X5 damp rear seat belt and the usual damp rear lights

[martin33100]

Hi, we bought our first X5 yesterday and every thing seemed in place, ie 1 owner and BMW full history that was backed up by the BMW dealer when I called them.
When I got home and put in our sons rear child seat I found the rear passenger side seat belt was damp and covered with mould, there is obviously a leak somewhere, any clues anyone where it may be coming in??, I know some of the tail lights have been leaking on the X5 but isn't that to far back to be able to get into the area where the seatbelt retracts too??.

Also saving another thread I will ask now, is it just the inner tail lights that can leak? or the outers ie in the wings that can leak as well?.
I looked on BMW real oem parts system and they list gasket's to go on the lights, am I right in saying early cars just had them sealed with mastic and no gasket's?.


Any advice will be greatly appreciated

[Steamyrotter]

Hi and welcome.

Sounds like a potential door seal on its way out!!

Outer lights will leak also..
Not sure about seals and mastic though??
Always worth a try!!!

[martin33100]

[quote="Steamyrotter"]
Hi and welcome.

Sounds like a potential door seal on its way out!!

Outer lights will leak also..
Not sure about seals and mastic though??
Always worth a try!!!
[/quote]Thanks for the reply, regarding a leaking door seal do you think this could alow water to get to the seatbelt when it is fully retracted? ie the part of the seatbelt that was damp was the part that was retracted and not on show until you pulled it out. When I have some spare time I will put the seats foreward and see how I get to the seatbelt mechanism.
As for the rear lights BMW do list a gasket/seal for them but I was told the first cars to be built didn't use them and just had mastic applied.

[Nat]

Hi,

Its been a while since I lookes at the seatbelt on an E53...........

Rear lights don't leak to my knowledge, although there was an issue with them failing and many were replaced under warranty.

If the lights were leaking then  the boot floor would be wet/damp not just the seatbelt.

Something spilt ? Mould suggests its been there for a long time .

It check the moisture barrier...thats a common problem on E39's..............they shrink over time and come unstuck at the bottom.

Thats where I would start looking, but usual tell tale is a wet/damp floor.

Regards,

Nat.

[martin33100]

Its an E70

[Nat]

Sorry my mistake.

Regards,

Nat.