F10/F11 Grommet of Doom!

Yes, caught by the infamous leaking grommet!

Opened the rear passenger side door this morning, to find water above the carpet. After pumping out about 10 litres of water, set about checking for the leak.

No sign of it being the vapour barrier, no clue in a 'misting' sill plate over the past few weeks. Checked the front roof drains, all good as expected, so onto the grommet...

Sure enough, after removing the cover plate, found the offending grommet. At least it wasn't too difficult on the 535i, just enough space for a bloke's hand, using a miniature Devalt ratchet and torx bit.

Pleased to have NewTIS available, to ensure I'd get the necessary door shut/carpet cover trims off, without breaking clips and brackets.

Grommet has gone soft due to being submerged in muck and water. Not a good place to have a 'simple' grommet, (we'll see if it's a simple price), separating the bulkhead flooded drain from the cabin.

Cover off.



Offending Grommet, bottom section all soft and easily moveable.



Footwell starting to dry, after water pumped out. Been drying with a fan heater since mid afternoon.



Now a post to Cotswold for a new grommet.

Peter

 

This is a really common issue on F10/11's. Sometimes debris causes water to settle around the grommet and leak into the cabin. There's a sticky thread on the BMW5forum about how to fix it.

 

I was aware of the issue, BMW Car magazine had a brief article about it a couple of years ago. But hadn't really looked into it, other than noting it could be a problem.

After finding the part number, thought I'd use Google & images, just to see what came up. Soon came across BMW5forum's epic thread, including all the pictures of the 'tide lines' and crud build up.

If I'd had known how easy it was to drop the cover and take a look, I'd have done it ages ago. We live and learn.

I'm still not sure what is going on with the drainage. I've always cleaned out the leaves (quite regularly), to prevent obvious blockages, but there is more to this issue than simply flooding the grommet to high levels and its deterioration. My car, the driver's side drains to empty the bulkhead recess, passenger side was about an inch deep. There is possibly another blockage to the wheel arch, which then causes the grommet enclosure to back up as well. There is a water flow between the main bulkhead recess and the grommet enclosure. Will have the wheel arch liner off, to make an inspection, when it's dry weather.

Peter

 

10 litres! Wow. So where does the water drain from to end up in the back?


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I've always kept a length of flexible net-curtain wire handy, and use it on a regular basis to clear drainage holes as and when I remember. That and lots of water to check everything is running clear.

 

The grommet is in the bulkhead between the engine bay and cabin. The hole is there because it has use on LHD cars. Water that comes off the windscreen drains down through this area.

 

Understood!


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Couldn't believe it when the bucket was filling up to the top.

As said by E39mad, it is the run off, from the windscreen, getting into the cabin.

I've been looking more at the design and drainage pathways. The primary drain to the wheel arch, should also take the water away from the grommet that gets submerged and deteriorates. But it gets bunged up with debris. You can't visually see it, or get to it to clear it. Guys have tried with endoscopes, but not helping much at all. You need to remove the rear part of the front N/S wheel arch liner to access the drain outlet.

Peter

 

Fascinating to read about, obviously a proper PITA for you. Hope it is dried out properly now, lots of electrics down there.
When I had the inner arch out on my E92, I was changing the washer fluid filter, I noticed the drain pipe from the engine bay/bulkhead was blocked. Once I’d cleaned this out it was clear that there had been some build up of excess water in the area around the wipers. As it rains now there is a distinct increase in amount of water that drains out through here. I’m keeping an eye on these drain points from now on.

 

Not there yet. Was very wet up here yesterday, partly dismantled car left to absorb water into towels.

This morning I've gone deeper, exposed more of the front. Concerned about the electrics and the floor mounted sub. Unbolted and moved the seat back and removed the speaker. All damp around it, but the speaker itself was dry, just a few splashes getting it out. Towels under the carpet/foam to soak up some of the wet.





