[labenzm5]

Took my 2013 to the dealership for water in the rear door seals....they are replacing them but said its normal. They checked another car and it had the same thing. Wtf? This can't be normal. At some point the doors will rust out

Has this happened to you?

[gclions]

I've had my 2011 in the shop six times for water soaked rear floorboards. 5 times passenger side, 1 time on driver's side.

I can't believe a car this expensive has THIS problem. I've owned a 57 Bel Air with original door seals that could keep water outside the car. I've explained this to the dealer, who covered the cost all six times.

[mdriver2]

My 28 year old bmw still has perfect door sills.

[labenzm5]

Originally Posted by mdriver2

My 28 year old bmw still has perfect door sills.

This is my 5th BMW (e36 m3, e39 m5, e46 m3, x5) and the First with this issue. I think it's an f10 design flaw.... It's not my vapor barrier like the most common issue. My m5 is 15 years old and never had this issue

[Bruno112]

Be careful, they can be blocked drains of AC system,one crew from this forum had that problem

[bcw550ix]

Last year I noticed water on the rear door sills of my 2012 f10 after a rain and the rear footwells soaked.

Dealer determined that the vapor barriers had failed and replaced them. PNs 51-48-7-366-707 and 51-48-7-366-708.

I believe it's a common problem on f10.

[Quicksilv3r]

It seems this is a recurring problem with the 5 series. My E39 M5 had the same problem. It's usually the vapor barriers that come unglued. Take door panel off and re-install vapor barrier with some windshield sealant and you'll never experience the problem again.

[labenzm5]

with all the rain anyone getting water dripping from the rear doors? my seals were all replaced and its still happening.....

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by labenzm5

with all the rain anyone getting water dripping from the rear doors? my seals were all replaced and its still happening.....

Do you mean from within the doors, to the inside, or outside of the car? If you simply mean the inside of the doors themselves drip water in/after heavy rain, I don't think any seals around the doors or window surrounds with make it totally waterproof. Not in my experience with any cars up here in the Highlands of Scotland, where water ingress is one of our worst enemies.

For me, it's the integrity of the vapour barrier that is key, to prevent water getting onto the inner door rubber, where it can track into the car.

[David3]

Water dripping out of bottom of door is normal...might seem the seals are actually dripping water. If water is not getting to the inside, the seals are doing their job. The door liner/vapor barrier might play a small part in keeping water out, but not much should ever come in contact with the liner. Most of the water simply drips straight down to the bottom of the door where it is weeped to the outside. My F10 is my first BMW in a long time that does not leak water to the inside (probably because it is the newest). Most of the time, the culprit is the sunroof (clogged drain tubes, dirt in drainage channel, etc.). The water leaks down to the floor from the sunroof. Look for water stains on headliner eventually.

Also, I would not worry about door corrosion due the water dripping from the seals. The doors are well protected.

[RSBro]

My driver's side rear door does this... it's the only one of the four which is really weird.

[labenzm5]

My actual door seals fill up with water...
You can slap the bottom rubber seal and water will come out. I can't imagine having water in those seals is normal

My dealer told me it is. At some point the bottom of the doors will rust out

[Lee]

Originally Posted by RSBro

My driver's side rear door does this... it's the only one of the four which is really weird.

Same. Weird and annoying.

[PJinCA]

with the e60 it was fairly common in wetter climates that the water drains for the roof would get clogged easily and you would end up with water in the spare tire well in the trunk or inside. guys discovered that the drain exit was in the rear wheel well and found that cutting off the screen and the end of it prevented the clogging issue, not sure if that would help the f10 issue. the good thing about living in socal - the climate can be called anything but wet

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by labenzm5

My actual door seals fill up with water...
You can slap the bottom rubber seal and water will come out. I can't imagine having water in those seals is normal...

Related experience since my last post.

Found a wet door sill (rear door driver's side), after further investigation found water leaking from the vapour barrier. Fixed it and all is now dry.

Side issue, the rubber door seal (fitted to the door) was also full of water. The vent/drain hole is in the rubber fold, at the bottom and I could pump out the water, by squeezing the rubber, which I did until it was virtually dry. I've never noticed water in any of the door rubbers before last week.

I've just checked the door rubber this evening, as we've had lots of rain since fixing the vapour barrier, and there isn't any water in the rubber, it's completely dry.

This is telling me there has to be some way for water to get inside the rubber seal, 'inside' the contact face. In my case (and may be other users) it was a leaking vapour barrier, the water getting into the fold and inside the door rubber, filling from the bottom vent (drain?) hole. For those who are sure their vapour barriers are sound, no water drips from under the door card(s), I can't fathom how water tracks to the rubber and the available hole unless there is some leakage to inside the rubber contact area. The hole is exposed to the inside, between the two door rubbers, when the door is shut. From looking closely at the door and sealing, the rubber can't fill from outside water, unless the door seal isn't making proper contact, or due to opening and closing doors in heavy rain.

Puzzling.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by labenzm5

My dealer told me it is. At some point the bottom of the doors will rust out

Why do you think the doors will rust out? From observation water in the door rubbers is only in contact with the surface paint finish. Unless the paint is damaged I can't see where the rust will start forming.