Q: Water leaking from pillar sunroof drain into passenger footwell

asked by on January 16, 2018

Hello, so I have a 98 bmw 540i and noticed water leaking into my passenger side footwell via tiny open area next to the glovebox. Upon further inspection found that passenger pillar, if pulled back a little to see contents there was a tube for a drain from sunroof I’m guessing but then water started dripping from the area I had pulled back. Making me think the sunroof drain to the wheel well is somehow clogged or disconnected.So does YourMechanic fix these type of water issues? And what would a repair estimate on the low and high side look like? What inspection would it be under?

My car has 212000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Clear fluid is leaking Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Yes, diagnosing the leak and implementing the required repairs is no problem and is a fully covered service. To request that service, you can schedule via YourMechanic’s leak diagnostic service page. If the drain tube is readily accessible, I can’t imagine the cost to repair would be particularly high. Also, inasmuch as the diagnostic and repairs are performed on a mobile basis, there are inherent cost savings. Basically, something like this would be billed on a time and materials basis. Once the exact cause of the leak is pinpointed, the responding mechanic can give you a precise, firm estimate but I think without seeing it it would be impossible to give you an accurate range. A complexity is it is unclear how much disassembly will be required. The starting and end points of the drain have to be determined to ensure the leak is actually fully resolved. It is unknown if the drain tube is broken and it is also unknown if the entire tube will have to be replaced. A course for you is to request the inspection and you will certainly have precise information once that is complete. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you to get the best possible results.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do you activate or deactivate the Belt-Minder® system?
Your car’s Belt-Minder® system provides important alerts that increase your safety by reminding you about buckling up. However, there may be times that you need to deactivate (and then reactivate) the system. Here’s how: Make sure the ignition is off....
Engine leaking oil and making noise
Hi. The common components on any given vehicle that produce oil leaks are the valve cover gaskets and the oil pan gasket. The leaks will usually occur on vehicles above 80,000 miles but can occur as low as 50,000 miles....
Check Engine Light staying on
Your engine may need a tune up. Your engine, in addition to spark plugs and wires, also has a distributor cap and rotor that need to be replaced as part of a tune up. Commonly, over time, the metal parts...
Check Engine light stays on
Hello. Without knowing the code and the problem that is occurring then it will be hard for me to give you good information. From what has been replaced though, I am assuming that this is an issue with the cooling...
Overheating on short trips. 2000 Chevrolet Metro
Hello. There could be a problem with the water pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/water-pump-replacement) not pumping the water as efficiently as it should. This is a common problem with these cars. If the thermostat is faulty this could also cause the car to...
Revs up and out of control
Hello. The throttle cable (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/throttle-control-cable-replacement) could be sticking causing the RPMs to increase excessively if the throttle cable is holding the throttle open when it shouldn’t be. There also could be a bad throttle position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/throttle-position-sensor-replacement) or idle control...
Truck is overheating - 1992 Chevrolet C1500
There are a few things to check over. The water pump produces flow. To check this remove one of the heater hoses (small diameter) going to the heater core. Locate the hose end to a container to check flow of...
P2118 where to look for the issue
Hello, thank you for writing in. You are throwing a code for the throttle body actuator control motor. More particularly, it means that the computer which monitors the throttle actuator has detected that the motor is working outside of it...
I'm putting in a police interceptor motor from a Impala to a 2005 Monte Carlo but it has fly by wire
Prior to doing this work, you should confirm that the "new" vehicle configuration is certifiable insofar as Federal emissions law, that is if you intend to register the vehicle. Please see the relevant Federal EPA Engine Swap Guidance Document (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/engswitch_0.pdf)....

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d
The The 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d offer contour seats and smooth acceleration. The suspension offers a smooth ride to the driver and passengers in the vehicle, even for long road trips. It can handle tight curves without any problem while...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2011 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid
This This “Sports Activity Vehicle” – a moniker bestowed by its maker – is one of those few cars that toes the line between SUV, hatchback sedan, and a just plain quirky car. Regardless of its true identity, however, the...
Ten Sports Cars That Double as Good Daily Drivers
The best daily driver is a car that's reliable, usable, and still fun to drive. Popular daily sports cars include the BMW M3, Subaru WRX, and VW GTI.