How do the drain tubes connect with the sunroof?
 

I've had water infiltrating the passenger A pillar when raining. The water then runs down to the front passenger foot-well and accumulates.
A search shows common issues with clogged sunroof drains. In my case water was puddling in the front passenger side on the opened sunroof so I blew compressed air from the drain end under the car. And then noticed that the water in the sunroof drained. I poured soda water into the drain of sunroof and it drained easily and I could see it come out of the bottom of car with some gunk. I poured some more until only clear fluid came out.
Problem solved! or so I thought...
I looked and noticed that water/soda was still flowing down the inside of the A-pillar. I have opened up as much of the headliner and a-pillar liner to be able to see the drain tube. but as it turns away from the a-pillar and goes towards the sunroof I lose my visual and tactile ability to follow it.

The only way the water is still coming in (as far as I can figure out) is if there is a failure at the point where the drain tube connects to the sunroof. But because I can not see it, I don't want to go through the work of removing the entire head liner without knowing how it connects. Is it a simple "insert" connection where one tube is larger than the other? or is it one piece from the drain, is it molded as one piece?

Any one have any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

Rui

The drain hose just has a rubber end that slips over the plastic end of the drain. Easy and self explanatory once you get to it.

Thanks Weasel,
Gonna try to remove the headliner to get to it.
Is there something I am overlooking? Any other way for water to leak in besides a poorly conected tube?
or
is there any way to get to the connection point without removing the entire headliner?
:dunno:

Either the tube came loose or the sunroof overflowing...

I have had an e70 for 3 years to the day today and had nothing but 1 problem with it - WATER.
after it been in the BMW workshop about 15 times over the last 3 years, it was discovered 3 weeks ago that the drain pipes from the sunroof going down the a pillars are clinked on both sides and as this car has never been anywhere but my main dealer, they are indicating that this was done at manufacture which will explain why it first happened after the 1st heavy rain but at the time they put it down to a lose grommet on the rear tailgate even though the water was coming through the sun visor. they have now ordered the replacement tubes and are still waiting on BMW technical on how to fit them - it has even been suggested by the dealership that they may need to cut a section out of the 'A; pillars to pull the tubes through - at this point I am going out of my mind on how this can be accepted - i bet they encounter lots of new vehicle requests on the warranty deadline but i think this is a genuine request as I don't want any paint job or welding done on my car - if i did I would pay 25k for a second hand one and not the 62k for a new one that i paid for - see my previous posts regarding this problem which includes my car acting as a sauna in the summer

here's a link to that post i started on here back in 2008
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ms-so-far.html

There must be a way to replace the pipes without cutting the car up