[siross]

Hi all. I know this has been covered loads of time. I've done plenty of searching on the forum and the car has been to an independent specialist and bmw. Both have fobbed me off and I'm pulling my hair out (what's left of it).

Car is a 2013 F31 330d

I noticed water in the driver footwell a while ago now and thought it was either the grommet or vapour barrier. BMW confirmed the grommet issue had been sorted previously. I've had both door cards off and there is no evidence that the vapour barrier is compromised in any way, only small gaps are around where the wires protrude. Other than that it appears sound. There is also no evidence of water underneath door card.

BMW specialist did a "water test" which meant a hose drenching with water with a mechanic inside looking for any leaks. No joy.

BMW did a brief check when it was in for a recall and found leaves and debris in engine bay. Cleared it out but problem persists.

The water appears in both front and rear passenger footwells depending on which angle it's parked (obviously water finding its level). However when flat it appears to be more in the rear of the car than the front...

Also, on a side note. When checking door cards my battery has died on two occasions. The doors have been open for about 30-45 minutes. Surely battery shouldn't die this easily?

Any help would be massively appreciated!

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by siross

Hi all. I know this has been covered loads of time. I've done plenty of searching on the forum and the car has been to an independent specialist and bmw. Both have fobbed me off and I'm pulling my hair out (what's left of it).

Car is a 2013 F31 330d

I noticed water in the driver footwell a while ago now and thought it was either the grommet or vapour barrier. BMW confirmed the grommet issue had been sorted previously. I've had both door cards off and there is no evidence that the vapour barrier is compromised in any way, only small gaps are around where the wires protrude. Other than that it appears sound. There is also no evidence of water underneath door card.

BMW specialist did a "water test" which meant a hose drenching with water with a mechanic inside looking for any leaks. No joy.

BMW did a brief check when it was in for a recall and found leaves and debris in engine bay. Cleared it out but problem persists.

The water appears in both front and rear passenger footwells depending on which angle it's parked (obviously water finding its level). However when flat it appears to be more in the rear of the car than the front...

Also, on a side note. When checking door cards my battery has died on two occasions. The doors have been open for about 30-45 minutes. Surely battery shouldn't die this easily?

Any help would be massively appreciated!

This sounds to me like the fabled yellow grommet; I know you say they've said it's not, but has it been physically checked and confirmed that it's not the issue?

They do still fail and more so if the area is gunked up and causing the water to ingress into the car

Do you have a sunroof at all?

It's deffo not a vapour barrier issue if they're well stuck on and it's bone dry; you'd know if it was those as they'd be flapping about

And no your battery should not be draining that quickly; but how old is it and have you checked the voltages to see where they're at with a multimeter? Need to be c12.4v engine off/car asleep and c14.4v when engine is running

If it's old'ish and not up to those voltages; time to replace it

[siross]

Originally Posted by danb1979

This sounds to me like the fabled yellow grommet; I know you say they've said it's not, but has it been physically checked and confirmed that it's not the issue?

They do still fail and more so if the area is gunked up and causing the water to ingress into the car

Do you have a sunroof at all?

It's deffo not a vapour barrier issue if they're well stuck on and it's bone dry; you'd know if it was those as they'd be flapping about

And no your battery should not be draining that quickly; but how old is it and have you checked the voltages to see where they're at with a multimeter? Need to be c12.4v engine off/car asleep and c14.4v when engine is running

If it's old'ish and not up to those voltages; time to replace it

Thanks for the reply! Not been physically checked no, is this something I can do myself? I have an endoscopic camera if helpful, I know they're a bit of a ball ache to get to?

I don't have a sunroof no.

I'll look in to getting a new battery too. Not sure how old it is but it's at least as old as I've had the car, nearly 9 years!

[Pond]

Not sure where it runs on the F3* platform but the air conditioning drain tube on other BMWs runs through the passenger area behind the glovebox. A blocked tube will dump the condensate all over the floor.

Obviously it will only make water when the a/c is on and the car is running. A little water goes a long way inside a car. Ask me how I know!

[Allworth]

Windscreen seal is a common issue of moisture inside the cabin. To check this pour some water on the windscreen and see front if its dripping somewhere.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by siross

Thanks for the reply! Not been physically checked no, is this something I can do myself? I have an endoscopic camera if helpful, I know they're a bit of a ball ache to get to?

