Leaking top

[EGS]

My top appears to be leaking from the left corner where windshield frame, top and door window meet. No issue in light rain or even driving in the rain but I get water on the floor when the car is parked in heavy rain. I put a 1/2 cover on the car whenever possible but I'd prefer to fix the problem.

Wondering if others have a solution to this before I try to figure out if it's an alignment or seal/weatherstrip issue. PO has some silicone on the windshield weatherstrip so it must have been happening for a while.

[jclausen]

We have had succes with the silicone paste or replace the gasket

[Dakar Ole]

Try pushing the three window gaskets forward a smidge by grabbing the inner lip and meaty part in a closed fist fashion. It works to close the shifting, growing gaps. They slide in their holders.

[JeffPortland]

There is a plug where your soft top/hard top meats the a pillar. the seal around that plug eventually fails and when water drains from the roof gutter into the drain that is probably clogged by now, water then leaks past the plug into the car onto your seat and floor. I used some 3M gasket glue to make a seal around the plug. In hind site I would go for a softer product because the dry glue is much harder than the rubber. Anyway this did the trick; no leaks from either side and I can leave my car in the rain all day.
A-Pillar-Leak.jpg

[zellamay]

yes, find the drain hole and unclog it. Sorry, it's been years, so I forgot how, but it's easy.

[EGS]

Started to chase the drain hole clean and the skies opened up. Put the top up and threw the cover on. Roto-rooter treatment and re-sealing the plug will have to wait.

[Vintage42]

... Roto-rooter treatment and re-sealing the plug will have to wait.

Remove the plug, carefully clean the drain down the pillar inside the gasket, replace the plug without sealant, being sure its channel is clean, and smear a film of black silicone across the top of the plug.
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=59
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...3#post29174343

[EGS]

Thanks everyone and esp. Vintage for the links - very helpful!

[delvec]

Clean the channels and seal the plugs as mentioned....If still leaking, there may be a slight gap between the side window weather stripping and the windshield weather stripping you may have to tighten the the roof latches for a better seal.

[Cremaster]

There is a special place for people that leave their Z in the rain and it is not z heaven.

[EGS]

I guess Z heaven will have to wait. It's not usually left out in the rain but I do use the car regularly and with NJ weather has been extremely wet this year, getting caught in the rain is inevitable. My other car is a motorcycle so this Z does get wet on occasion.

[EGS]

I cleaned out the channels and siliconed the top of the plugs last night. Just in time as I had to drive home in a monsoon today that included everything from stop & go to 70 MPH - no leaks! Thanks again for the advice.