e82 Windshield Cowl Gap

[Matticus91]

Afam28 and I were just talking about our mutual issue with our windshield cowl being loose. Has anyone found a solid solution to make sure water doesn't get in between the cowl and windshield? It almost seems like there's something missing here since the cowl just sits on top of the glass and absolutely is not sealed/water tights. It's loose enough that you can easily pick it up off the glass and see down into the car, assuming behind the dash where the blower/etc. is.

I did some searching and this seems to be a common issue with mixed responses, including a mention of this part:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...92&series=E90N

ECS (of course at almost double the price) has a picture of it here: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/51137133292/

I honestly am not sure how this fits or if I'm possibly missing it entirely. My windshield was replaced by a genuine BMW dealer/repair shop a while back, I'd hope they'd know to replace this but wouldn't be surprised if they didn't.

Any input appreciated!

On a similar but separate note, I have the BMS cowl filters and I'm thinking of fabbing up a cover to keep rain out of the top of them. Has anyone done anything similar already? I'm planning to use a moldable plastic that I can adhere to the top and sides and sort of fold down over the face a bit.

[Afam28]

Yeah if any has any ideas, please let us know...
Was gonna go the option of using urethane to seal the top portion and bottom portion ...
But talking with [COLOR="DarkRed"]Matticus91[/COLOR], I could run into problems if I ever needed to replace my windshield or getting under the wiper trim piece...

I've already gone through one blower motor...
After speaking with BMW of Annapolis...
I was instructed to put all my trim pieces back in place(this is after they did a water test)...
Confirmed that water was getting in through the BMS cowl filter...
Even after doing that I still had water leaking into the passenger...

After a lot of carpet cleaning and drying I just decided to keep my car in my garage full time...
I honestly don't think the cowl filters are the issue...
Especially when I can see gaps where the wiper trim piece meets the windshield...
Don't know how BMW missed that when diagnosing...

[chris_flies]

It looks like that part (No. 5 in the diagram?) is just the weather stripping that seals the wiper cowling to the big cowling you removed (I removed it, but since reinstalled it). Maybe the windshield shop just didn't install it quite correctly...it may also be that the big cowling is also used to hold down the wiper cowling, since it has two screws holding it down

EDIT:
Here's the TIS on windscreen replacement:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...window/PK0Ngdl
It does mention replacing the bottom rubber stripping, which resides underneath the wiper cowling (not the part I thought it was). Part 7:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_6597

Here's the TIS detailing the bottom rubber stripping:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...window/Fc8RWoH

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

It looks like that part (No. 5 in the diagram?) is just the weather stripping that seals the wiper cowling to the big cowling you removed (I removed it, but since reinstalled it). Maybe the windshield shop just didn't install it quite correctly...it may also be that the big cowling is also used to hold down the wiper cowling, since it has two screws holding it down

EDIT:
Here's the TIS on windscreen replacement:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...window/PK0Ngdl
It does mention replacing the bottom rubber stripping, which resides underneath the wiper cowling (not the part I thought it was). Part 7:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_6597

Here's the TIS detailing the bottom rubber stripping:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...window/Fc8RWoH

Yeah mine doesn't seem to have that part, I'll need to take a closer look but perhaps the shop forgot it when they put the new windshield in.h

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Yeah mine doesn't seem to have that part, I'll need to take a closer look but perhaps the shop forgot it when they put the new windshield in.h

Odd. But, hey, it's only a $15 part (according to RealOEM).

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Odd. But, hey, it's only a $15 part (according to RealOEM).

Yeah I'm going to take a closer look once I get my car back (in for the wheel bearing)

[Afam28]

So it sounds like weather stripping should be used to keep the trim piece securely attached?

I see the trim piece mentioned...
I just don't know if that will keep water from getting through the top of the trim piece(on my car)...
If I am missing something here please tell so i can understand better...

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Afam28

So it sounds like weather stripping should be used to keep the trim piece securely attached?

I see the trim piece mentioned...
I just don't know if that will keep water from getting through the top of the trim piece(on my car)...
If I am missing something here please tell so i can understand better...

That's what I'm understanding as well, since you have access to your car can you try lifting the cowl and take a pic of the bottom edge of the windshield glass? Might be able to get a better idea seeing it again

[Afam28]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

That's what I'm understanding as well, since you have access to your car can you try lifting the cowl and take a pic of the bottom edge of the windshield glass? Might be able to get a better idea seeing it again

Yeah, I'll get that done while at work tomorrow...

[Afam28]

Wasn't able to get all the photos needed due to time constraints....
But this is what I'm talking about in terms of cowl window separation...
The first 3 you can see some separation, it was a lot worse but I was able to position a little better with the clips i installed...
The next 2 photos you can see the clips i used...
They don't work too well...
The last pic is showing you how my windshield wiper trim piece sits...
I don know if that piece is supposed to be under the cowl or over it...

I'll get the pics lifting up the cowl as soon as I can

[iminhell1]

Originally Posted by Afam28

Wasn't able to get all the photos needed due to time constraints....
But this is what I'm talking about in terms of cowl window separation...
The first 3 you can see some separation, it was a lot worse but I was able to position a little better with the clips i installed...
The next 2 photos you can see the clips i used...
They don't work too well...
The last pic is showing you how my windshield wiper trim piece sits...
I don know if that piece is supposed to be under the cowl or over it...

