E53 left rear quarter has water...is there a drain?

[2mbb]

Hello: My daughter complained the music wasn't working in my 2001 E53. The head unit seemed OK, so I checked the amplifier in the left rear quarter panel. I found about 1 liter of water in the quarter panel and the bottom of the amplifier was sitting in the water.


I removed the amplifier and the bracket that holds the amplifier. After removing the water I noticed what looks like a drain plug/vavle in the bottom. I'm having a hard time identifying this part. Is there a drain in the quarter panel? If so, what is it called and/or would someone be able to post a part number.


The right quarter panel also has a small amount of water. However, I found only an open hole in the bottom. Previously I had covered this up with duct tape. If the drain plug/valve exists, I suppose one should be installed on this side too?


Thanks for your help!

[Bdc101]

I am not sure if a drain exists - but the water is probably getting in via the taillights. You may want to look into new gaskets for the outer taillights. Especially if you are in an area that gets a lot of rain. I used to have this problem until I moved to the desert.

[2mbb]

Thanks for the reply. Upon closer inspection I think I mistook a blind plug for a drain. I have looked at the tail light gaskets and they look OK to me, but I'll go ahead and replace them anyway as it is something easy to do. After I re-gasket, I guess I'll have to do a shower test.



I let the amplifier dry out overnight and plugged it in again, but it doesn't work. The "radio" fuses located in the cargo area (#72 and 73 I think) checked out ok. I guess I'll have to replace the amp (again). The original amp went out shortly after I got the car about 2 1/2 years ago. one of the male connectors on the amp had corroded so bad it broke off. I think this car has had a long time problem with moisture in the rear quarter panels. although the metal looks really clean (no corrosion).



Anybody have any other ideas?



Thanks!

[oldskewel]

Another common cause for water collecting in the rear wells on left and right sides is the sunroof drains.

Search on here and I bet you will find some info. I had that problem on my 2001 E53 when I first got it. Hoses connect each of the 4 corners of the sunroof opening to drains, two at the front A pillars and two at the upper corners of the rear hatch opening. On my car, the rear hoses had apparently shrunk after 13 years of heat, and when they shrunk enough, the hose pulled off the attachment at the sunroof, so water would just pour onto the headliner and drain into the rear corners (depends on the angle you are parked at, I guess).

Separately, I did at one point have an opening back there that was letting water in. Solution to find it was to get everything completely dry, get inside the car, everything really well lit, and have a helper spray a hose from the outside. Was able to then see tiny drops of water coming through. Once found, easily sealed with caulk, RTV, whatever you want.

[2mbb]

Thanks. I'll check out the sunroof drains

[2mbb]

So I dropped the headliner and checked the drains. Luckily I found a nice set of instructions online. It turns out the neither of the rear drains tubes was connected to the sun roof drains! I couldn’t pull the tube long enough to get it to fit. I made an extension from another hose barb and secured it all with shrink tube. Hopefully this will work!

[plasstik]

Like they said above.


There are two rubber hose drains attached to the rear of the sunroof. You remove them by pulling them out from the back (easy part), getting them back in is the hard part. Try silicone spray so they slip in easier.



You'll have little room to work, and you'll have to be careful not the break your headliner frame, but doable. I recommend you just drop the headliner. It will take extra time, but you'll have more room to work.



I had the same problem before I replaced my sunroof. Problem for me was, I couldn't find new rear hoses (that or I was drinking at the time and just don't remember, anyway) so, I went to the junkyards and found hoses I felt would do the job.


Not wanting to remove the headliner again, I used silicone and zipties to secure the hoses. Might be overkill, but it's not leaking.


The rear tail light seals/gaskets are foam, compress, are old and need replacing.

[omodos]

Originally Posted by plasstik

Like they said above.


There are two rubber hose drains attached to the rear of the sunroof. You remove them by pulling them out from the back (easy part), getting them back in is the hard part. Try silicone spray so they slip in easier.



You'll have little room to work, and you'll have to be careful not the break your headliner frame, but doable. I recommend you just drop the headliner. It will take extra time, but you'll have more room to work.



I had the same problem before I replaced my sunroof. Problem for me was, I couldn't find new rear hoses (that or I was drinking at the time and just don't remember, anyway) so, I went to the junkyards and found hoses I felt would do the job.


Not wanting to remove the headliner again, I used silicone and zipties to secure the hoses. Might be overkill, but it's not leaking.


The rear tail light seals/gaskets are foam, compress, are old and need replacing.

Not just there yet but does this invlove opening the sunroof cos mine has the age old ailment of not want to shut flish once opened so have not opened it for years....

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by 2mbb

So I dropped the headliner and checked the drains. Luckily I found a nice set of instructions online. It turns out the neither of the rear drains tubes was connected to the sun roof drains! I couldn’t pull the tube long enough to get it to fit. I made an extension from another hose barb and secured it all with shrink tube. Hopefully this will work!

Glad you found that.

I solved mine with a similar extension solution.

I think that it is the heating of the tubing - being in between the headliner and roof, so when parked in the sun for a decade or more, the vinyl / rubber shrinking is not a surprise - that causes the problem, maybe for some people but not others depending on where they park, and whether their paint is dark vs. light.

[plasstik]

Originally Posted by omodos

Not just there yet but does this invlove opening the sunroof cos mine has the age old ailment of not want to shut flish once opened so have not opened it for years....

Nope.

For me, I wouldn’t do the heat shrink tube. Heat + old stuff = shiot will catch fire easily. And definitely if you’re not going to remove the headliner.

Not unless you plan to pull the tubes out and do some tony stark fabrication.






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