More water intrusion

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Possibly. I've not had the rear door cards off; I need to replace the door lock actuator on my side, and I have a good (tested) one from a junkyard. Maybe when I get back from Mexico...

Both front vapor barriers are long gone, but as far as I know there is no water leaking from the fronts.

Second for door vapor barriers. In really heavy rains the doors will literally fill up and spill over into the rear floor boards. Also check the drains in the bottom of the doors to be sure they are clear of debris as that will allow the water to drain more quickly instead of filling the doors.

Also had this problem happen to my X, but only in really heavy downpours. Hasn't happened since cleaning the drains and resealing the vapor barrier.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Second for door vapor barriers. In really heavy rains the doors will literally fill up and spill over into the rear floor boards. Also check the drains in the bottom of the doors to be sure they are clear of debris as that will allow the water to drain more quickly instead of filling the doors.

Also had this problem happen to my X, but only in really heavy downpours. Hasn't happened since cleaning the drains and resealing the vapor barrier.

Third vote for vapor barriers - had this same leak happen on one side when I first got the car - turns out a PO had ripped the vapor barrier and not repaired it.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Third vote for vapor barriers - had this same leak happen on one side when I first got the car - turns out a PO had ripped the vapor barrier and not repaired it.

New vapor barriers were still available last year. I replaced one that ripped in multiple places. Also, I read somewhere here to use a heat gun to soften that nasty black adhesive they are held on with. Great advice. Just a few seconds on a given area softens that stuff up to goo stage so you can press the barrier back on. As with all things heat gun related, be careful not to burn your x5 to the ground!

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by Henn28

As with all things heat gun related, be careful not to burn your x5 to the ground!

Don't tempt me with a good time!

I think FCP still sells the barriers but damn they are not cheap... we'll see if it's wet again when I get back from Mexico next week as it's supposed to rain a few times before then. If so, that's why. If not, then I guess it's a sunroof drain.

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Don't tempt me with a good time!

I think FCP still sells the barriers but damn they are not cheap... we'll see if it's wet again when I get back from Mexico next week as it's supposed to rain a few times before then. If so, that's why. If not, then I guess it's a sunroof drain.

Yeah they aren't cheap at $72 each... Check ebay and there was a pair of new Genuine front door vapor barriers. for $130

Part of the issue is the E53 vapor barriers are much thinner /more fragile than the E39 vapor barriers. I chalk that up to a US supplier and/or cost cutting..

The E53 vapor barriers tear if you look at them wrong..

You can try a junkyard, but you are not likely to find them in one piece.

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by Effduration

Yeah they aren't cheap at $72 each... Check ebay and there was a pair of new Genuine front door vapor barriers. for $130

Part of the issue is the E53 vapor barriers are much thinner /more fragile than the E39 vapor barriers. I chalk that up to a US supplier and/or cost cutting..

The E53 vapor barriers tear if you look at them wrong..

You can try a junkyard, but you are not likely to find them in one piece.

OK, I had not considered eBay... and yeah nearly every junkyard E53 has had the door cards pulled and the barriers ripped off to get at the door guts.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Don't tempt me with a good time!

I think FCP still sells the barriers but damn they are not cheap... we'll see if it's wet again when I get back from Mexico next week as it's supposed to rain a few times before then. If so, that's why. If not, then I guess it's a sunroof drain.

Ha! No kidding. The window mechanism engineering is often enough for me to consider it.