My 2009 convertible is kept in the garage, so other than having it washed, it doesn't get much exposure to rain. Today after I was caught in a rain storm, I was removing an item from the trunk. When I went to raise the lower tail gate I heard a loud sloshing noise. I moved the tail gate up and down a few times and the noise continued. Based on the noise, I knew that there was a significant amount of water trapped in the tail gate. When I examined the bottom inside edge of the tail gate I couldn't see any kind of drain hole for the water. I did note that there was a rubber strap from the tail gate to the frame. When I moved the rubber strap slightly, I found a small rubber plug under the strap at the bottom of the tail gate. I pried the plug loose with my finger nail and when I did, at least a half a gallon of water ran out of hole. I'm going to mention this to my dealer, but at this point I have no intention of putting the plug back in. Having that much water trapped in your body panels can't be a good thing. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue?

 

had a similar problem on an 09mcs convert. water collecting in the lower compartment in the trunk. then the trunk would open by itself until I brought it into the dealer and they found a crimped seal around the trunk latch that allowed water to seep into the trunk switch and also the under compartment.
also, if you lower the top when its wet water will collect in the trunk.
sounds like you have a bad seal somewhere.

 

No problem with water in the trunk compartment. The water was collecting in the lower tail gate panel, with no apparent way to drain until I removed the plug I found.

 

Gary33031. I had the exact same problem. Have left the rubber plug out for good. My trunk switch was replaced by the dealer due to this. Still to this day do not know the cause, but it is fine without the plug.

 

The plug was a shipping plug that forgot to be removed, i caught it before it was out of warranty. The truck kept opening on its own was 1st sign for me. I finally heard the water in the truck and pulled the plug and a S%*$ ton of water came out. Took it to the dealer and they fixed it and appoligized for the shipping plug.

 

Anyone have a pic of this plug? Wanna make sure mine has been removed.

 

 

Ok, let me rephrase. Does anyone have a pic of where this plug is on the boot? :-)

 

I don't have my Convertible any more, but number 21 in this parts diagram is pointing at the rubber plug that I removed to get water to drain out. I didn't think it was a shipping plug (it has the electrical cable running through it), but could be wrong.



I guess it's obvious that once the plug is out, the lid needs to be closed to get the last bit of water to drain out.

Once the water was out, I got the trunk handle/switch to start behaving properly again by taking the whole handle off and drying it out in a fan oven on a cool setting. Dismantling the handle didn't seem possible without someone who knew where all the tabs were that had to be prised open.

 

The boot cover on my 2010 R57 flooded during an extended rain spell. I took in to the dealer and they drained it, and replaced the boot grip per service bulletin M51 05 12. No problems since then.

-Bill

 

Plug looks like this and mounts to the bottom. I believe you are getting water in there from another location such as the grip . Or down around the trunk seal #12.



#21 in diagram.


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51497167597/ES2676180/




Sounds like it does get around that handle.

 

Where exactly is this plug on the car? Does anyone have a picture of the plug on the car?

 

It should be right on the bottom near the bottom of the boot lid toward the center. there is a wire plug there also in that area.

 

I take it the plug fits into the square hole under the wiring tubing? As seen in the attached picture. I've no other plugs or holes in the tailgate on our '14 R57S.

 

That's the fella - take it out, shut the tailgate and watch the stream of water dribble out.

 

Reviving this thread -- I have a 2011 and had the same issue. Took the plug out but by that time the switch was shot. Had to replace it and now it works fine.

Curious if anyone was able to seal the hatch somewhere so that water doesn't get into the boot? Or, is it normal and/or intended for water to get into the boot and drain?

 

i have problem with rear gate (Tailgate) opening on my Mini Convertible. I pulled panel off back of tailgate, don’t see any water or how it could collect. Anyone have pics of that plug you remove is? Can’t find

 

Post #11 shows the plug part. Post 14 shows its removed and that hole at the bottom near the wire.

 

Thanks! My plug was out and no sign of water in tailgate. Going to remove trim inside trunk and see what I find.

 

So it seems I've got this problem. I don't drive my 2011 R57 all that much and until today I haven't had a single problem with the trunk. Today I went to Costco then a grocery store, and at Costco I had no problems with the trunk, heard absolutely nothing. Then at the grocery store I thought I heard water sloshing when I was putting my bags in and when I got home I heard water and also the latch wouldn't open. When I finally got it open after many tries a small amount of water came out from various places behind the plastic and a tiny bit dribbled down from the latch handle. I made an appointment at the service center and started googling, which led me here. I have searched for this plug mentioned in the thread and it doesn't seem to be there, but when the trunk leaked water it definitely didn't pour out of that hole so that makes me think maybe the plug is up in there somewhere. How hard is it to find the plug? Is it super obvious if it's there? I can stick my finger sort of up into the opening but not past the first knuckle, and I don't feel anything that seems like it could be removed, but maybe I'm not trying hard enough. Mine looks exactly like the picture in post #14 and in that pic I don't see a plug but I'm not sure if this pic is before or after removal. If someone who's removed theirs could give me an idea of how far up into the hole you have to reach to find it I'd appreciate the help. Before I spend lord knows how much at the dealer I'd like to see if I can pull out the plug and let it drain if it's there. This is such a sudden, new problem I'm hoping letting it drain and dry might be all I need to do?

 

Plug should be there at the bottom.

 

I realize this is a very old thread, but I want to share how I fixed my problem. Last year (2023), after 14 years of driving in occasionally torrential rain with no problems, water started accumulating in the walls of my hatch door. I removed the plug described in this thread, which helped the water drain, but the plug had always been there and I'd never had a problem, so I knew something else had to be wrong. I took the Mini to the local body shop, who told me that I probably had an imperceptible hole or tear in the trunk lid gasket. I ordered a new gasket from ECS and had someone install it, since I was terrified I'd tear the new one if I tried installing it myself. I haven't had any water in the hatch walls since then.