Water leaking from the top center console in heavy rain
 

Hi guys,

A few months ago, after X5 sitting under heavy rain over night, when I started to drive the car in the morning I noticed a few drops of water dripping from up top, and when I looked, I saw some wet spots around the sunroof button. I thought may be it was condensation and left it at that, especially since it didn't drip again that day, and we have had sunny weather ever since.

Well, today was the first day of stormy/heavy rain weather here in San Jose, and my car was parked outside all day at work. The same thing happened when I returned to the car... it dripped only during my first brake and first turn. Again, these were only a few drips (3-5 tops.)

I have read some other threads on this and I am not clear whether it is the whole sunroof (hope not, out of warranty), or whether it is the drain tubes being kinked or clugged.

I am worried this may cause some electrical short or something, so I parked the X5 indoor for tonight and parked my wife's 328i outside.


Any suggestions on where to start looking? should I start from the center console, or A pillar covers?

Any suggestion on easy fixes for this, if indeed the problem is 'just' a kinked tube?

Thanks for your advice.

This might be able to help you. Good luck.

had the same issue, took it to dealer they couldn't find anything.
i believe this has only happened to me after heavy rain fall. went through many car washes and other rainy days but nothing has turned up in awhile.
let me know if you find the problem/solution

Good link - I had clogged sunroof drains - dealer cleaned them out under warranty and all is good now. Only had one leak once but water was coming in around the ceiling console in the front.

Yep, I'd bet dollars to peso's that your front drains are clogged. Use the info in that thread simoncpw linked to clear the drains, then puor water in the top with the glass open to make sure the drains are flowing properly. (you should actually do this before and after to double check the diagnosis and fix)

i'll bet the sunroof cassette is warped. the coorection from bmw is to install foam padding to absorb the water. the real way to fix it is to replace the frame.

Just curious, if the dealer added foam padding to absorb the water, isn't it still leaking? This doesn't seem like a fix unless the the dealer is using foam tape as a gasket. My suggestion to the op is to let the dealer look at it If the X is under warranty. Plenty of dealers in the SJ area.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions, and simoncpw for the link. I tried my best searching for that thread, as I had seen that before, but a search on 'leak' or 'leaking' or 'pano' or ... on the title of the threads did not result in it. That now makes sense, since the title is 'water in my...' :)

I certainly hope this is the case, and thinking about it now, if the drains are plugged at the bottom (as Weasel suggests in that thread), then kinda makes sense... since this has happened only under heavy rain conditions with car parked for over a few hours outside. I assume a slight leak would drain down and start to fill up the drain hose and finally when it is full, it starts to show up in the cabin through the over head console.

I will try and get to it, and if I can, I will take many pictures and post up.

killcrap, thanks for the info on the warped cassette and BMW's foam fix. That would be my next step if it proves to be more than just a clogged passage.

I will keep you posted on the progress. If anyone else has any suggestions or things to add to this thread meanwhile, don't be shy. :thumbup:

OK, so I poured some club soda at the corners and they flowed very easily through the drain holes and down under the car. There was no resistance at all, I poured the liquid from top and almost instantly it came out from the bottom.

But upon examining the front of the moon-roof, I noticed that there is (what I would consider to be a large) gap between the roof top and the roof lining on the front side. I used a flashlight and I could see through it the inside of the top console, including the moonroof switch and connector to it. The gap is about 1/8" to 1/4" all the way across, with no weather stripping or anything stopping water from getting in. So if there was any leak from moonroof, it could find its way through this gap into the top console before it finds its way down the drain.

I think I should be able to open the top console and seal the gap in that area with some sort of duct tape or some other sealing material from inside (suggestions welcome.) Even may be put a piece of foam there to absorb the little water that finds its way in through there. killcrap, is that were the foam is being placed as a workaround?

Here is the picture of the gap:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...5_1024x768.jpg




Here are some pictures for those who are interested:

Here is the drain comes out under the car:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...l_location.jpg


On the front-passenger side:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...in_bottom1.jpg


The outlet is covered by a rubber piece that has cuts at the end to open as needed:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...2_1024x768.jpg


On top, the front drain holes are at both corners, its general locations is shown here but the hole itself is not visible in this picture (couldn't find an angle to take a picture of the hole... but you can't miss it when looking in that area)

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...4_1024x768.jpg

Damn, no easy way for you... looks like killcrap got the diagnosis on this one. It is the less common cause (at least down here) but still a problem.

I'd go for the foam as well as a new sunroof seal around the opening for the glass. A new seal will let less water through and let the drains keep up better.