. Also - taking a soaking wet cover off before you get in the car is a complete pain in the bum - worse than having wet carpets I'd say! The Leven Hood cover seems to be good though.
Use the search facility and look for the words "elephant ears", Thompsons", "Fabsil", or "wet carpets" etc.
Like I said - don't let it worry you.
Mine leaked quite badly when I got it - see my earlier threads - but I think many of the problems are simply because most owners keep cars in garages and never drive in heavy rain, so they don't know their car leaks, until someone else buys it and leaves it outside. Most of them just need a good treatment of Thompsons Water Seal or similar. I thought I had mine watertight until it started leaking really badly again a month or so ago - but it just needed another couple of coats of Thompsons - should be done at least twice a year if the car stays outside.
We had really torrential rain and high winds last week and mine was bone dry apart from some very slight dampness in one corner behind passenger seat - so it can be done. Don't let it put you off!
Car covers are an option but they vary in quality. Mine claims to be breathable but it isn't (it wasn't cheap either) and that's worse than no cover at all because it was causing my paint to blister on the bootlid. Also - taking a soaking wet cover off before you get in the car is a complete pain in the bum - worse than having wet carpets I'd say! The Leven Hood cover seems to be good though.
Use the search facility and look for the words "elephant ears", Thompsons", "Fabsil", or "wet carpets" etc.
Like I said - don't let it worry you.
BTW I got my cover from HamiltonClassic (OUTDOOR MOLTEX) it's something like 98% waterproof and breathable. Very pleased with it. 
OK thanks all for your help. I've spoken to the lady at Leven who was really honest and helpful. She suggested to 'risk' the car outside to see what happens before shelling out £150. If needed then they can send me one for the next day.
I think I'll check all the rubber seals and roof etc, but the car, sit it on the drive, pray, and then see what happens!
Gilo
I think I'll check all the rubber seals and roof etc, but the car, sit it on the drive, pray, and then see what happens!
Gilo
Cider Andy said:
........I've never had a car that didn't bloody leak in somewhere!
The most troublesome leak on mine, which I just cant seem to sort out, is the fuel tank, I filled it up when i bought the car but find its nearly empty every time I check it and it gets worse the more I use the car. Cant see any puddles under the car tho. The worst thing is that it can only be topped up with neat super-unleaded petrol which is proving expensive! Ive heard of others having the same problem....... Beware
But seriously...
Once i dealt with a couple of straight forward issues (mainly getting the brake fluid reservoir properly sealed into the inner wing) mine has been bone dry in all conditions, in fact its the only car ive ever had that i can say that of!
[quote=chezgilo]Pardon my ignorance but do you mean 'paint' on the Thompsons waterseal over the roof? Standard Thompsons waterseal at about £5.99 for 1 litre?
Yes - you paint it on. I got a big tin (5 litres?) from B&Q for less than £10 and have done the rooof twice, 3 coats each time, and there's still a bit left. It's an easy job, but it's very runny so just be careful not to let it run all over the bodywork and rear screen as it goes sticky when it dries on. There's also a 'Gold' version, but apparently you don't want that. The other similar stuff is "Fabsil" which I believe you can get from camping shops etc, it's designed for waterproofing tents etc.
Yes - you paint it on. I got a big tin (5 litres?) from B&Q for less than £10 and have done the rooof twice, 3 coats each time, and there's still a bit left. It's an easy job, but it's very runny so just be careful not to let it run all over the bodywork and rear screen as it goes sticky when it dries on. There's also a 'Gold' version, but apparently you don't want that. The other similar stuff is "Fabsil" which I believe you can get from camping shops etc, it's designed for waterproofing tents etc.
Ours has never leaked.
Well...it did once in Ireland when the heavens opened and I'd had to run a mile and a half to get back to the car as I'd left the roof off. But that was because in the immense hurry I was in to put the roof on I hadn't got it completely square.
The hard panel doesn't leak - and I have never bothered using fabsil or similar. Its a hard carbon fibre panel and is waterproof anyway! The folding section probably benefits from sealing up - but I let the dealer do that at the service...
The most likely leakage in Chimaeras IMO is from water thrown up whilst driving along - and the previous owner of my car must have spent a lot of time with a sealant gun fixing it - as we have never had a problem in more than seven years of ownership!
Having said this our car has been garaged all its life so it only spends time out in the wet on touring holidays. Which it does every year...and has never leaked.
So. Do Chimaeras leak? Some clearly do. Ours never has.
Well...it did once in Ireland when the heavens opened and I'd had to run a mile and a half to get back to the car as I'd left the roof off. But that was because in the immense hurry I was in to put the roof on I hadn't got it completely square.
The hard panel doesn't leak - and I have never bothered using fabsil or similar. Its a hard carbon fibre panel and is waterproof anyway! The folding section probably benefits from sealing up - but I let the dealer do that at the service...
The most likely leakage in Chimaeras IMO is from water thrown up whilst driving along - and the previous owner of my car must have spent a lot of time with a sealant gun fixing it - as we have never had a problem in more than seven years of ownership!
Having said this our car has been garaged all its life so it only spends time out in the wet on touring holidays. Which it does every year...and has never leaked.
So. Do Chimaeras leak? Some clearly do. Ours never has.
Lots of conflicting advice here, obviously everyone had a different car and a different experience. I'd try it and see if if does, and if so from where.
My own experience was pretty good - the hard panel won't leak at all, though water can get around the sides if you don't put it on square. After you put it on, walk around to the other side to double-check - it is easy to get wrong if you are in a hurry.
Otherwise I had no ingress issues at all (and I wasn't that conscientious with the waterproofing).
>> edited for spellung
>> Edited by grumbledoak on Wednesday 10th May 10:48
My own experience was pretty good - the hard panel won't leak at all, though water can get around the sides if you don't put it on square. After you put it on, walk around to the other side to double-check - it is easy to get wrong if you are in a hurry.
Otherwise I had no ingress issues at all (and I wasn't that conscientious with the waterproofing).
>> edited for spellung
>> Edited by grumbledoak on Wednesday 10th May 10:48
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