Water sitting in panel below windscreen ?

[Simon H]

Hi Chaps,
Washed the M4 for the 1st time today, and noticed that water accumulates, and then sits in two or three little wells, that are in the plastic panel below the windscreen, and where the wiper arms are. There are no drain holes in these wells, but there is one on the other side, drivers side for us in the UK, so this may be the other way around for some of you guys in USA etc. I nipped into my dealers this afternoon, and checked all their 4 series coupes, just to rule out, maybe my car had some missed drain holes, but no, they are all the same. On inspection of a few M3s, it appears that they DO have drain holes here, so im wondering why our M4s dont have drain holes here ?. I dont want to just go ahead, and drill some drain holes, in case there is then nowhere for the water to drain to from underneath the panel. So i guess i will take the panel off, and inspect first, before doing anything drastic. BMW must not put drain holes in for a reason ?. Alternatively, i could just soak up this sitting water, every time i wash it . Anybody else noticed this ?. Thankyou, Simon.

[cctm4me]

I actually noticed this as well yesterday. Will go out and start to look for drain holes or how they are trying to drain water off the M4. I had a problem with my S4 with the drain plugs getting full of leaves when I went to the gf's house who has no garage. Yep, that grounds for a break up.

I will report back what I find later.

On a side note...That's a lovely accent...New Jersey?

[Simon H]

Originally Posted by cctm4me

I actually noticed this as well yesterday. Will go out and start to look for drain holes or how they are trying to drain water off the M4. I had a problem with my S4 with the drain plugs getting full of leaves when I went to the gf's house who has no garage. Yep, that grounds for a break up.

I will report back what I find later.

On a side note...That's a lovely accent...New Jersey?

cctM4 ME,
If your last sentence, is aimed at me, im in the UK.

[cctm4me]

Originally Posted by Simon H

cctM4 ME,
If your last sentence, is aimed at me, im in the UK.

[Rockapotomuses]

I also find if I lower my side window in the rain, water accumulates there. Three or four days later in the sun if I lower my window and bring it back up I find it's all wet.

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by Rockapotomuses

I also find if I lower my side window in the rain, water accumulates there. Three or four days later in the sun if I lower my window and bring it back up I find it's all wet.

Yikes....water drainage is no joke.

e39s had a pretty stupid flaw that continued through their entire production - there was no water drain hole in the gas filler area.

Any time it rained or you washed your car, 1/4" of water would just sit right under the gas filler neck but inside the cover.

Dark + little air flow + water = bad things for cars.

On the e39, that manifested as corrosion in the gas tank filler area.

[gavinsan]

Originally Posted by cctm4me

Fantastic love the post

[lucbac]

quite sure there was a BMW recall for something like this, my f30 had some nuts/plugs removed to aid water drainage.

[fun2drv]

I noticed the same issue in my M4 the first time that I washed the car. I have been wondering why there are no drain holes too.

[YMB-M3-J2]

I drilled about a 1/4" hole in each one of those wells and have had no issues. The water just drains out the bottom of the car.

[Simon H]

Originally Posted by YMB_M4_j2

I drilled about a 1/4" hole in each one of those wells and have had no issues. The water just drains out the bottom of the car.

Ive had another good look at this, and i can see where the water will escape away if i drill the holes. There is actually a small black plastic catch tray, with drain holes in that, under where the outer well is, the one with no drain hole, so im not sure why BMW havent fitted any holes ?, who knows. Good to know youve already done this, thankyou.

[YMB-M3-J2]

I often an not sure why BMW does what they do...they are so smart at times and then details like this somehow get missed.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by YMB_M4_j2

I often an not sure why BMW does what they do...they are so smart at times and then details like this somehow get missed.

Aren't those wells just made of plastic? They won't rust and water will just evaporate?

[YMB-M3-J2]

pretty much yeah. I think its more of an OCD thing. After washing the car I usually wipe all of that area dry and under the hood and those things hold quite a bit of water. I wouldnt want it to fling up on my freshly cleaned window...again OCD. lol