[Thumper333]

Ever since we got the car I noticed a weird dirt trail/stain appearing on the car when it as dirty. Figured it was just some water path drain, haven't had a car with rocker molding/side skirts in a while so thought maybe that made it more obvious.








I started wondering if the weatherstrips were leeching color or something but kept forgetting to look and wasn't that concerned.

Last weekend I took a peek and found this;


DRIVER FRONT



PASSENGER FRONT




Even though the black streaks are front and rear, only the front door weatherstrips show damage, the rears I can't see anything wrong. And stupidly I just washed the car this weekend so the black streaks are gone. Wife just dropped it off at the dealer, probably only replace the fronts. Wonder if the streaks appear on the rear again.

[BDWonder]

Originally Posted by Thumper333

Ever since we got the car I noticed a weird dirt trail/stain appearing on the car when it as dirty. Figured it was just some water path drain, haven't had a car with rocker molding/side skirts in a while so thought maybe that made it more obvious.








I started wondering if the weatherstrips were leeching color or something but kept forgetting to look and wasn't that concerned.

Last weekend I took a peek and found this;


DRIVER FRONT



PASSENGER FRONT




Even though the black streaks are front and rear, only the front door weatherstrips show damage, the rears I can't see anything wrong. And stupidly I just washed the car this weekend so the black streaks are gone. Wife just dropped it off at the dealer, probably only replace the fronts. Wonder if the streaks appear on the rear again.

That stinks, dude. Sorry. Hopefully an easy fix. I have same issue, whereby i see streaks at the bottom of the car on door sides. However, i only have them on the hinge side, where the door swivels, not where the door handle is. I look deep, and everything was fine, no tears or etc. I did see what was dripping. Some sort of lubrication was leaking out, every time i got a car wash or it rained. Quite annoying. And somewhat hard to clean. It is probably the lubrication oils from the door hinges.

[ft1330]

The streaks are not from your messed up seals, this is dirt.

[ji99lypuff]

I have same dirt marks as you but my weatherstrips are fine. It is annoying as it seems the dirt there is more caked on than other parts of the car. It takes a little more pressure to clean that area.

[Lost Horizon]

Looks like the damage is at the height of the seat shoulder strap clamp on both sides. Sometimes the recoil doesn't fully retract, and the door closes on it, which can cause that kind of damage. Maybe not you, but could have been someone else. it only takes one swipe with the metal end to gouge the strip.

It seems OK above and below that spot..

[Shahdog]

Theyll replace it


Had that prpb on my e90


Replaced 2-3 times if I recall


On f36 not an issue yet

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by ft1330

The streaks are not from your messed up seals, this is dirt.

This, if you look at the doors, the marks on the sills are directly below the drain holes on the doors, and it'll be a combination of dirt and rust protector that's squirted into the door at the factory.

[Jimminez]

Do you tend to put your elbow on the edge when getting out of the car? I ask because I do. I use my elbow for leverage to help get my ass out of the seat (6"3" 260lb) and see wear on the same weatherstripping at the same spot. I figure it was due to that, but it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as yours. I'd get it checked out.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Jimminez

Do you tend to put your elbow on the edge when getting out of the car? I ask because I do. I use my elbow for leverage to help get my ass out of the seat (6"3" 260lb) and see wear on the same weatherstripping at the same spot. I figure it was due to that, but it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as yours. I'd get it checked out.

My wife brushed the weatherstrip with her backside every time she got in and out of her car, eventually wearing a good sized chunk out of it. The opportunity to make an appropriate comment was one I did not pass up.

[s2k750]

I get mine replaced every time i go to the dealer. I rub the seal every time i get in and out of the car.

[sygazelle]

Your weatherstripping may be disintegrating, but that black stuff in your photos is most likely cosmoline rust protectant that BMW sprays inside the doors at that factory. When it gets warm, it oozes out the seep holes in the doors right where your black marks are showing.

I've had this problem on my last 3 BMWs. You would think by a company like BMW would be smart enough to figure this out, but apparently not.

While I love BMWs overall and I admire the design and thinking that went into these cars of ours, I wonder sometimes. I can imagine the meeting on rust protection went something like this: "We have to come up with a new way to prevent rust in the doors of the F30. Cosomline doesn't cut it. It oozes when warm and seeps out the holes in the door causing an unsightly mess. Customers have been complaining about it for years. BMW dealers have been cleaning cars, replacing weatherstripping, and making excuses for years. We, the F30 team, have the chance to fix this 20 year old known problem once and for all. Any ideas?" After a brief pause.... "I have an idea, lets keep using cosomoline." says someone at the smart table. The leader of this meeting says "Great idea, lets go with that".

