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BMW E39 530i M-Sport Individual Aegean Blue Edition 2003
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<blockquote data-quote="haywire" data-source="post: 576278" data-attributes="member: 16474"><p>e39 Vapor Barrier Fix</p><p></p><p>As some of you know, there are a common fault with the vapor barrier in these cars. I noticed recently that after heavy rain or a car wash I would have a small puddle in my rear footwell carpet. I knew straightaway that the vapor barrier had failed, but i had no time to fix it until this Chinese New Year holiday. As I am taking off the front seats for the blind install anyway, I took the opportunity to fix the vapor barrier as well.</p><p></p><p>Some people fix the vapor barrier, dry the carpet and leave it just like that. To do the fix properly you need to lift the carpet and let the foam underneath dry out. The foam underneath the carpet does a great job for sound insulation, but also acts as a massive sponge when there is a leak. Although from the top of the carpet it feels dry, underneath will still be wet and attracts rust to the body.</p><p></p><p>So to fix the vapor barriers:</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6761190715_49f7401f0f_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>The vapor barriers sits behind the doorcard.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6761190763_95f267c196_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Begin by removing the torx screw behind the door handle</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6761190825_549242c738_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Then pry out the handle and the window switch. Also remove the light under the door.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6761190873_494e0880ff_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Then just pry the doorcard out with a prying tool. Use a paper or cloth so that it does not damage your doorcard or paintwork. Some people just used dinner knife and it worked just fine. Pry at the location of the door clips.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6761190985_7c8df307ce_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Its quite easy to remove actually. This is my first time removing the doorcards.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6761191079_b74b56e8e6_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>There's another holding pin right in the middle of the doorcard behind the handle. Pull the handle/doorcard inwards and these will come out.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6761191199_48656ef7ea_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>The vapor barrier exposed. It is that black piece of foam on the door. Note that at the bottom of the door there's evidence of water penetration.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6761191819_87ce29d889_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Okay if you're having the leak in your car best to get it fixed asap. First thing is your doorcard which is made from wood fiber will deteriorate with the water, and also the puddling will also create rust in your car bottom.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6761191425_95fd8bf04b_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>This is where the seal fails. BMW uses a strip of Butyl tape to seal the vapor barrier. Over time this sealant loses it adhesiveness and let water come through it. We need to reseal this back.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6761191529_87825ecc6a_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>There's actually no cost to fix this if you're doing this yourself, just need a heatgun to reheat the Butyl tape and fix it back. It'll be as good as new.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6761191685_1486be7ed1_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Some more seal coming off at the top. Basically you need to check all around the vapor barrier to check for leaks. Re-heat the butyl and stick the vapor barrier back.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6761191747_a2308830fd_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Same leak on the other side. Repeat the same process.</p><p></p><p>Now after thats done, put back the doorcard to the door. In order to do the job properly, you will also need to dry out the carpet by lifting it up and let it dry good.</p><p></p><p>First, remove the front seats. (read the DIY for the blind install above).</p><p></p><p>Then remove the rear bench.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6761192077_1986f55b50_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Then remove the door seals and B-pillar cover. These just pulls up.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6761189829_c68811d11f_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Then you can lift the carpet. Look at the wet foam!</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6761189999_7e9e59b19a_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>I lifted both side of the carpet since both sides were leaking. Tied them together with cable ties and let them dry.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6761191925_70ce31463b_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Well, a fan to help the drying process wouldn't hurt!</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6761192003_7b6c284efb_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>After the carpets were dried put them back together again and used the opportunity to thoroughly clean the interior of the car. It has gotten dark, I started the process including fitting the wiring for the blind early in the morning. but to be honest, it took a bit of time for the carpet to be totally dry.