Water in my X5 - Help!

[moose500]

Living here in CA, we are finally getting some rain. However, I noticed a pool of water in the back of my 2003 X5 3.0. From the back of the car with the tailgate down, it was in the right-hand (passenger) side compartment in the "Trunk." When I pulled the panel off, there is really nothing behind there except wires but when I looked all the way down, there was a pool of water collecting at the bottom! I got it all dried off but have no idea how it got there and if it will come again. Does anyone have any experience with this? Please help...

Thanks,

Mike
SJ,CA

[mrbmwx5]

front and rear sunroof drain are clog up
do the search many threads about this on forum.

[mtX5]

ahh man not good. I had this EXACT same problem. It drove me crazy trying to find the leak. It might be different for you (i doubt it).. but it turned out being the sunroof cassette. Overtime if you don't clean out your sunroof drain plugs they get clogged and it causes a mess. If this turns out to be your problem, and you're out of warranty like I was..get ready to pay about $2500. They have to pull off all the upper upholstery, get that sunroof cassette out and put a new one in.

If your lucky, it might be a drain plug that got knocked off..and it could be repaired for a few hundred dollars by cleaning it out and putting it back..

Goodluck.

[dkl]

It could also be leaking in from a faulty rear light assembly seal.

[pvoltti]

Originally Posted by moose500

Living here in CA, we are finally getting some rain. However, I noticed a pool of water in the back of my 2003 X5 3.0. From the back of the car with the tailgate down, it was in the right-hand (passenger) side compartment in the "Trunk." When I pulled the panel off, there is really nothing behind there except wires but when I looked all the way down, there was a pool of water collecting at the bottom! I got it all dried off but have no idea how it got there and if it will come again. Does anyone have any experience with this? Please help...

Thanks,

Mike
SJ,CA

Oh shit. I have had the similar problem with my car about 15 years ago. It was really difficult to find out where the water was coming from. In my case it was a microscopically small hole in a welded seam which we found out by good luck. It took me several months to find it and to grab almost everything out of the car.

I recommend that you spray some water from a hose on to your car and you have a buddy inside of your car to find out where the water leaks. Your car fabrics becomes easily moulded and you're never able to get that smell away if you're not able to fix the problem.

[moose500]

Thanks. Shop I go to knew exactly what I was talking about and quoted me $250. Not too bad if that's what I can get outta there for.

[omodos]

sorry to hear about the leak, let us know how it goes please Does anyone know how to clean these drain plugs out now and again?is it a case of opening the tailgate and then prodding a rod into the two holes in upper part of the car(the rubber grommet type holes on either side at eye level) ?or is it a case of opening the panoramic sunroof and giving that a good clean all round, not sure where the water goes to be honest in terms of draining from the sunroof, man cannot believe these cars have these weaknesses, had I know I would have skipped the sunroof option....

[X Foomph]

Originally Posted by moose500

Thanks. Shop I go to knew exactly what I was talking about and quoted me $250. Not too bad if that's what I can get outta there for.

So where did your shop say it was leaking from ?? Any close up pic of the suspect area ??

Omodos,
I read in another thread just recently when a member had a blocked sunroof drain and had interior leaks. Apparently the sunroof drains are located front and rear. I think one drain pipe runs down one of the front windscreen pillars (or both?) and obviously comes out in the engine bay somewhere and you're right with the 2 drains coming out the back next to tailgate hinges. I believe if drains can't be unblocked it's a total removal of overhead roof lining and sunroof cassette to make good. Shit that's scary and would cost some coin as well. Sorry I don't know how one would clean out the rear drains apart from what you said by gently having a poke up there. Touch wood it dosen't happen to me, you and other members.

I'd be interested to hear comments on maintaining the drains as well. Is their entry points for the drains with the sunroof open where maybe compressed air could clean/clear out these drains ??

[X5 Meister]

Sounds like a great DIY article? Anyone??? BTW, anyone know if it's in the Bentley manual?

[X5 Meister]

Here you go, this might help. The stuff runs around $35 a tube.