E93: Anyone fixed leaks with Krytox? [SOLVED]

The first week of ownership (10K mile 2009 E93) I applied gummi pflege to all seals and did it again a week later.

Recently I've been leaving the car outside (trying to nail down cause of rough running on startup). Following last night's rain I learned the car leaks at the top of the drivers window. It's not the end of the world but a decent spray of water hits my left side under acceleration.

Googling says try gummi pflege and kryrox. Has anyone had success with krytox to fix a leak? Already there are a zillion products in my garage and I don't want to drop $60 on another unless it's really different from gummi pflege.


== Update after issue resolved ==

Since finding and cleaning out the rain drain in the A-Piller I've subsequently driven in heavy rain without a leak.

It makes sense that accelerating caused the leak: water stuck in the A-Piller drain would have moved upwards and backwards under acceleration and have been forced against the corner windows seal (where water leaked in from).

While clearing the rain drain I also carefully applied Gummi Pledge to everywhere possible near the leak's source. Am pretty sure the clogged drain was the main issue though.

Hmm, I wonder if anyone has mentioned this here before: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sea...rchid=19423164

I don't think any lube will fix that. I would take that to the dealer and have them make the correct adjustments to stop or cause almost no leak. My E93 has had a trickle leak from day one with a hose but driving never. It is just a couple drops down the outside and sometimes inside. Totally acceptable but a spray isn't...

I have a slight trickle on the passenger side that I can control with a combo of keeping the seals plumped up and about 1X per year stuffing a piece of foam or backer rod behind the rubber to force it against the glass. Most of the time I can keep it air/water tight.

OK, thanks all. I'll keep using gummi pflege and look into 'adjusting' behind the rubber

Am too scared to take to the dealer.. over the weekend I noticed they broke the clips for the driver side vanity light last time it was in for a top repair so it the light is virtually falling out now

With all these minor issues I am kinda tempted to swap this car out in the spring when convertible prices rise again... love it apart from the glitches, but my MX-5 has been totally trouble free and only cost $18.2K brand new (left over 2010 bought late Fall when the 2011s were out)

if the dealer broke something when they worked on it, call them up tell them and you expect them to replace it for free, they usually will

Hondo

Originally Posted by hondo402000

if the dealer broke something when they worked on it, call them up tell them and you expect them to replace it for free, they usually will

Hondo

Nah, am done with them unless it's a really high dollar issue. It costs me $150->200 in lost billable time every time I go there anyway. Would rather sacrifice a few weekend hours here and there and ensure the fixes are done right first time. Last BMW here (seventh too!) but I hope to resolve the issues and keep it a good many years

+1 with some foam either behind the seal or in the empty space inside the seal if you can get to it to help force the seal against the glass. I had a little trickle in the top front corner of my drivers window where the 3 seals meet and just a little more pressure with some foam behind the seal fixed it. I personally would rather do this and lubricate the seals than have the dealer trying to adjust the top and screw around replacing seals - that doesn't seem to help much and in some cases makes it worse if you don't get a good tech working on it.

Rob

The seal itself is hollow if I remember, too bad the drain opening isn't near that area, you could shove a small piece of rubber tubing within that area, to make it more "plump"

Have not tried to fix this yet but was thinking about what the Krytox can do compared to Gummi Pflege

Gummi Pflege can rejuvenate the rubber but I get the impression Krytox is a 'super Vaseline' so it'll reduce creaks and squeaks but only by permitting glass/ metal slide across the rubber with less friction

Thanks for all the replies. Good to hear it's not just me

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

The first week of ownership (10K mile 2009 E93) I applied gummi pflege to all seals and did it again a week later.

Recently I've been leaving the car outside (trying to nail down cause of rough running on startup). Following last night's rain I learned the car leaks at the top of the drivers window. It's not the end of the world but a decent spray of water hits my left side under acceleration.

Googling says try gummi pflege and kryrox. Has anyone had success with krytox to fix a leak? Already there are a zillion products in my garage and I don't want to drop $60 on another unless it's really different from gummi pflege.

In a fury of Preventative Maintenance, I scored a supply of Krytox last Summer!

Someday I might use it....no leaks yet, several hard blowin' Pacific storms.

Had a a drip of water after gas station car wash. You know the kind - side spray and whappers. Insufficient motivation, as has happened only twice.

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Have not tried to fix this yet but was thinking about what the Krytox can do compared to Gummi Pflege

Gummi Pflege can rejuvenate the rubber but I get the impression Krytox is a 'super Vaseline' so it'll reduce creaks and squeaks but only by permitting glass/ metal slide across the rubber with less friction

Thanks for all the replies. Good to hear it's not just me

Krytox: Teflon infused goo, yes?

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

In a fury of Preventative Maintenance, I scored a supply of Krytox last Summer!

Someday I might use it....no leaks yet, several hard blowin' Pacific storms.