</p><p></p><p><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6761192201_9e0f1d5c52_b.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Had a nice dinner and put everything back together afterwards. Not a single screw or nuts missing or left out. :rock:</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="haywire, post: 576278, member: 16474"] e39 Vapor Barrier Fix As some of you know, there are a common fault with the vapor barrier in these cars. I noticed recently that after heavy rain or a car wash I would have a small puddle in my rear footwell carpet. I knew straightaway that the vapor barrier had failed, but i had no time to fix it until this Chinese New Year holiday. As I am taking off the front seats for the blind install anyway, I took the opportunity to fix the vapor barrier as well. Some people fix the vapor barrier, dry the carpet and leave it just like that. To do the fix properly you need to lift the carpet and let the foam underneath dry out. The foam underneath the carpet does a great job for sound insulation, but also acts as a massive sponge when there is a leak. Although from the top of the carpet it feels dry, underneath will still be wet and attracts rust to the body. So to fix the vapor barriers: [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6761190715_49f7401f0f_b.jpg[/IMG] The vapor barriers sits behind the doorcard. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6761190763_95f267c196_b.jpg[/IMG] Begin by removing the torx screw behind the door handle [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6761190825_549242c738_b.jpg[/IMG] Then pry out the handle and the window switch. Also remove the light under the door. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6761190873_494e0880ff_b.jpg[/IMG] Then just pry the doorcard out with a prying tool. Use a paper or cloth so that it does not damage your doorcard or paintwork. Some people just used dinner knife and it worked just fine. Pry at the location of the door clips. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6761190985_7c8df307ce_b.jpg[/IMG] Its quite easy to remove actually. This is my first time removing the doorcards. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6761191079_b74b56e8e6_b.jpg[/IMG] There's another holding pin right in the middle of the doorcard behind the handle. Pull the handle/doorcard inwards and these will come out. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6761191199_48656ef7ea_b.jpg[/IMG] The vapor barrier exposed. It is that black piece of foam on the door. Note that at the bottom of the door there's evidence of water penetration. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6761191819_87ce29d889_b.jpg[/IMG] Okay if you're having the leak in your car best to get it fixed asap. First thing is your doorcard which is made from wood fiber will deteriorate with the water, and also the puddling will also create rust in your car bottom. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6761191425_95fd8bf04b_b.jpg[/IMG] This is where the seal fails. BMW uses a strip of Butyl tape to seal the vapor barrier. Over time this sealant loses it adhesiveness and let water come through it. We need to reseal this back. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6761191529_87825ecc6a_b.jpg[/IMG] There's actually no cost to fix this if you're doing this yourself, just need a heatgun to reheat the Butyl tape and fix it back. It'll be as good as new. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6761191685_1486be7ed1_b.jpg[/IMG] Some more seal coming off at the top. Basically you need to check all around the vapor barrier to check for leaks. Re-heat the butyl and stick the vapor barrier back. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6761191747_a2308830fd_b.jpg[/IMG] Same leak on the other side. Repeat the same process. Now after thats done, put back the doorcard to the door. In order to do the job properly, you will also need to dry out the carpet by lifting it up and let it dry good. First, remove the front seats. (read the DIY for the blind install above). Then remove the rear bench. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6761192077_1986f55b50_b.jpg[/IMG] Then remove the door seals and B-pillar cover. These just pulls up. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6761189829_c68811d11f_b.jpg[/IMG] Then you can lift the carpet. Look at the wet foam! [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6761189999_7e9e59b19a_b.jpg[/IMG] I lifted both side of the carpet since both sides were leaking. Tied them together with cable ties and let them dry. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6761191925_70ce31463b_b.jpg[/IMG] Well, a fan to help the drying process wouldn't hurt! [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6761192003_7b6c284efb_b.jpg[/IMG] After the carpets were dried put them back together again and used the opportunity to thoroughly clean the interior of the car. It has gotten dark, I started the process including fitting the wiring for the blind early in the morning. but to be honest, it took a bit of time for the carpet to be totally dry. [IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6761192201_9e0f1d5c52_b.jpg[/IMG] Had a nice dinner and put everything back together afterwards. Not a single screw or nuts missing or left out. :rock: [/QUOTE]
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