I'll get the pics lifting up the cowl as soon as I can

You are missing the gasket that goes between the wiper cowl and the other plastic thingy





I think it's this one:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/64316935369/

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Afam28

Wasn't able to get all the photos needed due to time constraints....
But this is what I'm talking about in terms of cowl window separation...
The first 3 you can see some separation, it was a lot worse but I was able to position a little better with the clips i installed...
The next 2 photos you can see the clips i used...
They don't work too well...
The last pic is showing you how my windshield wiper trim piece sits...
I don know if that piece is supposed to be under the cowl or over it...

I'll get the pics lifting up the cowl as soon as I can

Originally Posted by iminhell1

You are missing the gasket that goes between the wiper cowl and the other plastic thingy





I think it's this one:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/64316935369/

Yeah he's missing that, I have that I believe. But these don't show what I was referring to, I'll go out in the morning and get some pics to illustrate what I was referring to.

[Afam28]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

You are missing the gasket that goes between the wiper cowl and the other plastic thingy





I think it's this one:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/64316935369/

Will be purchasing that today...

[Afam28]

Just ordered the gasket for the bottom of the windshield cowl...
Matticus91 if you don't get pics up of what i was supposed to get...
I can try and get them this weekend...
Just let me know...

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Afam28

Will be purchasing that today...

Originally Posted by Afam28

Just ordered the gasket for the bottom of the windshield cowl...
Matticus91 if you don't get pics up of what i was supposed to get...
I can try and get them this weekend...
Just let me know...

Cool hopefully that works for you!

I went back and looked at mine just now and I can see how all this is supposed to work. I DO in fact have the windshield gasket, it's just lower than I expected.

I think the reason it was a problem before is that I had the rain tray/cabin air filter system removed
with the BMS filters instead. I put it on and it holds things down much better when the stock cabin air filter system is screwed in since it actually connects the cowl and rain tray with bolts.

When I take the rain tray and cabin air filter off I can easily lift the cowl and the gasket becomes kind of pointless.

Here are some pics to illustrate what I'm talking about.

With the rain tray/cabin air filter components everything is held in place snugly and the cowl fits into the windshield gasket. The cowl would break the "speed" and strength of any rain coming through and then any that gets under the cowl edge would gently follow the inner gasket to the side drains.



With the rain tray and cabin air filter system removed, the cowl is not weighed down and lifts from the glass a bit on its own.


And with those parts removed, it takes very little effort to lift the cowl away from the windshield and peer into the car, I can actually see the blower motor from here if I go at the right angle.



So in conclusion I think I'm going to find a way to weigh down the cowl a bit so it's more snug to the windshield and inner gasket. I might use a rubber stopper on the bottom of the hood to press it down when the hood is closed. Should be simple and effective.

[iminhell1]

I think you are missing that "supporting ledge"; https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...g/51317133291/

Looking at pictures (because it's too cold and snowy out for me to take mine apart and look). I think that gasket goes along the bottom of the windshield.

If it fits like this, windshield fitting in the hook section. Then the non-hook would be a friction fit to hold the cowl down.



The ridge to the bottom of the picture,





Or maybe the gasket gets flipped and the hooks hold the cowl?

I know that mine does not lift and I have no water ingress problems. Just doesn't seem correct that yours lifts like that. It's a BMW not a Chevy.



And the bolts for the microfilter cover screw into the cowl, no deeper. So they aren't holding the cowl down, simply added weight.

[iminhell1]

Here's an E90 pic and i think that's the gasket on the bottom of the windshield ...





from here, https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459978

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

I think you are missing that "supporting ledge"; https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...g/51317133291/

Looking at pictures (because it's too cold and snowy out for me to take mine apart and look). I think that gasket goes along the bottom of the windshield.

If it fits like this, windshield fitting in the hook section. Then the non-hook would be a friction fit to hold the cowl down.

The ridge to the bottom of the picture,

Or maybe the gasket gets flipped and the hooks hold the cowl?

I know that mine does not lift and I have no water ingress problems. Just doesn't seem correct that yours lifts like that. It's a BMW not a Chevy.



And the bolts for the microfilter cover screw into the cowl, no deeper. So they aren't holding the cowl down, simply added weight.

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Here's an E90 pic and i think that's the gasket on the bottom of the windshield ...


from here, https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459978

Good finds! Definitely looks like I'm missing that, I'll have to see if any local places have one in stock I can look at/try to install. Otherwise might b*tch to my dealership for not installing this properly

[Afam28]

So I'm gonna have to check my windshield cowl to see if I have that gasket at the bottom of the windshield...
I know I definitely don't have the gasket for the cowl, which is why i ordered it...
Will see what i find tomorrow...
Looks like we are getting close to some sort of fix...

[Afam28]

So after checking...
I do have the gasket that sits directly under the windshield in place underneath the windshield cowl...
And after doing some further investigation...
It looks like I actually did have the windshield cowl gasket, just in the wrong place...
Will need the new piece in to verify...
Lol!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Afam28

So after checking...
I do have the gasket that sits directly under the windshield in place underneath the windshield cowl...
And after doing some further investigation...
It looks like I actually did have the windshield cowl gasket, just in the wrong place...
Will need the new piece in to verify...
Lol!

LOL. Keep us posted haha.

Also, your "..." after every sentence makes me feel like you're depressed bro is everything ok lol

[varoadking]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

LOL. Keep us posted haha.

Also, your "..." after every sentence makes me feel like you're depressed bro is everything ok lol

Is using "..." a sign of depression? I had no idea...I do it all the time...