I don't have a sunroof no.

I'll look in to getting a new battery too. Not sure how old it is but it's at least as old as I've had the car, nearly 9 years!

If you use Google and search for BMW Yellow Grommet you'll find loads of pictures & how to's - a lot will be for the F1x range as they were the worst affected; but it's the same concept... You'll see what's going on, where it is and how to access it... Fiddly but doable

I did my FiL's F10 530D in about an hour with a bit of lost skin etc

And yes; you deffo need a new battery (remember it needs to be registered to the car if you replace like for like (or as near to it)

If you get a whole new different spec battery it needs to be coded to the car and then registered

I fitted the Exide 95Ah AGM battery from Tayna to my F31; as close to OEM as I could get and registered it to my car using my Creator C410 OBD2 code reader

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batterie.../?gad_source=1

This is all you need as a battery; you really don't need to pay any more than this TBF

Not sure where in Lancs you are but if you're local to Preston and want it sorting, drop me a PM

[siross]

Originally Posted by Allworth

Windscreen seal is a common issue of moisture inside the cabin. To check this pour some water on the windscreen and see front if its dripping somewhere.

Thanks for the reply. This has been checked and windscreen is sound thankfully.

[siross]

Originally Posted by danb1979

If you use Google and search for BMW Yellow Grommet you'll find loads of pictures & how to's - a lot will be for the F1x range as they were the worst affected; but it's the same concept... You'll see what's going on, where it is and how to access it... Fiddly but doable

I did my FiL's F10 530D in about an hour with a bit of lost skin etc

And yes; you deffo need a new battery (remember it needs to be registered to the car if you replace like for like (or as near to it)

If you get a whole new different spec battery it needs to be coded to the car and then registered

I fitted the Exide 95Ah AGM battery from Tayna to my F31; as close to OEM as I could get and registered it to my car using my Creator C410 OBD2 code reader

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batterie.../?gad_source=1

This is all you need as a battery; you really don't need to pay any more than this TBF

Not sure where in Lancs you are but if you're local to Preston and want it sorting, drop me a PM

Again. Thank you so much for the info, really helpful. I've had a look at a few videos and doesn't seem too difficult. Will do some investigating.

Some of the videos showed the grommet being accessed from inside by removing lots of trim etc. Others were through the engine bay. Any experience as to which is easier?

Also, are there grommets on each side or just one? Should I be looking on passenger side of engine bay?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by siross

Again. Thank you so much for the info, really helpful. I've had a look at a few videos and doesn't seem too difficult. Will do some investigating.

Some of the videos showed the grommet being accessed from inside by removing lots of trim etc. Others were through the engine bay. Any experience as to which is easier?

Also, are there grommets on each side or just one? Should I be looking on passenger side of engine bay?

Engine bay; it's clearer to see

And LHS only (it's basically where the steering column would go on a LHD car etc

Isn't one on the right as the column is already in place

[siross]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Engine bay; it's clearer to see

And LHS only (it's basically where the steering column would go on a LHD car etc

Isn't one on the right as the column is already in place

Sorry I'm probably being numb here but when you say left hand side only you mean when you're sat in car. Looking in engine bay it's right hand side? Sorry for daft question.

Also. How come the water is finding its way to the other side?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by siross

Sorry I'm probably being numb here but when you say left hand side only you mean when you're sat in car. Looking in engine bay it's right hand side? Sorry for daft question.

Also. How come the water is finding its way to the other side?

Yes; passenger side (hidden behind the glovebox somewhere)

Water in a car can get everywhere; it could be tracing down behind the dash and getting in that way etc...

Generally it goes to the lowest point (rear passenger footwell) first and then can spread from there

My FiLs F10 was absolutely sodden; took weeks to get it fully dry

But this is only guessing currently that it is possibly the grommet; seems everything else has been checked

[siross]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Yes; passenger side (hidden behind the glovebox somewhere)

Water in a car can get everywhere; it could be tracing down behind the dash and getting in that way etc...

Generally it goes to the lowest point (rear passenger footwell) first and then can spread from there

My FiLs F10 was absolutely sodden; took weeks to get it fully dry

But this is only guessing currently that it is possibly the grommet; seems everything else has been checked

Thank you! I'll try and find some time to properly check it out!