When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
It's been raining cats and dogs for the last 2-3 days. Today I found good amount of water under the footwell of rear seat (behind the passenger seat). In addition, I removed the lower portion of the rear seat, and that area is pretty wet as well. The water is not coming from the sunroof or top of the doors.
A quick search showed other Clubman owners that had a similar issue, where the inner door seal or the vapor barrier in the rear doors were found to be the issue. Currently, I'm running two big fans from each rear door drying it nicely before I take it in.
Have you experienced this issue yourself? If so, what was the solution, and did it come back? The timing is definitely not ideal with rain -and snow, soon- on the horizon.
I had the same issue, 2022 F54 Cooper S, main stealer said it was the door seal which they changed under warranty, did not work.
I got in the car and the wife poured water from a watering can around the area, no leak. As soon as she poured around the sunroof, it came flooding in on the C post trim below the airbag.
Additionally, it poured in around the wheel arch down under the rear seat and onto the area behind the front seats.
Poured some water in the sunroof channels and bingo thats where it was coming from. I got some thin wire and sent it down the rear drain hose and then saw the water coming out onto the floor outside.
Blocked drain hose was my problem.
As you pour water down the sunroof channels, you should see it coming outside underneath the car.
John, I can’t thank you enough for your reply!
I poured water to the sunroof tracks… two front ones, as well as the driver’s side rear one, were open (observed the water draining to the ground). However, when I did the same to the passenger rear one, water came in to the car from the spot that you described (C pillar trim under the airbag). That explains why the seat bottom, as well as the footwell were soaking wet.
I’ve watched a YouTube video where a previous generation Clubman had the same issue and they were able to open it in reverse blowing air through the holes that are visible when you open the barn doors. Looks like that design changed in F54, since there are no visible holes there. Did you remove the horizontal seal that directs the water coming from the sunroof tracks to the sides to clean yours?
Thanks again for your time!
EDIT: I found this short video outlining where the drain could be accessed from the inside of the car.
I did see that video, only after I managed to clear mine I didnt remove the seal across the top, looked like I may break the clip.I have to book it in for service and MOT at the end of next month, I was going to ask the guys to reverse blow all the drain holes from underneath, much easier on the ramp than on your back. It will be a job I ask them to do every year now just to be sure.
Biggest job was drying the rear seat bench, which I took out and put next to the a radiator for a few days, ended up pushing towels under the rear carpet, ringing out and repeating until most of the moisture was out
I’m going to take it to the local shop to open them up with some pressured air. Thanks for the suggestion of blowing them from underneath (that’s probably how they do it, but just in case). I did try to open it with a weed whacker line, and looks like I was only able to push the clog little further down the line, because this time the water came out of the D pillar into the boot, instead of the C pillar
You're absolutely right about the difficulty in drying stuff... This fan -at full speed- aimed at the seat and the footwell area worked wonders overnight.
Took it to a local shop, and all 4 drains are functioning properly now. I'm hoping that this was it, and I won't have to deal with door seals, vapor barrier, etc.
Rear seat area water leak problem is solved, but there's still water under the passenger seat footwell. I initially thought it was just left over water from the rear area, but it gets more after it rains. Looks like this saga is not over yet. I'll remove the door trim next week and see if the water barrier and the weather seals are intact or not.
Just out of interest, do you have roof rails fitted ?
When I was investigating my leak, I was convinced it was seeping thru the roof rails (it may well have been as well)
I looked at the OEM Drawings and they are fixed on by 4 bolts going thru the roof with rubber top hat washers, not a continuous seal.
I blew them out, masked up, pumped them with windscreen adhesive and smoothed them out, so it did eliminate those.
Just out of interest, do you have roof rails fitted ?
When I was investigating my leak, I was convinced it was seeping thru the roof rails (it may well have been as well)
I looked at the OEM Drawings and they are fixed on by 4 bolts going thru the roof with rubber top hat washers, not a continuous seal.
I blew them out, masked up, pumped them with windscreen adhesive and smoothed them out, so it did eliminate those.
I don't have rails installed, but I'm planning on pulling the A pillars and replacing the clips and sealing the holes for the clips. I haven't determined the source of the small leak (sunroof drain clog leak was the big one.... so much water!) yet, since it's started snowing and I just wrapped the car on the driveway with a waterproof tarp. A pillars and water/vapor barriers are my next targets.
Yep check those drains and make sure the hoses did not slip.
Thanks! The drains didn't slip, but one was clogged badly with debris.
I have my butyl sealant tape ready for any spots that failed in the vapor barrier. In case I need to replace it, do you carry vapor barriers for the Clubman?
I have a leak that I think is from the barnroof door seals or from around one of the rear lights on the left. the ONLY place I get water accumulation is in the way back in the compartment under the trunk on the left side, right behind the lowest L sided light. Thoughts?
After a couple of days of heavy rain, I was able to conclude that the water under the passenger side footwell is not "fresh" (i.e,. coming in due to failed door seals and/or the vapor barrier), but rather from the puddle that formed last time when the right rear sunroof drain was clogged. Sine there was a lot of water on the surface behind the passenger seat, I focused my industrial fan to that area to dry everytthing.
There's no water or moisture on top of the carpet in the passenger footwell area after some crazy rain, and if I press around the holes that house the floor mat stabilizers, a bit of "bubbly" water comes out of those holes, indicating that the thick foam under the footwell has retained water from last time. I think the best way to dry that area is going to be removing the passenger seat and some trim pieces to be able to lift the carpet and exposing the foam under it. Overnight blast with the industrial fan should dry it nicely.
After a couple of days of heavy rain, I was able to conclude that the water under the passenger side footwell is not "fresh" (i.e,. coming in due to failed door seals and/or the vapor barrier), but rather from the puddle that formed last time when the right rear sunroof drain was clogged. Sine there was a lot of water on the surface behind the passenger seat, I focused my industrial fan to that area to dry everytthing.
There's no water or moisture on top of the carpet in the passenger footwell area after some crazy rain, and if I press around the holes that house the floor mat stabilizers, a bit of "bubbly" water comes out of those holes, indicating that the thick foam under the footwell has retained water from last time. I think the best way to dry that area is going to be removing the passenger seat and some trim pieces to be able to lift the carpet and exposing the foam under it. Overnight blast with the industrial fan should dry it nicely.
I removed the rear seat bench, just undo the seat belt latch , comes out easy. I then peeled the rear carpets back and as you say, the foam on the underside retains alot of water, I stuffed some old towels down, right under the drivers seat and put some weights on it, every couple of hrs, rung the towels out, replaced, repeat, done the trick over a couple of days...good luck
I didnt remove the seal across the top, looked like I may break the clip.I have to book it in for service and MOT at the end of next month, I was going to ask the guys to reverse blow all the drain holes from underneath, much easier on the ramp than on your back. It will be a job I ask them to do every year now just to be sure.
