A-pillar Leak Fixed *photos*

[millertimebmw03]

SO before you replace the seals in your cabrio try this!

Parts list:

-Tooth brush (one you dont use anymore, preferibly)
-Silicone caulking (I had some lexan stuff sitting around, any should work fine)
-Wet cloth and some time to dry



*taken from my other post*

I hope I can explain this right :D

It seems that the water is entering our car (or at least mine) from the top rubber seal,(# 3)
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BK73&mospid=47477&btnr=54_0181&hg=54&fg=10
On the A-Pillar.

So heres what I did I used silicone, to run a bead across the whole top of where the rubber meets the canvas top. This may not be what everyone wants to-do but think about this. I bought the car with this drip and I've dealt with it for too lon and shor of replacing the rubber strip for $300 USD I thought there had tobe another reason why water was getting in. When ever I would be driving in the rain it would drip about as much as a coffee maker (pretty bad I know) .... so here's my reasoning for the silicone.

It's looking like the rubber seal is screwed to the top and only pressure keeps it firm against the canvas top. if you can think of them in layers then the canvas top is layer one and the rubber seal is another layer screwed together, and mabey they use a sealent under where the screws attach. Anywho, I'm guessing the water is getting through the seal. so If you run silicon on the top of the joining point of the seal and canvas then you prevent the water from getting in!!!!!!

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS! NOtice the clear caulking, I"m sure you could use black though to have a OEM look, but honestly noone can see it at all!
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1305/himg0400tz3.jpg
ONE MORE
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1469/himg0402tz0.jpg

AND AFTER ALL THIS>...... NOT A DROP INSIDE THE CAR!!!!
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1783/himg0405jz2.jpg


I'm so stoked right now.
I washed my car 4 times in as many days and NO LEAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it was at varying temps as well! So Usually when my car warms-up with snow on it it would leak in, it hasn't. Usually when its warm out (40' ish) and I was the car it leaks, it hasn't !! I hope it made more sense this time around!
CHEERS!

[MParallel]

...and mabey they use a sealent under where the screws attach. ..

Nope, BMW does not seal that top rubber! Was all explained to me by local vert roof specialist.

Did you unscrew the screws a bit so you can tilt the rubber away from the canvas some more so you can get the silicone in very good in between the canvas/rubber/platic layer (plastic layer is right underneath the canvas).

And thanks for the tip and pics! Might give this a try!

[palomino]

added to list of vert DIYs :)

will probably be trying this in the next few weeks as well. :thumbup:

[millertimebmw03]

Did you unscrew the screws a bit so you can tilt the rubber away from the canvas some more so you can get the silicone in very good in between the canvas/rubber/platic layer (plastic layer is right underneath the canvas).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOPE, Just pop open your top alittle and support it with something and use your left hand to pull the rubber down/away from the top and then with your other hand squeez the silicone in and then shut the top and use your finger to wipe the excess off ;)
__________________________________________________ ____________
palomino added to list of vert DIYs
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Will I get royalties everytime somone fixes there car then??? ^_^
PS, I'm in love with your wheels!!!:alright

[palomino]

__________________________________________________ ____________
palomino added to list of vert DIYs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will I get royalties everytime somone fixes there car then??? ^_^
PS, I'm in love with your wheels!!!:alright

thank you. i must admit, the car came with them and i didnt like them at first. then... i got over it. :)

HA no royalties, just the satisfaction of knowing the noobs of the future may see and think, "wow! that is just what i need!"

[millertimebmw03]

thank you. i must admit, the car came with them and i didnt like them at first. then... i got over it. :)

WHAAAAAA????? REALLY!!! they came with it??? NOT FAIR! :D

[kjbee1]

Thank you Thank you Thank you
The leak was driving me crazy but with the silicone and this process NO LEAKS even if I do come from the land down under.

[millertimebmw03]

WHOOO HOOOO, Glad I could help!!!

