X5 - like a greenhouse - moisture

[X5-D-Sport]

In the last few days, noticed lots of condensation in my beloved X5....

Felt the carpets & found the one behind the drivers seat od damp, but probably a puddle underneath.

Care DOES NOT have a sun roof, and has been stationary for a couple of weeks over Christmas...

Presuming a leak thru the door seal some place, so for today, a liberal dose of silicone spray applied around/on the rubber seals.... assuming this is where its getting in - or between the seal & the door shut..

I took her for a drive for 30 mins / hot blowers & lots of air to dry her a bit...
Parked up & 15 minutes later - like a bloody green house again inside...

If any one has any experience of hunting down water ingress -
PLEASE share what you did to solve the issue. ???

[X5Sport]

Other sources are the seal between the door card and door.  There is a plastic sheet between that keeps water out of the interior.  This is from rainwater getting past the window seals.  Might be blocked drains in the door too.

Check for missing bungs underneath.

Check windscreen washer level isn't dropping unusually, as the pipe to the rear runs under the floor.  It has been a known issue in the past.

Rear quarter window leak is unlikely but possible.

Check the battery compartment too - just in case any water is in that area.

[X5-D-Sport]

MMMM

I can check the taste of the water in the foot well - for the sweet taste of anti freeze in the screen wash...

The door card idea makes some sense, will sneak out there now & look, as she often gets quite muddy between washes....
In theory the bungs at the bottom of the door should be gone, to let rain water out.... ?

Will lift the soggy carpet tomorrow & soak up some water..

I will empty the boot out tomorrow & take a look under the spare wheel too.

Every 3 months or so, I clean the door seal rubbers & mating surfaces with silicone spray to repel water getting in.... some how, it's failed this time lol

[X5-D-Sport]

Well, the two bungs are definitely in place in the bottom of the doors, so I pinged the puddle light out to see if any trace of wet on the rear/inside of the door card - bone dry & not a hint of moisture.

I'm guessing its getting in between the door seal rubber and the car body, tracking down the U channel of the rubber seal & getting into the vehicle that way.....
pulling the seal off the car body will show it... dry or wet !!

[R515]

My 630i had leaking rubber seals as well as a detached door membrane. The only way to sort it properly was to get the carpet out, it can hold literally pints of water before its wet on the surface due to the absorbent sound proofing foam on the back.

With the carpet out, it’s a lot easier to see where the water’s coming in as you can sit in whilst someone hoses the vehicle from the outside.

[X5-D-Sport]

Good advice - appreciated - many thanks

[X5Sport]

Sorry, I meant bungs in the bottom of the car.  It's unlikely but not unknown.

As above, it is the membrane seal behind the door card that comes adrift but you should be able to pick it up as the part of the door will be wet to the touch inside

[X5-D-Sport]

Problem solved - soooo simples...

The door seal strip - the one that surrounds the door aperture that pushes onto the body seam...

In the upper rear corner where the seal bends 90'... there are several sealing attributes...

There is the seal surface where the door mates to it...
AND
A second seal that seals the edge of the strip to the body, preventing water getting into the "U" channel of the seal fixing... this had let go, due to having been removed in the past & not re-seated properly...
thus the water made its way down the door frame & into the vehicle... the drips inside the seal & under the plastic lower trim edging had the offending evidence to show.

Interestingly ... the sound proofing under the carpet is nothing fancy - it's polystyrene... so no sponge water effect under there at all, just a bit damp... & wiped dry.

[X5Sport]

If only they were all this simple......

Great result though..:thumbup:

[R515]

Result, wish my 630i had been fixed this easily and cheaply!

[Colin]

run the AC with the heat on , it will help remove moisture

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Colin,
Agreed, yes, been doing that with the air on re-circulate to draw out the moisture.... it's getting there slowly..

The other thing I've done it to spray Silicone lubricant on the door seals & all mating surfaces to make damned sure no more water gets in...

[chrisn7]

I've had exactly the same problem over the hols, but the leak source was different. I noticed that the right rear door looked very slightly proud of the rear wing at the lower section. I removed the black cover to the door striker and found that the alignment marks were not in line. Adjustment of just 2mm has so far left the rear carpet dry. The leak appears to have been in the section down the side of the rear seat...

[X5-D-Sport]

Car dry now, no more moisture & no water dribbling in...

The only thing in the car that dribbles now - is ME...
Alzheimers & Dementia isn't good for us X5 car drivers lol ha ha ha  )  ::)  )

[X5Sport]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
The only thing in the car that dribbles now - is ME...
Alzheimers & Dementia isn't good for us X5 car drivers lol ha ha ha  )  ::)  )
[/quote]

) )