E46 330Ci Door Seals

[Argybargy]

Hi - appreciate that this isn’t the most exciting of topics but would appreciate some help if anyone has experienced the same problem. Over the past couple of months I noticed a lot more wind and road noise from the off side B pillar on my 2003 330 Ci.

I’ve had a couple of garages look at it and assumed it might be a window alignment issue. This proved not to be the case and I’ve been advised that I need a new window/door seal at a cost of over £300 (+fitting). I don’t think the garage are lifting my leg (they are an honest bunch) but I can’t see why the door seal is the issue - it looks in very good condition and hasn’t perished.

Any ideas?

[d_a_n1979]

Door seals are easy to do; they pull off and the push back on and you pull the wire out that seats it properly

An easy DIY job TBH

Just get the part number off RealOEM and buy new from the likes of Cotswolds BMW

[Argybargy]

d_a_n1979 said:

Door seals are easy to do; they pull off and the push back on and you pull the wire out that seats it properly

An easy DIY job TBH

Just get the part number off RealOEM and buy new from the likes of Cotswolds BMW

Thankyou - that’s helpful - the question was more about why the seal should fail given it looks ok. My garage has provided the part number but the BMW dealer network is saying the part is on back order (and has been for some time). I will be checking any other in-line sources

[d_a_n1979]

Argybargy said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Door seals are easy to do; they pull off and the push back on and you pull the wire out that seats it properly

An easy DIY job TBH

Just get the part number off RealOEM and buy new from the likes of Cotswolds BMW

Thankyou - that’s helpful - the question was more about why the seal should fail given it looks ok. My garage has provided the part number but the BMW dealer network is saying the part is on back order (and has been for some time). I will be checking any other in-line sources

Age; rubber perishes with age... It'll be nigh on 20 years old now!

I'd also suggest using this every autumn into winter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nextzett-91480615-Rubber-...

Keeps the seals fed and plump etc

[dhutch]

d_a_n1979 said:

I'd also suggest using this every autumn into winter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nextzett-91480615-Rubber-...

Keeps the seals fed and plump etc

Silicone grease, presumably?

[d_a_n1979]

dhutch said:

d_a_n1979 said:

I'd also suggest using this every autumn into winter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nextzett-91480615-Rubber-...

Keeps the seals fed and plump etc

Silicone grease, presumably?

Click on the link and read all about it

Been using it for years; it works really well TBH and has brought old stiff door seals on my previous E39s back to life after a few applications

[dhutch]

d_a_n1979 said:

Click on the link and read all about it

I did, but that didn't shed much light on what was in it, just that it is water and petroleum-free, with a typo.

Edit, looking again it actually says "Water based and pretroleum-free." to presumably not silicone based.

[dhutch]

Argybargy said:

Hi - appreciate that this isn’t the most exciting of topics but would appreciate some help if anyone has experienced the same problem. Over the past couple of months I noticed a lot more wind and road noise from the off side B pillar on my 2003 330 Ci.

I’ve had a couple of garages look at it and assumed it might be a window alignment issue. This proved not to be the case and I’ve been advised that I need a new window/door seal at a cost of over £300 (+fitting). I don’t think the garage are lifting my leg (they are an honest bunch) but I can’t see why the door seal is the issue - it looks in very good condition and hasn’t perished.

Any ideas?

Argybargy said:

Thankyou - that’s helpful - the question was more about why the seal should fail given it looks ok. My garage has provided the part number but the BMW dealer network is saying the part is on back order (and has been for some time). I will be checking any other in-line sources

Can you put something (paint, die, rubber grease) on the seal, close the door, reopen and see if it has left a print. A bit like using engineers blue, to see if the two surfaces are touching.

The rear quarterlight seals on my 300ci are perished and starting to split down the bottom edge, but that is nearer the c-pillar end and I havent noticed any more wind noise, so likely different. Havent tried to buy replacements, in part because my tame bmw guy said they are a bugger to replace!

As for availability, have you tried a google search and or ebay for the parts? I find there are often plenty of oem parts on ebay and they can be cheaper via Lithuania than Cotswold BMW.

[e21Keith]

There is another possible cause for this which I have experienced.

Air/wind noise can come from the the door mirror. The should be some insulation behind the door mirror inside (and outside) the car. Often this gets disturbed when the mirror is replaced.

[Argybargy]

dhutch said:

Argybargy said:

Hi - appreciate that this isn’t the most exciting of topics but would appreciate some help if anyone has experienced the same problem. Over the past couple of months I noticed a lot more wind and road noise from the off side B pillar on my 2003 330 Ci.

I’ve had a couple of garages look at it and assumed it might be a window alignment issue. This proved not to be the case and I’ve been advised that I need a new window/door seal at a cost of over £300 (+fitting). I don’t think the garage are lifting my leg (they are an honest bunch) but I can’t see why the door seal is the issue - it looks in very good condition and hasn’t perished.

Any ideas?

Argybargy said:

Thankyou - that’s helpful - the question was more about why the seal should fail given it looks ok. My garage has provided the part number but the BMW dealer network is saying the part is on back order (and has been for some time). I will be checking any other in-line sources

Can you put something (paint, die, rubber grease) on the seal, close the door, reopen and see if it has left a print. A bit like using engineers blue, to see if the two surfaces are touching.

The rear quarterlight seals on my 300ci are perished and starting to split down the bottom edge, but that is nearer the c-pillar end and I havent noticed any more wind noise, so likely different. Havent tried to buy replacements, in part because my tame bmw guy said they are a bugger to replace!

