Leak under glove box -- What is this?? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

chasejennings · 03-21-2012, 08:06 PM

It rained hardcore the other day, and i noticed my windshield was foggy, I immediately knew it was a leak.

I finally traced it down to the passenger side, under the glove box. I took the covering off (to no surprise the insulation on it was soaked) and tried seeing where the water was coming from. I snapped a picture of where I saw water dripping slowly, but steadily (about 5 drips/min).

I have no idea what this part is, but you can see the water droplet coming from the bottom of a black, cylindrical piece with the green sealing. What exactly is this? And does anyone know how easy of a fix it is?

Thanks!!

Bartman619 · 03-21-2012, 08:16 PM

What color was the liquid ? Clear is water, might be some kind of leak in the upper cowl area of your car. Blue liquid is coolant..leak in the heater core, yours is definitely not blue. Or could be just excess condensation from the rain and running your defroster.

chasejennings · 03-21-2012, 08:26 PM

The liquid is clear and odorless. The a/c is ran every single day, just like it has for the past year. So I don't know what made the leak begin out of the blue like this.

Although one this I forgot to mention... I washed my car today before noticing the leak act up... But I have no idea why that would cause water to come out of... whatever that thing is

But this hasn't been the first time my car has been washed... or seen heavy rain for that matter.

ENINTY · 03-21-2012, 09:23 PM

So the cabin airfilter housing is installed in correctly and is allowing water to get into the HVAC system. The pictures you took are of the HVAC heater box where the blower motor is housed. The water is dripping out of the motor housing. Check the DIY section and learn how to properly seat the cabin airfilter housing.

Good luck.

chasejennings · 03-21-2012, 10:23 PM

That sounds like a strong possibility. The cabin air filter WAS replaced about 3 weeks ago. I didn't realize it was possible to screw up something as easy as installing an air filter

I will give it a look in the morning.

Thank you so much

You saved me probably $100 by not consulting the stealership

ENINTY · 03-22-2012, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasejennings

That sounds like a strong possibility. The cabin air filter WAS replaced about 3 weeks ago. I didn't realize it was possible to screw up something as easy as installing an air filter

I will give it a look in the morning.

Thank you so much

You saved me probably $100 by not consulting the stealership

Once you take the filter housing off, you will see how it is supposed to seat properly. Set it in place then tighten the screws from the center of the housing outward to the outer screws so it seats over the cowling openings properly.

volkswackin · 03-22-2012, 09:13 PM

that can also happen when the cowl itself doesnt sit properly on the windshield..or the seal which goes on the windshield has deteriorated..it allows water to get behind the microfilter area and thus down into the car.

03-21-2012, 08:06 PM	#1
chasejennings New Member Drives: 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	Leak under glove box -- What is this?? It rained hardcore the other day, and i noticed my windshield was foggy, I immediately knew it was a leak. I finally traced it down to the passenger side, under the glove box. I took the covering off (to no surprise the insulation on it was soaked) and tried seeing where the water was coming from. I snapped a picture of where I saw water dripping slowly, but steadily (about 5 drips/min). I have no idea what this part is, but you can see the water droplet coming from the bottom of a black, cylindrical piece with the green sealing. What exactly is this? And does anyone know how easy of a fix it is? Thanks!! __________________ Black Sapphire Metallic ~ Saddle Brown Leather ~ Premium Pkg ~ Sports Pkg ~ Navigation ~ Adaptive Xenon ~ iPod ~ Sirius/XM Last edited by chasejennings; 03-21-2012 at 08:08 PM. Reason: Spelling corrections
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03-21-2012, 08:26 PM	#3
chasejennings New Member Drives: 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	The liquid is clear and odorless. The a/c is ran every single day, just like it has for the past year. So I don't know what made the leak begin out of the blue like this. Although one this I forgot to mention... I washed my car today before noticing the leak act up... But I have no idea why that would cause water to come out of... whatever that thing is But this hasn't been the first time my car has been washed... or seen heavy rain for that matter. __________________ Black Sapphire Metallic ~ Saddle Brown Leather ~ Premium Pkg ~ Sports Pkg ~ Navigation ~ Adaptive Xenon ~ iPod ~ Sirius/XM Last edited by chasejennings; 03-21-2012 at 10:25 PM.

03-21-2012, 10:23 PM	#5
chasejennings New Member Drives: 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	That sounds like a strong possibility. The cabin air filter WAS replaced about 3 weeks ago. I didn't realize it was possible to screw up something as easy as installing an air filter I will give it a look in the morning. Thank you so much You saved me probably $100 by not consulting the stealership __________________ Black Sapphire Metallic ~ Saddle Brown Leather ~ Premium Pkg ~ Sports Pkg ~ Navigation ~ Adaptive Xenon ~ iPod ~ Sirius/XM

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03-21-2012, 08:16 PM	#2
Bartman619 Captain Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SDCA Posts: 652 iTrader: (2)	What color was the liquid ? Clear is water, might be some kind of leak in the upper cowl area of your car. Blue liquid is coolant..leak in the heater core, yours is definitely not blue. Or could be just excess condensation from the rain and running your defroster.

03-21-2012, 09:23 PM	#4
ENINTY Banned Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,415 iTrader: (0)	So the cabin airfilter housing is installed in correctly and is allowing water to get into the HVAC system. The pictures you took are of the HVAC heater box where the blower motor is housed. The water is dripping out of the motor housing. Check the DIY section and learn how to properly seat the cabin airfilter housing. Good luck.

03-22-2012, 09:13 PM	#7
volkswackin Lieutenant Colonel Drives: too broke for a BMW Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: i get around.. Posts: 1,825 iTrader: (1)	that can also happen when the cowl itself doesnt sit properly on the windshield..or the seal which goes on the windshield has deteriorated..it allows water to get behind the microfilter area and thus down into the car.