I've been troubleshooting my car for the wet rear seat floors and was waiting for the next big rain after cleaning my sun roof drains. I didn't get anything out of them and they didn't seem clogged, so I was not hopeful that i fixed the problem.

Long rains for the last couple days and sure enough, the X has water in both sides in the back. Further, it rained so hard and long that I actually saw water migrating around the bottom of the door (inside of the wx striping) and into the car. I also see bubbles when I press on the two plugs in the bottom of the door now, so clearly water is pooling in the door.

Hopefully you guys can help me understand what is going on before I pull the door cards and risk all the old plastic problems that this job entails. I have two new vapor barriers, which seems to be the cause, but just what is supposed to happen to the water that pools inside the door, after I install the barriers, with new butyl tape i have on order?

Is there a door drain(s) that I'm not seeing that the water is supposed to drain out of but instead is finding a more easy/clear path past the barrier and into the car? And if so, do I need to make sure these are clear? I can't imagine the door is supposed to be 100% water tight so no rain gets in at all, or that the rain doesn't have anywhere to go should it get in (other than into the car).

I've got a couple days before my butyl tape gets in, so any advice is welcome before I pull both rear door cards.

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Current
Original owner 2002 E53 X5 4.4i to 4.6i swap
2026 G80 M3 6 spd
2025 G06 X5 50e
Former
1972 Audi Fox
1986 Saab 900S
1996 BMW Z3
1998 BMW E36 M3 Sedan
2004 BMW E46 M3
2006 Audi A3 Quatro
1993 Mopar 318 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2015 V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee