[selo]

Just bought a 2006 325 xiT on BaT and upon delivery it seems to have a few little issues that weren't exactly disclosed.77k mi, looked pristine and was touted as such.
1. External turn signal light/assembly is very loose, seems to be held onto car only by caulk.
2. one retractable cup holder is broken, won't open.
3. Puddle on passenger front floor mat after washing, no obvious source.
What are the cost of repairing 1 and 2, and thoughts on #3?

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

(1) It's held in by a clip and you can replace the light for $24
(2) Held in by two screws and can be replaced with a used one for $20, or an aftermarket for $45
(3) Could a clogged sunroof drain, can be repaired for free

[redEYEjedi]

Originally Posted by selo

Just bought a 2006 325 xiT on BaT and upon delivery it seems to have a few little issues that weren't exactly disclosed.77k mi, looked pristine and was touted as such.
1. External turn signal light/assembly is very loose, seems to be held onto car only by caulk.
2. one retractable cup holder is broken, won't open.
3. Puddle on passenger front floor mat after washing, no obvious source.
What are the cost of repairing 1 and 2, and thoughts on #3?

In the grand scheme of things that seems relatively small considering you bought a 15 year old car. Hope you're somewhat a tinkerer, but the n52 is supposed to be a solid engine if properly maintained. Enjoy it in good health 👌🏼

[selo]

Those are great responses, thank you. It does seem like they are probably small things. But as you can maybe tell, I'm not such a tinkerer by nature! I didn't know if these things were big or little, just feeling guilty that I helped my bro get this car that I thought (think) was going to be awesome for him but it arrived with some broken stuff. He lives up in northern California and is at risk of having to evacuate, so he doesn't need more anxiety right now. I like messing around with cars, getting them sorted out, but he just wants to get in and drive..... I'm trying to reassure him we'll get it fixed, don't worry.... but he's worried.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by selo

Just bought a 2006 325 xiT...
3. Puddle on passenger front floor mat after washing, no obvious source...

If you have NOT had an E9x before, time to get to know the "Microfilter Housings", Upper & Lower, and a good time to replace the Microfilter, or at least have a replacement on hand.

"Get 'er DONE" types often do NOT get the upper Housing properly fitted to one or both of the "Cowl" openings or places where the upper housing (that holds the microfilter) attaches. That allows water from the windshield area to enter the Air Intake Plenum for the Climate Control. If that is the leak source, it WILL damage the blower motor as well if NOT quickly corrected. Do you have any "water on blower squirrel cage" sounds when turning quickly with Blower running?

Here are TIS Procedures for removing both Upper & Lower Microfilter Housings. I link the Lower Housing ONLY so you can see the two cowl openings to which the upper housing is attached. YOU ONLY remove the Upper Housing. That's Six (6) 8mm nuts/screws, and takes more time to get out your 1/4" Drive Socket set than it does to remove the Housing.
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...ter/1VnYcFMJrQ
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...ter/1VnYWBEkSp

If you are new to the E9x, I would suggest browsing the links in the attached "E9x References" PDF, particularly the TIS & Bentley download searchable pdf.

George

[colorado.e9x]

These are minuscule problems for this platform are are relatively easy and cheap to fix. Like NBA said the light and cup holder can be replaced by new/used and the storm drain can be unclogged. Boom

[E92William]

The cupholder you can use it as a way to get you started with tinkering. Most of the time the spring inside of it breaks off the plastic and can be held back in place with a zip tie and you got a working cupholder again. Some silicone spray helps.

[selo]

Thanks, yeah, I've done some stuff recently since Covid has me holed up...... spacers on my Countryman, a pedal chip on Countryman and M5, cold air intake on F10 M5 . ..... I'm getting a little bit more adventurous.
Wish this car was around for me to work on but big bro is a couple thousand miles away.

[Tunafish]

I am guessing front driver (us) floor mat was wet? There have been several post with water coming from incomplete welds under the hood driver side right before the windshield.. I see if i can find links..