Had a a drip of water after gas station car wash. You know the kind - side spray and whappers. Insufficient motivation, as has happened only twice.

IMO everyone should Gummi Pflege door seals in all their cars once a year.

Most likely leaks are caused by roof adjustments. Mine would not open/ would fly back violently when it did open. Dealer adjusted and it now opens smoothly but thinking about it that's likely to cause leaks. Once a roof gets slightly out of alignment I'd imagine it's almost impossible to re-align and have the windows seal perfectly. When it warms up outside I'll try the ideas above. Now the rough running issue is solved the leak seems minor.

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Krytox: Teflon infused goo, yes?

Yes, it is, for most applications, it's the perfect solution for seals. On frameless doors, I avoid the top section so you don't drag the stuff down the window. Here's how I did my E90: [both seals, the door and the car itself to eliminate the "tick" sounds. I just put minute drops and work it into the seals, especially the corner seals and also behind the seals, where it meets the painted surfaces.

Wonder how similar this is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L5UL92/

It's much less expensive and possibly repacked/ branded Krytox (according to at least two places on the Internet)

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Wonder how similar this is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L5UL92/

It's much less expensive and possibly repacked/ branded Krytox (according to at least two places on the Internet)

Probably pretty close, Krytox is known to be people friendly, it's used in ice machines for lubrication, etc. This stuff would work. Give it a shot for that price, on a test area.

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Wonder how similar this is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L5UL92/

It's much less expensive and possibly repacked/ branded Krytox (according to at least two places on the Internet)

Thank you for sharing this interesting find. I just threw it in my cart, and may place the order in the near future.

Originally Posted by Ilovemycar

Thank you for sharing this interesting find. I just threw it in my cart, and may place the order in the near future.

Have some coming to me too Worst case it'll be a kick-ass lubricant for my bicycles.

As it's from Dupont, fluorinated, PFPEA based and contains teflon odds are that it's at least very similar to Krytox. For that price I'll silence the squeaks.

Krytox brand targets precision industries:
http://www2.dupont.com/Lubricants/en...s_Greases.html

We all know Finish Line:
http://www.finishlineusa.com/product...oro_grease.htm

Update: Since finding and cleaning out the rain drain in the A-Piller I've subsequently driven in heavy rain without a leak.

It makes sense that accelerating caused the leak: water stuck in the A-Piller drain would have moved upwards and backwards under acceleration and have been forced against the corner windows seal (where water leaked in from).

While clearing the rain drain I also carefully applied Gummi Pledge to everywhere possible near the leak's source. Am pretty sure the clogged drain was the main issue though.

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Nah, am done with them unless it's a really high dollar issue. It costs me $150->200 in lost billable time every time I go there anyway. Would rather sacrifice a few weekend hours here and there and ensure the fixes are done right first time. Last BMW here (seventh too!) but I hope to resolve the issues and keep it a good many years

If you are losing 200 bucks of income by bringing your car into the dealer, it is time to hire a personal assistant (if you haven't already). Just think of the money you will save, reclaiming all of that lost opportunity cost in your day...

Originally Posted by MP3_E46

Have some coming to me too Worst case it'll be a kick-ass lubricant for my bicycles.

As it's from Dupont, fluorinated, PFPEA based and contains teflon odds are that it's at least very similar to Krytox. For that price I'll silence the squeaks.

Krytox brand targets precision industries:
http://www2.dupont.com/Lubricants/en...s_Greases.html

We all know Finish Line:
http://www.finishlineusa.com/product...oro_grease.htm

Please report back once you have given it a try.

Thanks.

Arrived today, have not applied it to the car but it's a clear very thin grease. I spread a little on our kitchen sink surround and get the impression it's an affordable Krytox substitute bit I've never seen Krytox. Someone who's used Krytox should spend the $10 and compare so we know for sure: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L5UL92/

Originally Posted by CALLAWAY845

If you are losing 200 bucks of income by bringing your car into the dealer, it is time to hire a personal assistant (if you haven't already). Just think of the money you will save, reclaiming all of that lost opportunity cost in your day...

Lol, from time to I meet someone who has. Dedicated PAs are for A list celbs etc. I've worked for several really multinationals and even there PAs are shared between several senior Directors. When I worked full-time for Anderson Consulting they had a pool of PAs that any of us could use but I never found the need in two years there. At some companies I have used the people that book flights, hotels, cars etc but that's it.

Keep it simple and keep it all under control yourself if you want things done right

These days I take many months off at a time between gigs to enjoy life so could not afford it anyway

I applied the "new" krytox to my rear trunk seals and the top door flock material last night. So far it feels and acts much like the real deal. Even in the cold, it is soft and pliable.

Originally Posted by thekurgan

I applied the "new" krytox to my rear trunk seals and the top door flock material last night. So far it feels and acts much like the real deal. Even in the cold, it is soft and pliable.