Leaking panoramic sunroof
 

This past week we experienced some pretty torrential rain, and I came out to my 4.8is to find that the driver's side front and rear carpet was wet and there was a pool of water in the passenger side trunk. I tore everything apart and removed the headliner in order to do a proper inspection and to dry it all out. What I have found is that none of the drains were detached or clogged (the rear passenger one may have been slightly restricted), so what I think happened is that the sunroof seal just allowed too much water to bypass and overwhelmed the drains.

So, I am replacing the seal, and am addressing a few other points that I see. One question I have is does the factory rear panoramic glass have a seal that goes around the entire perimeter? My glass only had a seal on the one front face. See the attached realoem.com image that had me question this.

Also, it appears that the sunroof cartridge on this model year had a service bulletin and called for a revised design. Does anyone know what changes were made for the new design?

SI B54 06 06 Special Roofs October 2009 Technical Service This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B54 06 06 dated Novemb

I would have tried putting a hose on each of the drain tubes for the sunroof and verified that you have a leak from that area. Allot of the leaks on the E53 have come from the vapor barrier shield otherwise referenced as the acoustic door shield. My right rear one had been removed for a previous repair and previous owner. Once i fixed this door barrier the leak and ponding of water on my carpet ceased to exist. You may be looking in the wrong place on your vehicle for the leak.

Well, for certain the driver's vapor barrier is damaged, in fact I just bought a new one this morning. So you are correct in that a lot of that water may have come from that. However, the A-pillar insulation on the back side of the cover was wet, and the passenger rear cubby where the stock subwoofer would normally be was a fish bowl (standing water of a few inches). I think what I have is a compounded effect of multiple problems which really just showed up due to the torrential downpour. In either case I'm attacking it on all fronts so it'll be resolved

Can anyone confirm if the seal on the stationary panoramic roof glass has a seal on just one side, or a seal all the way around it as is alluded to in the above factory diagram?

Well better to get her sealed up properly now rather than wait for the effects to take place down the road where repeated exposure of water to electrical components produces electrical gremlins ..

Yep. I only bought this vehicle about 3 weeks ago, so the amount of work I've done already is pretty impressive. I just happened to have already pulled that door panel when inspecting the audio system on that side just the week prior so I know that it was torn for some reason all over. Pulled the vapor barrier last night and removed every once of adhesive in prep for the new piece that is already in the mail