What is it really useful to know as a new e89 owner?

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:03 pm

There are a couple of small round holes in the boot floor, to the right of the battery. Do you reckon that water might be getting in there when the car is driven in heavy rain? O

The carpet in the boot is completely dry and there's no drips into the boot that I can see but water is getting I'm somewhere.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:23 pm

JakeS76 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:03 pm There are a couple of small round holes in the boot floor, to the right of the battery. Do you reckon that water might be getting in there when the car is driven in heavy rain? O

The carpet in the boot is completely dry and there's no drips into the boot that I can see but water is getting I'm somewhere.

It's very unlikely.
Have you given the rubber seals around the boot a 'going over' with silicone-based protector (ie Gummi Pflege)?
Also check that the boot pulls down properly all around on the electric cam.

when I got my latest E89 there was an inch of water in the boot. It took me ages to a) dry it out and b) work out where the water was coming in. I couldn't see any signs of water from above and the boot carpets were also dry.
I think mine was a combination of dry, dirty seals, a slightly misaligned bootlid (which was occasionally stopping the soft close cam from pulling it down tight) and a previous owner who had a very powerful pressure washer.

Cleaning an E89 enthusiastically with a pressure washer WILL mean water getting in somewhere and the boot has the largest seals.

You could be looking for a problem that doesn't exist.

My car has been left out in the rain and driven in the rain for three months now and has no water anywhere.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:38 pm

Looking at the pictures....
The furthest hole (threaded one) is for the battery hold-down bracket if you have a larger battery. Mine obviously has a physically larger battery as that hole is used and the bracket covers the others, so none are visible.

It's worth noting that the foam can hold a LOT of water and is really difficult to dry completely. I still have a damp patch at the bottom of the foam every now and again but know it's water retained in the foam finding it's way out even after three months as I have tissue paper in various places to check if water is re-appearing (it isn't they are dry).

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:42 pm

Thanks both . Hopefully it's from when the car dealer pressure washed the car before selling it to me. I'll buy a new foam cradle.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:49 pm

JakeS76 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:42 pm Thanks both . Hopefully it's from when the car dealer pressure washed the car before selling it to me. I'll buy a new foam cradle.

It could well be, or even from a previous owner being a bit 'over zealous'. Without physically drying the foam water will stay in there almost indefinitely. There is nowhere really for it to evaporate to. Remember that most people aren't on car forums and would never look in that part of the boot unless they had to. That water could be years old.

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 5:44 pm

I bought a new foam piece from the local BMW dealership..£47 which is a lot more than they are paying in the USA. I think it's suggested price is around $17 on realoem. Anyway it's fitted now. I put some heavy duty plastic sheeting under the new foam, so should hopefully protect it.
The pump looks undamaged luckily - some of the foam had stuck to it so I took this off. There was a bit of water under the battery tray so I put. Microfiber cloth in there to dry it.

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 5:45 pm

This is the old one

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Fri Apr 12, 2024 5:48 pm

And this is the pump back in place in the new foam cradle with plastic sheet wrapped under it. Do you reckon this looks ok?

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