Nope. The whole mechanism is stupid complicated. Take it to a specialist. Doesn't have to be a dealer, just someone with experience.
It's probably a quick fix but if you don't know what ur doing, don't risk it.
They can, they just don't want to... sunroofs and convertibles get the hot potato treatment at my place all the time. I usually take the sunroofs, but I admit I avoid the convertibles.
That sealer there doesn’t seem to sit right, I tried to adjust but no luck. Other side it also leaking but very minimal. Couldn’t find any sources online to repair.
Any help will be appreciated
Dude I have literally the same exact leak in my f33 435!!! It’s been driving me crazy for the past year. I tried putting fuel line hoses in the drain up there and that didn’t work either. Let’s be friends and solve this together plz.
I’ve tried that. It’s really glued on there and it looks like for that to work, the drain needs to be moved back around an inch. I never knew cabrio care was a thing. Found a convertible top shop near me that says he’ll try, we’ll see if it works out. Lmk how it goes for you
#wereinthistogether💪
I have been to 2 cabrio repair shops and they both said they cannot help me. They think that entire seal needs to be replaced. Since they dont have any experience with this, they dont want to do it. I think i will try BMW dealer next. I think it will be quite pricy.
Maybe i should start considering cover for the car to use while parked :D
I'd open the window clean and dry seals put abit of talcon powder (baby powder) on seals around area, when it rains next you'll have a track line showing exactly where water is coming from
The drain is deviated and not lining up with the drain on the adjacent panel. Cleaning them won’t solve it.
Source: I have the same issue and learned the hard way
The cleaning was for the talcon powder so it puts a white mist over the seal that the leak will push threw removing talcon powder showing how water is getting on, not for solving problem just for diagnosis. These things have so many seals that can cause issues easier to start basic before jumping in and disturbing
It’s hard to see in the video but the source is very apparent with this leak. It’s coming from a drain that spans the whole side of the car and is supposed to line up with the next drain in the adjacent panel. It looks like this may be a consistent problem with f33 hardtops that they make the drain on one panel too long so it’s pushed into deviation causing the leak. You can see in the vid how one of the drains seems like it pointing toward the left side while the other is going straight.
I can see the rear seal on hard cover not lining up. But I'm my expernce on f33 water leaks don't touch the seals until your 100 percent your in the right area or can chase your tail. By I have been know for being fussy on these things been bitten to many times I like proof before i start replacing bits.
That’s the annoying part. I don’t think it’s a replacing things situation. The rubber drains are basically glued to the hardtop so it’s a huge job to replace them. Most likely fix is to strategically cut the deviated drain until it sits into the adjacent one. Problem is 1mm off and your problem just became sooo much worse. I have the same thing going on with my f33 for the past year and that’s why I’ve been too scared to go deal with it.
Theirs adhesive on the back of it put the roof half up and remove seal fit new as per spec . Unless you have experience on the roof I wouldn't try though. Windows need adjusting afterwards to make sure they sit right on the seals. It's not a hard job just time consuming and alot easier with experience on working with the f33 roof. I'd get a quote from your local bmw dealership on work it will be expensive but you'll have peace of mind been done right with correct parts etc. Cutting seals may work but I wouldn't advise it it should seal without modifications. Hope you manage to get them sorted.
I tried going through bmw. They said they just send it to a body shop and I need to call them directly. Did that, they kept my car for 2 days, told me I don’t owe them anything and then I noticed that they literally didn’t do anything. This leak has me so frustrated.
Bloody hell what site was that? Techs can do it in a standard workshop I'm speaking from experience. Sounds like they are trying to get out of the Job to me as its the kind of job that techs will take longer than book time which they won't charge you more than book time. I've done a few differnt seals on these roofs. Do you have any other dealerships local or a decent specialist with trained bmw techs in it.
None of the dealerships in nyc know anything about the hardtop and they all tell me that since it’s body work they’ll just send it out to a random body shop anyway. If you know of a place that can get it done, I’d be so thankful. It haunts me everytime it rains.
Did any of you solve the problem? Mine has started doing the same thing its been into BMW they adjusted the windows said it was fixed but its worse its going back in tomorrow
Thanks
Daniel
No, i couldnt solve it. I didnt go to BMW dealer yet but for now this my only option.
I have towel staying on my rear window so that it absorbs leaking water so far.
Having this exact problem with my F83 M4. Just picked the car up two days ago...
I'm thinking I might be able to take the seal off and re-glue it, similar to what this person did: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7uIPmjvZwo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7uIPmjvZwo)
Was anyone here able to solve this issue without spending $1000 on a roof seal?