[Riick]

^^^^^^ Millertime

It's not even October and THAT's friggin' SNOW!

Time to move you and the 'vert South :-P

[MParallel]

^^^^^^ Millertime

It's not even October and THAT's friggin' SNOW!

Time to move you and the 'vert South :-P

Look at the post date ;)

[millertimebmw03]

Listen to the dutch, they're pretty smart. MAN DO I WANT SNOW!!! :P

[Riick]

Look at the post date ;)

:cool:mad:) LOL.... my bad :cool:mad:)[

[DucatiBoy]

Well, I was using 303 Protectant and was 303-ing all the rubber seals. And I pried the main rubber seal (between the front of the roof and the top of the windshield) and cleaned/re-lubed everything. Well now my car leaks from the passenger side A pillar. After prying that seal away from the roof and 303ing. I don't think it was the 303, but the fact I messed with it. So I did the silicone bead between the rubber and the roof and it's drying right now. I'll report when it's done. Hopefully this is the ticket.

UPDATE: We just had a pretty good rain storm in the NYC area... I don't want to jinx it, but so far so good. That silicone just might be the ticket! Thanks!

[millertimebmw03]

this rains terrible huh?

[geoffus]

Hi, I've got a 2003 softop 325ci, and for the winter thought it a good idea the get a hard top to stop all the wet elements, trouble is as soon as it rains it leaks annoyingly from the seals at both A posts onto my legs, it flows out when I go round corners.
I've greased the lot with silicon grease, taken the shims from the front hood clamps, cleaned out the drains in the A posts and everthing I can think of, can anyone out there help with a working idea, short of sealing the whole lot down with black bath seal ?

[juice2279]

great write-up zach...it worked for me up here in the pacific northwest,...where it rains 8 months straight...haha.

[amancuso]

Hi, I've got a 2003 softop 325ci, and for the winter thought it a good idea the get a hard top to stop all the wet elements, trouble is as soon as it rains it leaks annoyingly from the seals at both A posts onto my legs, it flows out when I go round corners.
I've greased the lot with silicon grease, taken the shims from the front hood clamps, cleaned out the drains in the A posts and everthing I can think of, can anyone out there help with a working idea, short of sealing the whole lot down with black bath seal ?

This is the same problem I have the hardtop on my 97 328iC. My problem isn't as bad as yours though as it's just an occasional drip. When the softtop is up I have absolutely no leaking issues... strange, isn't it?

[geoffus]

Yes its a real nuisance, I never had any problems with the soft top, its either some sort of seal I cant see or the fact the hardtop is off a car slightly different to my model. took it off again today and cant see anything wrong at all.
Put silicon grease all around the front seals again so waiting for the rain again to see if it worked.

[amancuso]

Good luck with that, water leaking in is a pain in the ass.

[geoffus]

Thanks, will be back soon.

[dot1]

After having a couple of floods the last two rains, I have tried this fix. I did go one step further and applied caulking (black) to the underside that attaches to the windshield frame also. I will let you know, probably a long cure time since it is in the 50's tonight! :(

[geoffus]

Thanks for the reply, that looks like a last resort for me unless anyone else has a better idea, by the way its 4oC and very wet over hear.

[dot1]

It worked! It rained last night and my seats were dry! Thanks for the info MT!

[millertimebmw03]

ALL RIGHT!!!!

I saved someone more money!!!!

www.Youtube.com/millertimebmw for more DIY videos!!

[t2xsignals]

Thanks thanks thanks,brilliant fix and so cheap to do,great site keep up the good work guys .I have learnt so much since last november when i got the vert.Ray

[NiTrOuSoXiDe]

I guess I'm just lucky to not have any leaks? :dunno

Nice write up though! I always liked your DIY's.

[STI328ic]

Great information here. I just bought a 1998 328ic for my wife and found out this weekend it's leaking at the top of the A-pillars. BMW wants $300+ for the cowl gasket, so gonna try this first. Thanks!! :)