Thanks for the valued input.
The idea that some cars had something that others didn't seems like a reasonable point to bring up.
Maybe another thread about oil changes would be better?

 

I installed the door seals last week, and after a weekend of tearing up the twisties on dusty post-winter-storm roads, I noticed that there is less fine dust on the panels right behind the doors. Not a scientific study, and certainly not the purpose of the seals, but it appears to affect the aero pattern, i.e., dust deposition as a side (or only) benefit. She still needs a wash though...

 

this was all kind of silly. anyway we have two r56's one we ordered back in sept and one we got two weeks ago. neither of them had the seal and when we asked about them our MA showed us the older models with it and the new ones without it.

 

I just checked my 07 that I got Sat. and she doesn't have the weather strip either. Going to the dealership tomorrow morning maybe they will order me some too.

 

I talked to my dealer today about the weather strip. They said that after 8/07 the factory no longer installed them on any Mini. I got the dealership to agree to order and install them at no cost to me. Maybe because I just purchased my Mini Saturday. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Anyone who installed the new strips, do you notice less road noise?

 

Spoke to the service guy at the dealer who told me that the engineers get alot of $ to figure these yhings out and if it's not there they are not needed.

That being said, I do want to get them and try to install them myself, is it a self instal easy job?

 

15 seconds a side! What I've noticed is that it reduces the dust deposition on the side of the body aft of the door, and keeps some water out of the sill.

I'll have to take a look and see if the seal is putting any fine scratches on the sill plates....

 

Thank you.

Do you know of anyplace I can order just one?

 

www.pelicanparts.com

Here's the part number...51767146093

 

Thanks, just placed my order.

 

I love MINI owners. Everything has to be just right. It's a disease

 

I just found this thread and see that my '08 R56 delivered less than 2 weeks ago does not have this strip. Is the above part number a set of 2 or do I need to order 2 units? They give precious little info except to say it is a special order BMW part. Any idea how long it takes?

Also, has anyone noticed any reduction in road noise with these?

 

I ordered mine a couple of days ago from Pelican and received an email that it was shipped yesterday.

Because I only needed one, I didn't ask if it was a pair or not, but I am sure if you call them it will be an easy thing for them answer.

 

I never really heard much difference in road noise. The biggest plus I see for having them is that less water appears on your sill after a wash or rain.

 

How is it you only needed one? Is it only the driver's door in question here? I didn't look at my right side door.

 

I posted this on the Clubman forum.
The Clubman has a bottom door seal on the right door/club door, but no seal on the left. I had my service manager look into it and she e-mailed a picture of the service bulletin for the R56.

The Service Bulletin is from August-2007 and was written for the R56.
Isn't the R55 US driver's side door the same as the R56?

Here's the text, since I can't figure out how to post the bulletin picture sent from the Mini parts manager:

Mini DelaerNet
TIS-Technical Information System

Subject: Lower Door Seal Deleted
Model: R56(Cooper and Cooper S) produced from 8/2007

The lower door seal, which runs the length of the left and right doors is located directly below each door panel, has been eliminated on cars produced from 8/2007.

Eliminating this seal does not have any negative effects on body sealing.
As these vehicles were not equipped with these parts from production, no warranty reimbursement will be made to retrofit these seals to later vehicles.
--end of service bulletin

So, it appears that the US Clubman passenger side door contains a seal, due to the club door.
The driver's side door does not contain a seal. You may still purchase the seal, as my dealer offered.
__________________

 

Just installed mine. They snapped right on. No prob.

Hopefully they will keep the sills from getting wet during a wash and perhaps abit less dusty on the twisties.

 

Thanks for this thread! I just ordered mine as well. I love this site - although it IS getting quite expensive to browse!

 

I just installed these seals tonight and then washed my car. There was almost no water on the door sills from washing. I am sold! Before I installed them, the sills were loaded with water after I washed the car. I was dreading the mess during the winter

I think that MINI should have never eliminated them!!!!

 

I just checked. I have the seals, but they aren't like the ones in harold47's picture. My rubber strips are completely on the bottom of the door, are rounded and quite soft (i.e. they push in easily). They do not have that lip that appears on the inside part of the door. Interestingly, I also do not have those oblong holes where harold's type strip plugs onto the door.... Am I the only one?????

 

Those were actually my photos in harold47's response. They are from an August 07 build so it would be interesting to see what yours looks like in comparison. Post a photo if you have a chance.

 

I went out and snapped some pics. I can verify that Dragonwagon is correct. The first pic is the passenger side door (with weather strip), second pic is club door (with weather strip) and third pic is drivers side without weather strip. I will talk to my SA on Friday and see what he says. I don't know why they would not have it on the driver's side.

Also, please excuse the poor quality of the pics. I just ran out there barefoot and snapped away.