Hope to put it back together tomorrow, if it's dry enough.

Peter

 

Drying is coming along well.

While between heater adjustments, I decided I'd look behind the wheel liner. Just jacked up the body a bit and removed it, without taking the wheel off. (Saved the messing with the more complex wheel removal for ARS).

This is the offending primary drain.



Was running quite freely. Should have been, after the water I put down the system on Monday, to clean out the other drain outlet. It had been blocked, as I found Monday, when there was standing water in the bulkhead recess.

Bit surprised at BMW design, having brake pipes go through the drain rubber assembly and the parts getting covered in water and crud.

Liner fitted again, so hopefully tomorrow I can put everything else back together and hope we haven't lost any electrical functions or components.

Peter

 

Good work Peter, not a nice find or job.

 

At least I can divert some time to it.

I'd have rather been working on my latest project, designing a garden workshop at the moment. Been playing with some CAD models. Want to work up a BOM, to get it costed ASAP.



Peter

 

@Peter Can you get a small dehumidifier into the car to ensure that it's completely dry?

Please consider a thread re the planned workshop progress too. . Hope you & Jill are doing OK.

 

I can always fall back on a dehumidifier. In fact I've done well today, with the front drying out well by last evening, so assembled the front end this morning, and got the seat back on its anchors. That allowed me to work on continuing to dry the back.

As most of the standing water was in the rear footwell, it still had more to go. I'd got the worst out of the car and I'd put towels under the carpet before moving the seat back yesterday morning,. They came out pretty damp this morning, as I expected. Has taken all day (lovely warm day over here today), with fan heater blowing air in under the carpet, to dry the foam backing. Some places its over 40mm thick so a lot of mass to get dry. I'll leave the back carpet open to airing for a few days. Don't need the rear seat fitted.

Once I had all the wiring dry under the rear carpet, started the car and everything seemed to work okay. HVAC system flaps made a few noises I'm not used to hearing, as it went through it's setup, but settled to normal function. No check or warning messages. Will give the car a run tomorrow.

I'll see what I can do regarding the workshop, I'd like to get it built by October, but with all the material shortages/back orders, (according to a couple of builders I know), may have to wait until next spring for the build.

Thanks John, for asking on how we are doing. Coping pretty well at the moment. Jill has her bad days, but has enjoyed the garden more this year, than the last few. She's still keeping positive. Then I think you will understand that more than most.

How are you doing? Playing it careful I imagine.

Peter

 

B.o.m ‘s
Lots...


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Hi @Peter , good to hear that you're getting on top of the dampness - I didn't realise there was that thickness of insulation in there, you'll definitely want to get it all dry to prevent nasty smells in the future. Sounds like you're winning though. Remember too the old trick of a bowl/tray of rice left in the car overnight for a few nights, every little helps.

As for the health, thanks for asking. Nichola now says we can stop 'shielding' but, as you say, we need to be very careful still. With all that stupidity (you can't fix stupid ) in Aberdeen who knows if that will be reintroduced? My paraprotein readings have been creeping up over the last few two-monthly checks, so Raigmore want to see me there in four weeks for a review in case it indicates a trend. They may look at changing the treatment from daily oral chemo to something else. Fingers crossed it's just a blip on the radar.

Takecare both.

EDIT:. BOM....bill of materials?

 

LOL! (= lots of luck)

 

Glad your both keeping well!
For the record, I wasn’t one of the many wallopers that proceeded to put us back in lockdown! but how I’d like to offer a firm and much needed boot up the backside to the minority that has spoilt and disregarded the efforts of our frontline!
Absolute Infuriating Madness!

 

The cover/grommet arrived today, thanks to Cotswold. Fitted after lunch... just in time for the heavy rain that will definitely be testing it out!

Comparison pictures, also showing how the offending item perishes in the crud that builds up. Wonder what the acidic level is, of the wet muck that gets trapped in there?



Fitted grommet.



Peter