Rain is killing me

[ard]

Originally Posted by Daytonawim

If the stuf under the carpet is soaked with water, it’s a lot of work to get it dry, that will take more than a few day’s to dry out.

The insulation works like a Sponge.

Find a video or pictures of 'carpet removal E70' and you will appreciate the thickness of carpet+padding

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by Daytonawim

If the stuf under the carpet is soaked with water, it’s a lot of work to get it dry, that will take more than a few day’s to dry out.

The insulation works like a Sponge.

When my E53 had a soaked front left carpet, due to a plugged & kinked A-pillar drain tube https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ide-floor.html, I covered the X5 with a tarp (to prevent more water incoming) and ran a 600 watt heater and a 11" fan (to dry out the saturated carpet) for 3.5 days, before the weather was dry and the carpet was, too.

I did leave a window cracked to allow excessive heat out during the day, and just ran the fan at night (I was checking the temperature and dryness of the carpet several times each day, to be safe).

I was fortunate that my sunroof (non-pano) was the only source of water, having extensively checked all the "usual suspects" that get wet in an X5, so when I cleared the drain(s) & lubed and tested the sunroof for smooth operation, I then sealed it with paint protection film and removed the fuse (F58), so I can sleep at night during thunderstorms. Never liked sunroofs, so no loss; the paint protection film is unnoticeable under my roofrack, and I'll renew it in a couple more years (the ppf on my '09 HHR Panel's rear fenders is still OK, after all these years and 175000 miles).

It's been nearly two years since then, so I'd expect any connection or module that might've gotten wet would've already started malfunctioning already; must've been lucky...good luck in your case, Bananafone.

[Bananafone]

This might be it! When I get a chance I’m going to soak the RDC and see if the faults return. And then unplug.

https://youtu.be/gaS8JmzD6o8

[E-series ftw]

I had similar issues with my 4.8i E70 when I bought it. It did not run, but it was trying to start. At the end of the day, the completely sealed DME box was half full of water and the VVT module was completely full of rusty water. The DME is not a sealed unit so water didn't stay in the module. I had to replace the VVT module and soaked all the DME and VVT connectors in pb blaster for about 4 days, as they were all green. I had to poke a hole in the bottom of the DME box to drain it out and I'd guess about a gallon of water came out. ISTA showed a DME box fan activation error (obviously). 4 days afterwards, I blew the connectors clean and they were all back to a shining copper colour. Reinstalled a dry DME and an eBay VVT module and it started right up!!
I am however still chasing a strange interior lighting issue, where all the overhead console switch lights and the 2 ambiance spot lights are on permanently. BMWteka doesn't show the wiring diagrams to the overhead console (says it's under revision), but I didn't find any evidence of water ingress in either the FRM or the JBE modules. I'm suspecting I may have to to a reprogram on the FRM to see if that solves it. The previous owner complained of a battery drain consistently having to boost it, so that may have caused some issues with the FRM.

But anyway, you should definitely check the DME box for signs of water.

[WontonMH]

Picked up the X5 from the shop yesterday. Huge shoutout to Atlantic Auto Werks in Virginia Beach. Very professional and communicative.

Anyways, initial 2hrs of diagnostic did not find any water under carpets, in engine bay connectors, etc. they called me and asked for authorization for an additional 4hrs of labor to remove/inspect all modules on the vehicle, as well as performing resistance/voltage checks on all bus connections.

They ended up finding that the “K-can bud high side junction at rear of vehicle” had water damage. No water was present in the junction, but water had clearly been there at some point. They did not believe that this was new water intrusion, but more than likely delayed onset from the water intrusion that plagued the previous owner and led to the sunroof replacement/liftgate module replacement.

Car is good now obviously, but it’ll take me a while to not shudder a bit every time I go to start it, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified that it’ll happen again. That BMW ding haunts me.

Really hoping that OP gets some closure on his issue, and maybe this’ll help him/anyone who stumbles across this thread. And for those who may be curious, I paid $750 to the shop for the interior inspection/inspection of all modules. Decent bit of peace of mind knowing that all the modules and junctions were professionally inspected.

[andrewwynn]

Great feedback and sounds like a good mechanic. It's very tough to dig though everything and figuring out a price point is not easy at all.


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[Bananafone]

I think this thread is exactly what was going on with both my e70 and Wontons.
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...preciated.html

Thanks Wonton for the tip to check the rear junction, my green wires were all disconnected. It doesn’t explain the rain issue but is a step in the right direction!