Top windscreen seal draining. How is it supposed to work?

[Pond]

Hi peeps,
As my newly acquired Z3 is completely waterlogged under the carpets (surprise, surprise), I am trying to ascertain exactly HOW the top (big) windscreen/ roof seal is supposed to drain. I know the water has been running down the inside of the A pillars as the dashboard reinforcing bar is rusty in both corners, so presume the seal is the culprit.
The main channel in the seal has a small hole at each end which looks like it is supposed to drain down inside the a pillar seal, then another which links to the very end piece. This also has a small hole which looks like it does the same as the above. Any excess water then runs over and is guided by a rubber flap to drain down the outside of the A pillar/ windscreen.

Is this correct? Is the water supposed to drain inside the seal and discharge through the hole in the seal in the inside door threshold and run over the sills to ground?
Or are these holes a red herring and all the water is supposed to drain on the outside of the seal?

I have read about the plugs at the top corners and have checked mine. These are sealed but I will re-seal them at some point.

I know photos would help explain but the holes are so tiny and dark I can't get a decent picture.

I am not sure if I have any blocked internal channels in the seals, or if there are supposed to be any.

Thanks

 

[t-tony]

A piece of thick strimmer line with a well rounded end should clear any blockage in the seal (it did on my mates 1 series convertible). Then LOW pressure compressed air to finally clear anything left.

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

Hi peeps,
As my newly acquired Z3 is completely waterlogged under the carpets (surprise, surprise), I am trying to ascertain exactly HOW the top (big) windscreen/ roof seal is supposed to drain. I know the water has been running down the inside of the A pillars as the dashboard reinforcing bar is rusty in both corners, so presume the seal is the culprit.
The main channel in the seal has a small hole at each end which looks like it is supposed to drain down inside the a pillar seal, then another which links to the very end piece. This also has a small hole which looks like it does the same as the above. Any excess water then runs over and is guided by a rubber flap to drain down the outside of the A pillar/ windscreen.

Is this correct? Is the water supposed to drain inside the seal and discharge through the hole in the seal in the inside door threshold and run over the sills to ground?
Or are these holes a red herring and all the water is supposed to drain on the outside of the seal?

I have read about the plugs at the top corners and have checked mine. These are sealed but I will re-seal them at some point.

I know photos would help explain but the holes are so tiny and dark I can't get a decent picture.

I am not sure if I have any blocked internal channels in the seals, or if there are supposed to be any.

Thanks

Is this correct? Is the water supposed to drain inside the seal and discharge through the hole in the seal in the inside door threshold and run over the sills to ground?
Yes

There are other areas the water can get in so dont assume its just the front seal

• Through the heater due to blocked drains in the intake. Remove the grill in front of the windscreen. Very common
• The seal that runs above the door glass is designed to split when the roof is opened, this can become tired and drip continually during rain.
• Blocked roof drains (located behind the doors) very common, someone will find the pictures for you I'm sure.
• Damaged rear seal on the roof (cant be seen without removing the rear gubbings behind the seats) water can enter and run down to the floor.

 

[Pond]

A piece of thick strimmer line with a well rounded end should clear any blockage in the seal (it did on my mates 1 series convertible). Then LOW pressure compressed air to finally clear anything left.

Tony.

I have tried everything. Only problem is it needs to be fairly stiff to get down the tiny holes and then a danger of poking holes in the seal which will make matters worse.

 

[t-tony]

That's why you use strimmer line, if you get to a restriction it will bend rather than make a tear. Also make sure the end is well rounded and smooth.

Tony.

 

[TriumphZ3]

Mine flooded on my second day of ownership. Two problems: the tube was completely blocked, so I cleared it using a stainless steel accelerator cable off one of the classics; thin and very flexible. I did find that the end of the tube inside the wing needed 'massage' to alow the water to drain completely. Second problem seemed to be that thge triangular 'plug' on the end of the seal, adjacent to the door quarterlight, wasn't sealing completely and water was dripping through. I bought a section of bicycle repair rubber, cut it to shape and using bicycle inner tube glue stuck it over the seal. Nothing has leaked since, even in some amazingly heavy rain.