Unacceptable is the only word that comes to mind.

[Ali Shiralian]

I get dirt on the same spots always and my car is also white, thinking its a design flaw and more visible on colour white?

[S4NoMore]

I'd chalk this up to poor dealer prep.

The skirts and doors at the door corners need to be cleaned of what has seeped out. Use a mild solvent if it has become too solid.

Whatever it is, if it isn't cleaned off it will collect dust/dirt which will then weep down with water as it drains (from rain or car wash). It's definitely more obvious on white/silver. I took care of this myself and haven't seen anything like OP in my 15 months of having the car.

[Thumper333]

I have been hand washing almost every other week (weather permitting obviously). I am very adamant about keeping a vehicle clean, hate driving around in a dirty car.

Well, glad the dirt dripping down made me think weatherstrips even if it isn't. Otherwise I might not have noticed until they started falling off.

Dealer is ordering the replacements under warranty.

Originally Posted by Billfitz

My wife brushed the weatherstrip with her backside every time she got in and out of her car, eventually wearing a good sized chunk out of it. The opportunity to make an appropriate comment was one I did not pass up.

And she's not your EX-wife now? LOL

I could blame my wife, but the damage is worst on the driver side and I usually drive.

I am anal about the seatbelts, my wife has on rare occasions let one slip and closed the door on it (in our previous cars) and she is sick of the lectures and glaring looks so she has stopped that now too.

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

I'd chalk this up to poor dealer prep.

The skirts and doors at the door corners need to be cleaned of what has seeped out. Use a mild solvent if it has become too solid.

You mean in the jamb and the underside of the door shell itself?

I'll get in there and wipe it down this weekend. But sounds like it will keep coming back.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

I get dirt on the same spots always and my car is also white, thinking its a design flaw and more visible on colour white?

Not sure how it is a design flaw, as this sort of filth staining can happen to lots of cars, dirt just accumulates more where the doors have panel gaps. Simple static drainage in my experience over the years.

Similar to how we get filth concentrating in air flows around fittings, etc., while on the move.

As you say, white just makes it more visible.

HighlandPete

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

I'd chalk this up to poor dealer prep.

The skirts and doors at the door corners need to be cleaned of what has seeped out. Use a mild solvent if it has become too solid.

Whatever it is, if it isn't cleaned off it will collect dust/dirt which will then weep down with water as it drains (from rain or car wash). It's definitely more obvious on white/silver. I took care of this myself and haven't seen anything like OP in my 15 months of having the car.

Even if the dealer preps the car perfectly, Cosmoline can continue to seep out for years. My 2014 is now 2 years old and it is still happening. It also happened for years on both of my E39s. This is not a new problem. BMW knows about it and chooses not to modify their process. My dealer says they know its a problem.

Granted, its not the biggest problem in the world but it is annoying. At least it won't stop your car in its tracks like cooling system failures.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Even if the dealer preps the car perfectly, Cosmoline can continue to seep out for years. My 2014 is now 2 years old and it is still happening. It also happened for years on both of my E39s. This is not a new problem. BMW knows about it and chooses not to modify their process. My dealer says they know its a problem.

All I can say is that once cleaned, I have not seen it return on my F30 nor a '10 E90 a family member leased, and a handful of others my friends have owned. Worth a shot to clean it in my opinion.

[G30 B58]

It's Not The Weatherstripping.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

All I can say is that once cleaned, I have not seen it return on my F30 nor a '10 E90 a family member leased, and a handful of others my friends have owned. Worth a shot to clean it in my opinion.

Absolutely. Cleaning is the answer. I just kept having to clean it again and again. It would usually re-emerge when the warm months came around.

I know it doesn't happen on every BMW. I have two friends with white BMW's and they have no issue with it. For those who have the problem, like me, its just an extra step to take when washing the car.

It just seems to me that BMW could figure out something that does not cause the problem at all. No other brand we have in our family has this problem and as far as I know nobody's doors are rusting off.

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Not sure how it is a design flaw, as this sort of filth staining can happen to lots of cars, dirt just accumulates more where the doors have panel gaps. Simple static drainage in my experience over the years.

Similar to how we get filth concentrating in air flows around fittings, etc., while on the move.

As you say, white just makes it more visible.

HighlandPete

The reason I say it maybe a design issue is that on my X5, also white, it never gets like that. A simple wipe with a cloth usually takes care of it but still irritating.

[F32Fleet]

The dirt on your running boards is a cosmoline-like substance from the doors mixed with road grim. All BMW'S have this and it eventually goes away or greatly diminishes.

The issue with weatherstripping is simply wear resulting from being brushed against.