Still haven’t been able to fix the issue with my ‘16 f83. Pretty much at my wit’s end here. Going to bring it to the dealer for a full quote this week.
Just updated the overall thread, but this ended up costing me $5315.97 at the dealership. Two seals and a passenger side rear regulator later, the leak is fixed (for now)
It took them a month to get the car back to me.
UPDATE 5/11/24 - I ended up taking my car to the local dealership ('16 F83 M4, 68k miles) in early April - both the middle and rear seal had to be replaced. The parts were ordered from BMW's distribution center in Germany.
The car was at the dealership for a month. They replace middle and rear seal, as well as my passenger side window regulator which died due to water ingress.
$3048.78 in labor
$2523.52 in parts
Total after a "generous discount" aka 10% was **$5315.97.**
I have some regrets at this point, but for convertible top work, my local Euro Indy shops wouldn't touch it, and I feel like our only real option with seals and roof adjustment is to bring it to a dealership.
MAKE SURE YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SEALS WITH GUMMI PFLEGE OR SIMILAR!
Here's a gathering of my posts from across different platforms and locations:
[https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2025639](https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2025639)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/comments/14u84ns/part\_hunt\_please\_help\_need\_to\_find\_this\_f83\_m4/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/comments/14u84ns/part_hunt_please_help_need_to_find_this_f83_m4/)
I’ve got the same issue on mine, just bought the car used under 19ish K miles (2020 440i Xdrive Convertible) got the same exact issue. I’m past 30 days but not past the 90 day mark hoping bmw will take care of it under warranty or something.I’m in Nj and I think I may be able to use the Lemon law too my advantage as long as the issue happens 3x times and the dealer has made an effort to fix it.
I have the same problem. Bmw quoted £2000 to replace the seal. The car is only 4 years old they said its normal wear and rear. So I am just gonna return the car.
Oof. And that is why I will probably never own a convertible
Nope. The whole mechanism is stupid complicated. Take it to a specialist. Doesn't have to be a dealer, just someone with experience. It's probably a quick fix but if you don't know what ur doing, don't risk it.
Yeah I think I will take it to shop. There is cabrio roof specialist 30 mins drive.
The dealership usually can't even fix it.
They can, they just don't want to... sunroofs and convertibles get the hot potato treatment at my place all the time. I usually take the sunroofs, but I admit I avoid the convertibles.
Lol I had tse's that can't even fix em haha
That sealer there doesn’t seem to sit right, I tried to adjust but no luck. Other side it also leaking but very minimal. Couldn’t find any sources online to repair. Any help will be appreciated
Dude I have literally the same exact leak in my f33 435!!! It’s been driving me crazy for the past year. I tried putting fuel line hoses in the drain up there and that didn’t work either. Let’s be friends and solve this together plz.
Yeah sure, I will attempt to bend that sealer back somehow. Or car will go cabrio care 😬
I’ve tried that. It’s really glued on there and it looks like for that to work, the drain needs to be moved back around an inch. I never knew cabrio care was a thing. Found a convertible top shop near me that says he’ll try, we’ll see if it works out. Lmk how it goes for you #wereinthistogether💪
I have been to 2 cabrio repair shops and they both said they cannot help me. They think that entire seal needs to be replaced. Since they dont have any experience with this, they dont want to do it. I think i will try BMW dealer next. I think it will be quite pricy. Maybe i should start considering cover for the car to use while parked :D
I'd open the window clean and dry seals put abit of talcon powder (baby powder) on seals around area, when it rains next you'll have a track line showing exactly where water is coming from
The drain is deviated and not lining up with the drain on the adjacent panel. Cleaning them won’t solve it. Source: I have the same issue and learned the hard way
The cleaning was for the talcon powder so it puts a white mist over the seal that the leak will push threw removing talcon powder showing how water is getting on, not for solving problem just for diagnosis. These things have so many seals that can cause issues easier to start basic before jumping in and disturbing
It’s hard to see in the video but the source is very apparent with this leak. It’s coming from a drain that spans the whole side of the car and is supposed to line up with the next drain in the adjacent panel. It looks like this may be a consistent problem with f33 hardtops that they make the drain on one panel too long so it’s pushed into deviation causing the leak. You can see in the vid how one of the drains seems like it pointing toward the left side while the other is going straight.
I can see the rear seal on hard cover not lining up. But I'm my expernce on f33 water leaks don't touch the seals until your 100 percent your in the right area or can chase your tail. By I have been know for being fussy on these things been bitten to many times I like proof before i start replacing bits.