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by selo

Wish this car was around for me to work on but big bro is a couple thousand miles away.

I wish my little brother was closer to help me work on cars.

As George said, check that windshield cowl. I had this happen once where the microfilter tray wasn't seated properly, then another time I forgot to put the plastic cap over the circular plastic cover over the center strut brace bolt.

Both my 325 and 330 still have minor leaks when getting a car wash, specifically after the horizontal sprayers spray the sides of the car. My 325 leaks a bit past the driver door seals and my 330 leaks on the passenger side. I suspect the door seals are to blame (I can even see tears on the lower door seal on both cars). No leaks while driving in heavy rain however.

[tlow98]

Yeah, sadly used car advice is a land of broken dreams. Expectations are key. These are good cars but they are German and they aren’t young. Any of them will need proper care and feeding.

[selo]

Big bro comes from land of Japanese jalopies. If this thing has leaks and niggles I think it's coming back towards me.

[selo]

Brother wussed out already. Car is coming back to me. Says he'd rather drive his beat up old Subaru with 120k miles because German cars are over-engineered.
I guess I'll fix the light and cupholder, see if I can find and fix the leak, and sell it.

[alfazrus]

Can you put some pictures up and how much did you guys pay for the car?

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by selo

Brother wussed out already. Car is coming back to me. Says he'd rather drive his beat up old Subaru with 120k miles because German cars are over-engineered.
I guess I'll fix the light and cupholder, see if I can find and fix the leak, and sell it.

The Subaru will run for well over 200,000 miles, but the interior and electronics will fall apart. Every Subaru I've had was like that. Bumpers falling off, LCD screens dimming, half of the speakers failing, TPMS stops working, AC is leaking, and the compressor is on the way out, but at least the engines and AWD systems still work.

[selo]

Originally Posted by alfazrus

Can you put some pictures up and how much did you guys pay for the car?

Sure. in the meantime, I had kind of a duh moment and I now have a theory of where the water came from. The loose side marker turn signal is right by where the water came in. I'm going to apply Occam's razor and say that is where the water snuck in. Could be wrong, but what do you all think of the theory? The simplest answer is usually correct..... please see listing below from BaT. In addition to the dollars invested on the car itself, when it arrived at my brother's place, he had boxes waiting for the car including cross bars for the roof rack, BMW all weather floor mats and cargo mat, a lightly-used cargo cover, and a spare tire kit! As we speak, replacement OEM cup holder and new side markers are on their way to his house. I can't believe he wants to sell this car now. I'm sick about it.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...-sports-wagon/

[caldep]

As the proud purchaser of a 2006 32txiT in 2017; I quickly found I bad a similar leak..A previous owner had replaced the winshield and left out the windshied molding, located at the base of the windshield. it is a narrow strip placed at the base of the windsield and covered by the trim at the base of the windshield. Without it you will get that leak and it will eventually kill the blower motor. If yours is missing you need to install the moulding strip. There are a number of posts on this. That is what I had to do. I was able to scrape some adhesive from under the windshield and force the new mounding in place. This took care of the leak. I later had the windshield replaced (with the moulding). Leak did not come back. A link to the moulding is below.

Strange thing, in my area I consulted four windshield installers (2 nationwide companies) about the leak and this moulding. Three of the companies said it wasn't necessary and it's omission would not cause the leak. Only one of the commpanies I spoke to (a local) said they see it all the time and it was definitely the missing moulding.
I popped in the moulding strip and leak was no more. Unfortunately, one corner kept slipping out, so after a year I had the windshield reinstalled with the moulding adhered in properly (rather than my friction fit). Again, during that year, no more leaks.

