So I get into my 2000 328i tonight and notice that there is a ton of condensation. I leaned over to the passenger side to pick something off the floor and noticed that the floor was soaking wet. Moonroof was dry and the windows were closed and dry. The only place that was wet was the floor and the area underneath the right side of the dash. I can have the windshield pulled and resealed for almost nothing, but has anyone every come across this before or have any ideas? Thanks so much!!

I would not jump into having the windshield resealed before inspecting other possible causes. Water can be entering from the door (weather barrier), leaking from the a/c system (clogged drains), moon roof drains (clogged drains), or even a body seal. Were there any recent repairs performed to your vehicle in that area? Has your windshild been replaced? If not, I doubt that after seven years the sealant/glue is just starting to leak.
It is common that the weather barrier behind the door trim panel is not correctly sealing. Especially after having the window regulator replaced.
Hopefully this information helps!!

Yes, the water barrier in the passenger door is a MUCH more likely culprit. Here's how you check for a leaking water barrier in the door....

1. Run water onto the molding at the top of the door where it meets the bottom of the window.

2. Keep running the water...

3. STOP!

4. Let it sit so the excess water can drip oof of the door frame and run through the inside of the door frame.

5. Wait 1 minute.

6. Ok, here's the important part. Open the door.

7. Kneel down and look at the underside of the door panel. If you see any moisture on the door frame between the bottom of the door panel and the seal that runs along the bottom of the door, you've got a leaking water barrier. You'll be able to tell if that's what it is when you see it, cause there'll be a trail that looks like it's coming from under the door panel. (Because it is!) And then it's running onto your passenger floor.

I will check it out today. The only thing that confused me was that the entire floor was wet. Another good possibility is that it is the A/C. I feel like it is something under the dash. Thanks for the help, I will check it out today and post later on.

I tested to see if the door panel was sealed and everything was perfect. I covered the car with water for about 5 minutes at a few different places and didn't see a leak in the area. How would I go about checking to see or fixing a clogged A/c drain. And would that produce that much water after only running the A/C for about 5 minutes (on high)?

You might check the drains under the cowl on the engine side of the firewall. I think those cause problems with e36s.

I was driving home tonight and the passengers side window and the corner of the windshield fogged up. I washed the car earlier and we had a small rain shower (5 min). This is really confusing me...

Have you checked the AC drain?

Personally, I would remove the right front door panel trim and inspect the weather barrier rather than running water around the outer window seal. Visually inspecting the weather barrier would eliminate it as the problem.
What is the history on the vehicle as for repairs? Any recent repairs? This information would help if any..
I assume that when you noticed the wet floor, it was raining the day of or a few days before. I highly doubt that the A/C set on high for 5 mins would create such a high amount of water. To check A/C drains, turn the A/C system on max. Depending on humididty, water should be found dripping under vehicle around transmission on the ground. Remember that this depends on the amount of moisture in the air.
Hope you find the problem soon...

OK, the door panel has never been removed. I checked the drains for the sunroof, I checked roof drains, and I checked the cowl. The A/C has only been on for about 5 minutes since I have owned the car. This has only happened after rain. I have no clue what this could be...

Does anyone know how the plastic molding above the rocker panel comes off? I want to pull up the carpet and see if I have an issue with the floor. Thanks!!

You might check the drains under the cowl on the engine side of the firewall. I think those cause problems with e36s.

But this is an E46.

OK, the door panel has never been removed. I checked the drains for the sunroof, I checked roof drains, and I checked the cowl. The A/C has only been on for about 5 minutes since I have owned the car. This has only happened after rain. I have no clue what this could be...

Uh, I don't believe for 2 seconds that the door panel has never been off. (Unless you've owned it since it was new, then I believe you.) How did you determine the panel had never been off? I'll bet you can count on one hand the number of E46's that have not had the passenger door window regulator replaced.

You said you checked the roof drains - how? You have to pour water into the tray through the open sunroof and make sure it comes out under the car.

I also doubt that the a/c is causing that much condensation. E46's didn't have much problem with clogged drains anyhow.

The plastic cover over the edge of the carpet just snaps out. The snaps are on the carpet side. But you might as well go buy a new one now if you're gong to remove it (maybe a slight exaggeration). They're pretty tough to remove without a fat forked trim removal tool, though. If you use a screwdriver, you will break it.

I called the guy who owned it before me and he owned the car from about 20K miles and he said the window regulator has never been replaced. I poured water on the window to see if it was coming in from the door panel and nothing happened after about 10 minutes (which I actually timed). The water came out of the drain under the door.

I opened the sunroof and poured water into the tray with the sunroof open and both drains worked fine (water come out under the car).

I poured water in the cowl and the drains worked fine with no water.

I poured water into the roof rails and nothing happened.


Conclusion... bring it to the mechanic and let him break the plastic cover over the edge of the carpet and hopefully fix the problem!

Whoa! Hold on a second. Did you also check the rear door vapor barrier? The water could be coming in there and running to the front of the car.

Critter,
I did not check the rear door vapor barrier. Probably because I have no idea what that is. If you tell me I will check it ASAP. Thanks!!

It's the same thing you checked on the front door to see if water was coming from under the door panel. Vapor barrier, weather barrier, water barrier, whatever you want to call it. It's the foam piece that is sealed to the door frame under the door panel. You can check to see if it's leaking the same way you checked the front door - get water inside the door frame and make sure it comes out the drains at the bottom and only the drains. Make sure it's not coming out from behind the door panel like you did on the front door.

I actually just had this problem a couple days ago. Got it fixed under warranty and the problem was found to be the front passenger vapor barrier.