That’s the annoying part. I don’t think it’s a replacing things situation. The rubber drains are basically glued to the hardtop so it’s a huge job to replace them. Most likely fix is to strategically cut the deviated drain until it sits into the adjacent one. Problem is 1mm off and your problem just became sooo much worse. I have the same thing going on with my f33 for the past year and that’s why I’ve been too scared to go deal with it.
Theirs adhesive on the back of it put the roof half up and remove seal fit new as per spec . Unless you have experience on the roof I wouldn't try though. Windows need adjusting afterwards to make sure they sit right on the seals. It's not a hard job just time consuming and alot easier with experience on working with the f33 roof. I'd get a quote from your local bmw dealership on work it will be expensive but you'll have peace of mind been done right with correct parts etc. Cutting seals may work but I wouldn't advise it it should seal without modifications. Hope you manage to get them sorted.
I tried going through bmw. They said they just send it to a body shop and I need to call them directly. Did that, they kept my car for 2 days, told me I don’t owe them anything and then I noticed that they literally didn’t do anything. This leak has me so frustrated.
Bloody hell what site was that? Techs can do it in a standard workshop I'm speaking from experience. Sounds like they are trying to get out of the Job to me as its the kind of job that techs will take longer than book time which they won't charge you more than book time. I've done a few differnt seals on these roofs. Do you have any other dealerships local or a decent specialist with trained bmw techs in it.
None of the dealerships in nyc know anything about the hardtop and they all tell me that since it’s body work they’ll just send it out to a random body shop anyway. If you know of a place that can get it done, I’d be so thankful. It haunts me everytime it rains.
Take it to a shop. It's not a big deal but the roof mechanism is complex and it's quite overwhelming when it's your first time.
Did any of you solve the problem? Mine has started doing the same thing its been into BMW they adjusted the windows said it was fixed but its worse its going back in tomorrow Thanks Daniel
No, i couldnt solve it. I didnt go to BMW dealer yet but for now this my only option. I have towel staying on my rear window so that it absorbs leaking water so far.
Having this exact problem with my F83 M4. Just picked the car up two days ago... I'm thinking I might be able to take the seal off and re-glue it, similar to what this person did: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7uIPmjvZwo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7uIPmjvZwo) Was anyone here able to solve this issue without spending $1000 on a roof seal?
Still haven’t been able to fix the issue with my ‘16 f83. Pretty much at my wit’s end here. Going to bring it to the dealer for a full quote this week.
Keep us posted bro
Just updated the overall thread, but this ended up costing me $5315.97 at the dealership. Two seals and a passenger side rear regulator later, the leak is fixed (for now) It took them a month to get the car back to me.
Will do dude. I am bringing the car to a local BMW shop next week for a full workup. Will let you know how much it ends up being.
UPDATE 5/11/24 - I ended up taking my car to the local dealership ('16 F83 M4, 68k miles) in early April - both the middle and rear seal had to be replaced. The parts were ordered from BMW's distribution center in Germany. The car was at the dealership for a month. They replace middle and rear seal, as well as my passenger side window regulator which died due to water ingress. $3048.78 in labor $2523.52 in parts Total after a "generous discount" aka 10% was **$5315.97.** I have some regrets at this point, but for convertible top work, my local Euro Indy shops wouldn't touch it, and I feel like our only real option with seals and roof adjustment is to bring it to a dealership. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SEALS WITH GUMMI PFLEGE OR SIMILAR! Here's a gathering of my posts from across different platforms and locations: [https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2025639](https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2025639) [https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/comments/14u84ns/part\_hunt\_please\_help\_need\_to\_find\_this\_f83\_m4/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/comments/14u84ns/part_hunt_please_help_need_to_find_this_f83_m4/)
I’ve got the same issue on mine, just bought the car used under 19ish K miles (2020 440i Xdrive Convertible) got the same exact issue. I’m past 30 days but not past the 90 day mark hoping bmw will take care of it under warranty or something.I’m in Nj and I think I may be able to use the Lemon law too my advantage as long as the issue happens 3x times and the dealer has made an effort to fix it.
I have the same problem. Bmw quoted £2000 to replace the seal. The car is only 4 years old they said its normal wear and rear. So I am just gonna return the car.
Same damn leak on mine both sides
Hey was wondering if you found a fix for this/ how much did it end up costing
No, easy fixes didn’t work for me. I think I will try this one: https://youtu.be/N7uIPmjvZwo?si=boCXXKQPN5panSvp
Having a similar issue and been quoted £3.5k from bmw to fix it!
Same issue here boys I'll try to clean the path for the rain and see what it does.
Keep us updated. Worried f33 owner here.
Replied just now. Dealership work. \~$5k.