As for availability, have you tried a google search and or ebay for the parts? I find there are often plenty of oem parts on ebay and they can be cheaper via Lithuania than Cotswold BMW.

Thankyou - haven’t tried applying grease etc to the seal, however a quick wash showed some water Ingress (not much - just a few drops) on the inside of the glass on the lower section of the seal.

I have located the part on the LLL parts website and I am checking availability.

[Argybargy]

e21Keith said:

There is another possible cause for this which I have experienced.

Air/wind noise can come from the the door mirror. The should be some insulation behind the door mirror inside (and outside) the car. Often this gets disturbed when the mirror is replaced.

Now you mention it I did experience some increase in wind noise when I replaced the offside door mirror a while ago and I will look into that - but the main issue with wind noise is definitely coming from the B pillar. At lower speeds it is like driving along with the window slightly open (so you can hear road noise) and then the wind noise becomes very noticeable at >60 mph.

[Teddy Lop]

Argybargy said:

Now you mention it I did experience some increase in wind noise when I replaced the offside door mirror a while ago and I will look into that - but the main issue with wind noise is definitely coming from the B pillar. At lower speeds it is like driving along with the window slightly open (so you can hear road noise) and then the wind noise becomes very noticeable at >60 mph.

Is the window fully closing? IIRC the window retracts slightly when you open the door and lifts when you close it.

[d_a_n1979]

Argybargy said:

dhutch said:

Argybargy said:

Hi - appreciate that this isn’t the most exciting of topics but would appreciate some help if anyone has experienced the same problem. Over the past couple of months I noticed a lot more wind and road noise from the off side B pillar on my 2003 330 Ci.

I’ve had a couple of garages look at it and assumed it might be a window alignment issue. This proved not to be the case and I’ve been advised that I need a new window/door seal at a cost of over £300 (+fitting). I don’t think the garage are lifting my leg (they are an honest bunch) but I can’t see why the door seal is the issue - it looks in very good condition and hasn’t perished.

Any ideas?

Argybargy said:

Thankyou - that’s helpful - the question was more about why the seal should fail given it looks ok. My garage has provided the part number but the BMW dealer network is saying the part is on back order (and has been for some time). I will be checking any other in-line sources

Can you put something (paint, die, rubber grease) on the seal, close the door, reopen and see if it has left a print. A bit like using engineers blue, to see if the two surfaces are touching.

The rear quarterlight seals on my 300ci are perished and starting to split down the bottom edge, but that is nearer the c-pillar end and I havent noticed any more wind noise, so likely different. Havent tried to buy replacements, in part because my tame bmw guy said they are a bugger to replace!

As for availability, have you tried a google search and or ebay for the parts? I find there are often plenty of oem parts on ebay and they can be cheaper via Lithuania than Cotswold BMW.

Thankyou - haven’t tried applying grease etc to the seal, however a quick wash showed some water Ingress (not much - just a few drops) on the inside of the glass on the lower section of the seal.

I have located the part on the LLL parts website and I am checking availability.

I'd avoid LLL parts at all costs

They're not UK based but Latvia and parts rarely arrive; I myself and a few folk I know have had issues with them and it took ages to resolve

Just buy from UK based reputable sellers and/or Cotswolds BMW and pay a bit more for peace of mind and less hassle/ballache

[Argybargy]

d_a_n1979 said:

Argybargy said:

dhutch said:

Argybargy said:

Hi - appreciate that this isn’t the most exciting of topics but would appreciate some help if anyone has experienced the same problem. Over the past couple of months I noticed a lot more wind and road noise from the off side B pillar on my 2003 330 Ci.

I’ve had a couple of garages look at it and assumed it might be a window alignment issue. This proved not to be the case and I’ve been advised that I need a new window/door seal at a cost of over £300 (+fitting). I don’t think the garage are lifting my leg (they are an honest bunch) but I can’t see why the door seal is the issue - it looks in very good condition and hasn’t perished.

Any ideas?

Argybargy said:

Thankyou - that’s helpful - the question was more about why the seal should fail given it looks ok. My garage has provided the part number but the BMW dealer network is saying the part is on back order (and has been for some time). I will be checking any other in-line sources

Can you put something (paint, die, rubber grease) on the seal, close the door, reopen and see if it has left a print. A bit like using engineers blue, to see if the two surfaces are touching.

The rear quarterlight seals on my 300ci are perished and starting to split down the bottom edge, but that is nearer the c-pillar end and I havent noticed any more wind noise, so likely different. Havent tried to buy replacements, in part because my tame bmw guy said they are a bugger to replace!

As for availability, have you tried a google search and or ebay for the parts? I find there are often plenty of oem parts on ebay and they can be cheaper via Lithuania than Cotswold BMW.

Thankyou - haven’t tried applying grease etc to the seal, however a quick wash showed some water Ingress (not much - just a few drops) on the inside of the glass on the lower section of the seal.

I have located the part on the LLL parts website and I am checking availability.

I'd avoid LLL parts at all costs

They're not UK based but Latvia and parts rarely arrive; I myself and a few folk I know have had issues with them and it took ages to resolve

Just buy from UK based reputable sellers and/or Cotswolds BMW and pay a bit more for peace of mind and less hassle/ballache

I wasn't aware of that - thanks for the info.

[Argybargy]

Quick update - spoke to Cotswold BMW today - they have the part and can supply for a reasonable price.

Thanks to all for your advice.

[dhutch]

Good result.

Wonder why you where previously told none in dealer stock.

[d_a_n1979]

Argybargy said:

Quick update - spoke to Cotswold BMW today - they have the part and can supply for a reasonable price.

Thanks to all for your advice.

Good to see you're sorted