Discussion
I recently bought an S reg E46 328i, and have just noticed that the rear nearside footwell is completely soaked. Thinking one of the kids had just left the door open in the rain, we removed the mat and have tried drying the carpet out with a hairdryer...but everyday it keeps coming back.
Closer inspection reveals that if you push down on the floor, water litterly squirts up through the holes where you secure the mat. I spoke to the dealer from where we purchased the car (not local), and they say it could well be a failed seal in the front nearside door, which leads to water leaking into the rear, and settling under the boards?
Has anyone else experienced this, or have any other ideas?
Thanks,
Neil
Closer inspection reveals that if you push down on the floor, water litterly squirts up through the holes where you secure the mat. I spoke to the dealer from where we purchased the car (not local), and they say it could well be a failed seal in the front nearside door, which leads to water leaking into the rear, and settling under the boards?
Has anyone else experienced this, or have any other ideas?
Thanks,
Neil
That sounds like the water's not draining away from somewhere it should. I've seen plenty of cars where there's a drain hole that gets blocked.
Also had a Citroen ZX (
Co car you understand) which devloped three inches of water in the first month because a bulkhead grommit was missing (Not the "Ah, wensleydale" type - the rubber thing) Someone "prepared" yours for sale and bodged something???
Also had a Citroen ZX (
Co car you understand) which devloped three inches of water in the first month because a bulkhead grommit was missing (Not the "Ah, wensleydale" type - the rubber thing) Someone "prepared" yours for sale and bodged something??? Thanks for the pointers guys. I don't think it has had a new front screen, but can't be sure. As you say, it's probably a hole blocked or seal perished somewhere.
I note your point about leaky TVRs...I'm on my 2nd of Blackpools finest, and despite the stories have never had a problem with water getting in. Typical eh...you buy piece of German precision engineering and look what happens...!!!
Anyway, wifeys taking it to the local BMW dealers this morning; I await their response.
Cheers,
Neil
I note your point about leaky TVRs...I'm on my 2nd of Blackpools finest, and despite the stories have never had a problem with water getting in. Typical eh...you buy piece of German precision engineering and look what happens...!!!
Anyway, wifeys taking it to the local BMW dealers this morning; I await their response.
Cheers,
Neil
Mmme ... the leaking front windscreen causing a soaked *rear* carpet - have you noticed a small brook running down your centre consol? 
Apart from this how are you finding the 328? My girlfriend is test driving one today (with sports suspension & 18"s) as an opt-out alternative to her company car.
Any opinions (or on the 330i Benno) would be gratefully received.
Cheers
Marco
Apart from this how are you finding the 328? My girlfriend is test driving one today (with sports suspension & 18"s) as an opt-out alternative to her company car.
Any opinions (or on the 330i Benno) would be gratefully received.
Cheers
Marco
Hi Marco,
Apart from the strange leak, we're very pleased with the car. Our previous family car was a Mondeo Ghia, and this is far more refined, quiet and powerful.
It's an auto (my first) which is very smooth, and has all the extras I need really. Haven't got sports suspension, but I did plump for some nice new 18" MV spokes, which really look the part, and don't spoil the ride.
The fuel economy is a little worse than I expected (so far averaging 21mpg, mostly around town) but then you kind of get used to that when you run a TVR too don't you.
Incidentally, my wife just called having visited the dealers...it's booked in for 2 weeks time, the earliest they could do it. Carpets might get a bit smelly by then, so I'll have to try and syphon as much water out as I can in the meantime. She said they were very helpful though!
Good luck with the test drive...let us know how you get on!
Neil
Apart from the strange leak, we're very pleased with the car. Our previous family car was a Mondeo Ghia, and this is far more refined, quiet and powerful.
It's an auto (my first) which is very smooth, and has all the extras I need really. Haven't got sports suspension, but I did plump for some nice new 18" MV spokes, which really look the part, and don't spoil the ride.
The fuel economy is a little worse than I expected (so far averaging 21mpg, mostly around town) but then you kind of get used to that when you run a TVR too don't you.
Incidentally, my wife just called having visited the dealers...it's booked in for 2 weeks time, the earliest they could do it. Carpets might get a bit smelly by then, so I'll have to try and syphon as much water out as I can in the meantime. She said they were very helpful though!
Good luck with the test drive...let us know how you get on!
Neil
GET THE 330D Sport!!!!!!!!!!!!
mondeoman said: Umm, I'll bet you could if you looked - mines worth about that now - W reg, 95k miles, fBMWsh, new engine at 75k, leather etc .........
If she didn't do 30k miles a year and get her fuel paid then that might be a great option - I've heard only good things about these cars!
I had a 98 silver 328 saloon auto E46, mileage was 26.5mpg generally in and around Manchester and cheshire and about 32mpg crusing on long trips at about 90. the worst the fuel consumption ever got was around 24mpg and I did drive the car quite hard. might be worth checking that something isn't causing your mileage to be so bad.
The only problems in 45000 miles were having to replace the front discs at 30000 miles, then having those discs replaced 1000 miles later due to the replacements being warped.
Lovely car, really relaxed cruiser with the auto box having such a high 5th gear ratio.
If you left your finger on the button on the remote control too long when opening the car the windows start to go down and sometimes I would get a whistle on the motor way because the front windows would be down just a fraction. It is an outside chance that this could be contributiing to your problem but this might be worth checking.
Another possibibility is a warped or incorrectly hung rear door this happend on the same car after some body turned down the side of it in sainsburys car park, because they punctured both skins the door was replaced and didn't hang quite right, leaving a larger gap at the front of the door, this caused some wind noise and could have let water in (although I wasn't aware of any ), it was corrected by the body shop.
Enjoy the car.
The only problems in 45000 miles were having to replace the front discs at 30000 miles, then having those discs replaced 1000 miles later due to the replacements being warped.
Lovely car, really relaxed cruiser with the auto box having such a high 5th gear ratio.
If you left your finger on the button on the remote control too long when opening the car the windows start to go down and sometimes I would get a whistle on the motor way because the front windows would be down just a fraction. It is an outside chance that this could be contributiing to your problem but this might be worth checking.
Another possibibility is a warped or incorrectly hung rear door this happend on the same car after some body turned down the side of it in sainsburys car park, because they punctured both skins the door was replaced and didn't hang quite right, leaving a larger gap at the front of the door, this caused some wind noise and could have let water in (although I wasn't aware of any ), it was corrected by the body shop.
Enjoy the car.
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