The moulding is about $14, if that is missing in your case. Again a clogged sunroof drain can cause your puddle and i have read that a compromised vapor barrier in the passenger door can as well. Good luck and hope you enjoy the wagon!
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/51137133292/

[BravoJohny33]

Originally Posted by caldep

As the proud purchaser of a 2006 32txiT in 2017; I quickly found I bad a similar leak..A previous owner had replaced the winshield and left out the windshied molding, located at the base of the windshield. it is a narrow strip placed at the base of the windsield and covered by the trim at the base of the windshield. Without it you will get that leak and it will eventually kill the blower motor. If yours is missing you need to install the moulding strip. There are a number of posts on this. That is what I had to do. I was able to scrape some adhesive from under the windshield and force the new mounding in place. This took care of the leak. I later had the windshield replaced (with the moulding). Leak did not come back. A link to the moulding is below.

Strange thing, in my area I consulted four windshield installers (2 nationwide companies) about the leak and this moulding. Three of the companies said it wasn't necessary and it's omission would not cause the leak. Only one of the commpanies I spoke to (a local) said they see it all the time and it was definitely the missing moulding.
I popped in the moulding strip and leak was no more. Unfortunately, one corner kept slipping out, so after a year I had the windshield reinstalled with the moulding adhered in properly (rather than my friction fit). Again, during that year, no more leaks.

The moulding is about $14, if that is missing in your case. Again a clogged sunroof drain can cause your puddle and i have read that a compromised vapor barrier in the passenger door can as well. Good luck and hope you enjoy the wagon!
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/51137133292/

Exactly what has been wrong with my car and it pisses me off to no end. The windshield place that did mine tried to install it twice and still could not stop the leak. Even with new seals and reinstalled glass. When I shopped around for a new place to fix it they were all clueless, wanted nothing to do with it because another place screwed it up. Most of them said it was impossible for that seal to cause a leak.

The few places I did find that would fix it wanted 1400+ to fix it. They insisted only dealership OEM glass would not leak in the future. When you ask why only 1000 dollar glass would work on a car worth 3k. jUsT bEcAuSe. I got in an argument with one of the glass shop owners said that was dumb and BMW now uses FYG glass that all these BMW glass places shit on. Lets be honest, they just want more part mark up to make more money. Has nothing to do with leaks or any other BS. Just greedy shop owners.

But yeah this damn leak in this car is not easy to fix because finding someone who knows about the bottom seal causing leaks and isn't going to rip you off is impossible. I have called 10 shops between 3 major cities and they are fucking clueless or they want at least 1000 dollars. Good luck with most mechanics, they think same thing about that seal not causing leaks.

Its been years, I know the leak is ruining the car but I deem this leak not fixable.

[E92William]

I can't begin to comprehend how someone chooses to drive a Subaru over an e91 but I guess to each their own. That wagon needs a bit of work no big deal. Nice daily.

[BravoJohny33]

Originally Posted by E92William

I can't begin to comprehend how someone chooses to drive a Subaru over an e91 but I guess to each their own. That wagon needs a bit of work no big deal. Nice daily.

At least with a Subaru you don't have all these greedy people trying to charge you extra because BMW. Alignment shop I went to charged 50 bucks more for BMW. Why? Because. Called around for a window tint and found that BMW costs more than an accord because. This is also the only car I have seen people consistently get charged 350.00 for a battery install by independents. If I had a time machine I would buy a RWD Japanese car when they still made them.

[E92William]

I guess from my point of view as a DIY guy I haven't seen that side of the story but most of the time unless you're going to a specific Bmw independent shop the prices are the same for alignment and such as they were for my Honda. Battery is gonna be a more expensive job because of obviously having to code to the car, this will pay off for itself though as it will lead to the battery lasting longer. A 325xi is pretty much as capable as any awd Subaru but nicer.

[bmdubya1198]

Shame he's bailing on it, it looks like a really clean car! These issues are very minor, and that could be a great reliable daily driver for a long time with proper care. I guess if he's not the tinkering type, it could get to be a little too much.

Some people would prefer to drive something boring that requires no upkeep than have an enjoyable driving experience. To each his own!