In my 2015 F56, every time I wash the car or it rains, water gets in through the top of the hatch. It doesn't actually get in the car - only on the metal on the outside of the weather sealing. I only see it if/when I open the hatch. I'm worried about rust over the life of the car.

My 2006 R50 never had this. Is this normal?

 

Not exactly sure where you are referring to, but after a wash, if I open my hatch, there is lots of water laying along the painted area behind the hatch on the outside of the weather stripping. Along the top where hinges are and the flat area along the top and all down the sides.

Normally I include this as a part of the hand drying process. Same can be seen in areas around the doors after a awash or rain.

Plenty of cars have areas like this around trunks, hatches and doors that collect water after washes and rains. We can only hope the metal has been properly treated to resist rust over time. Would not really worry about it unless the water was caustic or salty. (a concern with some northern area and road salt around doors and quarters)

 

This car does the same. I got my F55 a week ago and washed it immediately. Dried the whole exterior and then opened the hatch. There were waterfalls from the hatch! A lot of water. From the spoiler and vent holes on the metal body of the hatch. I have never seen this amount of water coming from the hatch on the cars that I have owned in the past. The hatch holds a lot of water but I am not sure it would have any negative effect over a long period of time. From now on, I am going to open the hatch first, let the water come out and then dry the car.

 

normal MINI behavior

 

Exactly the places. Even the two rubber tubes at the top (electrics I imagine) and hinges are wet. As I said, my R50 didn't have this problem. I also hand dry everything. Just seems strange.

May be because (if I remember correctly) the spoiler on the R50 was one piece with the roof. But the spoiler and roof on the F56 are separate.

 

If I open my hatch right after washing a little water runs down the "gutters" and onto the ground, but I'm sure it would just drain if I drove the car. Nothing ever got into the car itself.

 

No offense, but your R50 had the exact same hydrodynamics, you just didn't notice. It's actually a big reason MINI re-designed the hinges from R50 to R56, as the R50's boot hinges were prone to rusting and seizing over time because they weren't up to the task of being exposed to the elements.

FWIW, every car on the market uses the same technique for their doors and trunk lids. What you're seeing is 100% normal for the entire automotive industry.