Leaky E93 roof

[AHUX]

Hi All,

I am hoping one of you have experience a leaking roof on your E93. I bought my car, a AUC E93 M3, last month . Unfortunately the roof is leaking, next to the rear seats


The Car has now been with the dealer for almost 4 weeks and they are struggling to fix it. The seals have been replaced twice, but there remains to be a leak. Which makes me think there might be a roof alignment issue, although the dealer has advised me that they can't see any issues with alignment...

If anyone has had a similar experience and managed to get it fixed it would be great to hear from you, or if anyone has any ideas of what might be wrong...

Thanks

[DVandrews]

I think judicious use of s ‘smoke bomb’ inside the car would help to pinpoint exactly where the leak is and maybe if the problem is adjustment.

Dave

[cgauk]

"They all do that sir"

It's where the join is in the seals - ours (e92 but not of the m3 variety) occasionally gets drips there and has done since nearly new. How much water comes in?

You can also get water coming in if you jet wash and the angle is right (or wrong?!)

[AHUX]

Thanks - I have passed the smoke bomb idea onto the dealer.

The car doesn't leak much yet, the amount of water in the picture above is the amount that came in after a couple of hours of rain. I am concerned it will deteriorate over time.

Anyway the dealer is going to try something else this week following some advice from BMW, hopefully it will work as I've been without my car for 5 weeks now :-(

[g35x]

I have a e93 M3 that also does it very occasionally in heavy rain. I take it through an automatic car wash on a regular basis and it doesn't leak in that situation ... probably an inherent design flaw though as others are saying.

[rassi]

Is it not time to think about rejecting it, if you have been without it for 5 weeks out of a very short ownership?

[AHUX]

rassi said:

Is it not time to think about rejecting it, if you have been without it for 5 weeks out of a very short ownership?

I have thought about this, and I believe I have a strong case for doing so. However, I don't think I'll find another car like it for the price I paid and I can't help thinking now that all the seals are replaced (along with several other bits that have been replaced as they were faulty) that it will be a good car?

I am hoping there will be some good will from the dealer and maybe a second year's warranty will be given to me.

Today's update is that the car is still leaking but less than it was previously (following some adjustments BMW UK advised them to do)

[cgauk]

Did they def replace all the seals? Sometimes the drain holes get clogged and can be cleaned with a pipe cleaner or trombone cleaner apparently..

[HoHoHo]

My 61 plate 335 used to leak live a sieve, mainly onto the front seats

The car went in and out of the dealers on a number of occasions and they couldn’t trace the source.

I gave up, enjoyed it for a while and then sold it on.

[Whatmore179]

We had a 61 plate from new. Had it 6 years. Just before it was out of the new car warranty it started to leak from the drivers A pillar. Seals were replaces and it stopped for a while.
You need to treat all the rubber seals with a rubber conditioner which keeps them supple.
They tend to dry out and crack. I did this twice a year.
Be careful because the seals are not covered by BMW extended warranty.
Steve

[AHUX]

Yes as far as I am aware they have replaced the seals, the centre section has been replaced twice.

Worrying that these issues appear to be so common. They have isolated the fault to the corner of the middle section, next to where this section meets the rear window section on the drivers side.

Tomorrow they are going to play around with the tape that bonds seal to the roof - I understand there are different thicknesses of tape that can be used - fingers crossed this fixes the issue.

[AHUX]

Whatmore179 said:

We had a 61 plate from new. Had it 6 years. Just before it was out of the new car warranty it started to leak from the drivers A pillar. Seals were replaces and it stopped for a while.
You need to treat all the rubber seals with a rubber conditioner which keeps them supple.
They tend to dry out and crack. I did this twice a year.
Be careful because the seals are not covered by BMW extended warranty.
Steve

Thanks, I have bought some of the rubber conditioner for when I get the car back.

[AHUX]

My car is now fixed.

For the benefit of others my dealer overcame the problem by replacing the seals in a warm area as opposed to the cold workshop. Apparently this helped improve the way the butyl bonded to the seal and the car. Fingers crossed it stays dry inside my car now.

[Whatmore179]

Good news. Don't forget to treat the rubber.
Steve

[sandysinclair]

Bought a e93 335 last month, had two leaks in identical spots one on each side, the leak was coming from the point where the rear window seal joins with the vertical c pillar seal . There was a tiny gap on the curved corner , . Liberal use of the Kyrtox 205 grease about £22 per syringe, on the inside of the seal between it and the metal roof, and plenty of grease between the two rubber seals themselves, especially on the corner curve and the leak has been stopped. Fully tested with buckets and buckets of water . Not a drop made it to the inside , where as previously it had been a steady drip . Sorted.

[AHUX]

sandysinclair said:

Bought a e93 335 last month, had two leaks in identical spots one on each side, the leak was coming from the point where the rear window seal joins with the vertical c pillar seal . There was a tiny gap on the curved corner , . Liberal use of the Kyrtox 205 grease about £22 per syringe, on the inside of the seal between it and the metal roof, and plenty of grease between the two rubber seals themselves, especially on the corner curve and the leak has been stopped. Fully tested with buckets and buckets of water . Not a drop made it to the inside , where as previously it had been a steady drip . Sorted.

Nice fix, by the looks of things these leaks are fairly common. I was fortunate to have my seals replaced and touch wood they are still ok! I have bought some lubricant to keep them in tip top shape.

I just looked at your garage too, Nice Lambo!

[Jon-k2l47]

sandysinclair said:

Bought a e93 335 last month, had two leaks in identical spots one on each side, the leak was coming from the point where the rear window seal joins with the vertical c pillar seal . There was a tiny gap on the curved corner , . Liberal use of the Kyrtox 205 grease about £22 per syringe, on the inside of the seal between it and the metal roof, and plenty of grease between the two rubber seals themselves, especially on the corner curve and the leak has been stopped. Fully tested with buckets and buckets of water . Not a drop made it to the inside , where as previously it had been a steady drip . Sorted.

Hi Sandy, do you still have the car? Would you be able to put up or send me a pic of exactly where the leak was coming in from? Would be greatly appreciated as I have exactly the same problem on both sides and can't find anywhere that can help