First off, this is a great idea for a sub-forum:buttrock

My wife's 97 318ic has water filling up the passenger foot well and under the rear seats. It looks like a swimming pool after any rainstorm. There's also water in the passenger side sill, which I hear sloshing around. In the convertible top compartment, there's water in there too.

Any idea which seals I should be replacing or how I can find the leak(s)?

thanks,
Bryant
--
'88 E30 M3
'97 E36 318ic

sounds like water is not draining out of the convertible top compartment. There should be two drains in there, one on each side. If you look where the top hardware is bolted to the car on either side, you will see a small round piece of rubber, one on each side. Thats the drain. Blow some compressed air in there to clean it out. Also if the car is parked with the nose higher then the rear, and the drains are blocked, water will leak into the trunk, parked the other way, it will leak into the passenger compartment.

Good luck.

Hey there

Amancuso is totally correct. I had this problem and flushed out the drains. Make sure you clean them out real well.

You may also want to change the seal around the hard deck over the storage area. These get tired and flatten out after a few years. I replaced mine this year and no rain gets in at all now.

You guys are awsome, a dedicated 3X8iC Mechanics!
Hey there

Amancuso is totally correct. I had this problem and flushed out the drains. Make sure you clean them out real well.

You may also want to change the seal around the hard deck over the storage area. These get tired and flatten out after a few years. I replaced mine this year and no rain gets in at all now.

I had the same problem. Previous owner of the car had the hood replaced, and the guy who replaced it, left an old rivot in there which plugged the hole.

I was about to use an old school drainage aid on my convert, and drill a hole in the floor below the top. I'm glad I found this place!

If it's going to rain I always make sure I'm parked on level ground. Other wise water leaks through the A pillar on the driver's side and floods the carpet.

Amancuso!

Can you shot a picture of the drain?? For future reference!

Chris

Amancuso!

Can you shot a picture of the drain?? For future reference!

Chris

It just looks like a rubber grommet about the size of a nickel. It's located towards the outer wall of the conv. storage area.

My vert had this problem when I bought it. The previous owner thought it needed a new top and didn't want to deal with it = steal for me! :devillook

I just straightened a coat hanger and snaked it thru the drain to unclog it. Haven't had any reoccuring problems in a year and a half...

Is it one on each side? I have two grommets..one has a hole (the drain) and the other one appears solid..no hole.

I'll take some pictures tomorrow...
Treibefroh... your problem are the A pillar drains, there are 2 one on each corner... try cleaning those out as well.

Here is a shot of top storage compartment drain...

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4333/leakynr7.jpg

Thanks Camelius, you saved me a bit of time :D I'll grab the A pillar ones when I get home from work.