2011 323i Soaking wet floor rear seat right

TPYD · 03-03-2013, 08:15 PM

Hi,

I am observing for now but before I bring the car for inspection/service at BMW Mississauga, I thought maybe I should get your opinion/diagnosis and if you ever encountered the same problem. So here is the story:

I went to Brantford to pickup my gf. As soon as she sat beside me, she immediately turned on the heated seats. Now me, being a new BMW owner, (and my gf not being used to such high tech features) we totally forgot to switch off the heater for the seat until we reached Mississauga (1 hour drive). My mom was seating at the back on the same side and she noticed that the floor under the rubber mat was soaking wet. After looking at all floors, it was very strange that all other floors were just fine, dry and normal. Could it be that the heater melted some fluids/snow underneath the chassis? Care to give some thoughts that could have caused the issue?

For the car, its a 2011 323i used that I bought last Monday and I picked it up yesterday 2pm.

Thanks in advance!

drevil2k2 · 03-04-2013, 05:06 PM

Perhaps a leaky door seal, melted snow ice from the from the shoes. Perhaps the carpet was recently shampooed?

TPYD · 03-04-2013, 05:29 PM

It couldn't have been snow from the shoes since there was no snow during that day. Only thing I could think of right now is damaged water vents that go through the sides of the car towards beneath the chassis? If they shampooed the carpet, maybe they forgot to dry it? It's hard to determine at this point really.

StevenIam · 03-05-2013, 03:04 PM

Normally it's the front floor that ends up getting wet for no obvious reason. Check under the car, maybe you have a small hole. I had this happen on a Pontiac and when I took out the rear seat I noticed that there was a seal that had moved and was allowing water to leak in.

TPYD · 03-05-2013, 06:50 PM

I read in some forums that it could either be the vapor seal not being sealed or the drainage tube having holes. Guess I'll find out tomorrow since I'm bringing the car to the dealership. I'll keep you guys posted.

TPYD · 03-06-2013, 10:04 AM

I've talked to one of their delivery specialist and they said that the reason why it is soaking wet is that they "washed it" and just didn't do a "good job" in drying it. I couldn't tell if he was telling the truth since I wasn't able to check the floor mat if it was dry when I took the car from them. But I did told him that it was very strange that all the others were dry and I am aware that quite the number of BMW customers have had the same issues. He agreed that they will look into the problem, but I wanted to ask you guys if they cleaned the car do they really wash the floor by soaking it?

TPYD · 03-13-2013, 11:39 AM

Got the full report yesterday, I'll scan and post it here. Just for future reference for co-bimmers.

03-03-2013, 08:15 PM	#1
TPYD Private 2 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	2011 323i Soaking wet floor rear seat right Hi, I am observing for now but before I bring the car for inspection/service at BMW Mississauga, I thought maybe I should get your opinion/diagnosis and if you ever encountered the same problem. So here is the story: I went to Brantford to pickup my gf. As soon as she sat beside me, she immediately turned on the heated seats. Now me, being a new BMW owner, (and my gf not being used to such high tech features) we totally forgot to switch off the heater for the seat until we reached Mississauga (1 hour drive). My mom was seating at the back on the same side and she noticed that the floor under the rubber mat was soaking wet. After looking at all floors, it was very strange that all other floors were just fine, dry and normal. Could it be that the heater melted some fluids/snow underneath the chassis? Care to give some thoughts that could have caused the issue? For the car, its a 2011 323i used that I bought last Monday and I picked it up yesterday 2pm. Thanks in advance! Last edited by TPYD; 03-03-2013 at 11:12 PM..
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03-04-2013, 05:06 PM	#2
drevil2k2 Lieutenant 7 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2019 B9 A4 Join Date: May 2012 Location: GTA iTrader: (4)	Perhaps a leaky door seal, melted snow ice from the from the shoes. Perhaps the carpet was recently shampooed? __________________ Organized crime is alive and well: It's called auto insurance
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03-04-2013, 05:29 PM	#3
TPYD Private 2 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	It couldn't have been snow from the shoes since there was no snow during that day. Only thing I could think of right now is damaged water vents that go through the sides of the car towards beneath the chassis? If they shampooed the carpet, maybe they forgot to dry it? It's hard to determine at this point really.
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03-05-2013, 03:04 PM	#4
StevenIam Private 1 Rep 76 Posts Drives: just fine (2009 335i) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Normally it's the front floor that ends up getting wet for no obvious reason. Check under the car, maybe you have a small hole. I had this happen on a Pontiac and when I took out the rear seat I noticed that there was a seal that had moved and was allowing water to leak in.
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03-05-2013, 06:50 PM	#5
TPYD Private 2 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	I read in some forums that it could either be the vapor seal not being sealed or the drainage tube having holes. Guess I'll find out tomorrow since I'm bringing the car to the dealership. I'll keep you guys posted.
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03-06-2013, 10:04 AM	#6
TPYD Private 2 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	I've talked to one of their delivery specialist and they said that the reason why it is soaking wet is that they "washed it" and just didn't do a "good job" in drying it. I couldn't tell if he was telling the truth since I wasn't able to check the floor mat if it was dry when I took the car from them. But I did told him that it was very strange that all the others were dry and I am aware that quite the number of BMW customers have had the same issues. He agreed that they will look into the problem, but I wanted to ask you guys if they cleaned the car do they really wash the floor by soaking it?
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03-13-2013, 11:39 AM	#7
TPYD Private 2 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2012 F30 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	Got the full report yesterday, I'll scan and post it here. Just for future reference for co-bimmers.
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