Week 23 build Clubman. Dealership suspects (guesses) that it is the passenger door seal. I have a service appointment tomorrow and will post resolution.

This is a little different than the issue in this thread Passenger rear floor SOAKING WET as this is front, and the dampness extended well up the tunnel hump.

 

I can't say I've seen this problem on my MINI (only had it two weeks), but I had something similar on a previous car when the AC drain got plugged up and backed the water into the system and leaked out through a hose not designed for the water. All the first diagnoses were about seals and the like. Once they put compressed air into the drain, though, no more problems. Just a thought, and a cheap/free thing to check on.

 

The AC is my primary suspect as well. The dealership fairly leaped at the door seal diagnosis as there had been a heavy rain the night before. We will see fi they can replicate.

 

Mine leasked a few weeks after I got it. Took them 3 visits to figure it was the AC drain seal. Got all new carpets though.My vote is for the AC drain seal.

 

If you have the sunroof, could also be one of the drains for that is clogged up.

 

PLEASE keep us posted on this! I discovered a wet passenger floor (carpet soaked) after taking delivery. A resolution for this defect is still pending...

SEE: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=149535

 

My first new car (a 200SX) had what I considered a flaw and the dealer fixed it. The drain line had no clamps on it. When my girlfriend, who had long legs, stretched out, she kicked the tube off (unknowingly). Poof - Wet carpets. I don't know if it was supposed to have clamps or not by design, but the dealer put some on. I vote you check the drain line.

 

No sunroof, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

Per dealership - it's the door seal. Parts on order.

 

Thank you for the update!

In addition to the door seal, is the dealer going to replace the carpets?

 

If it is in fact the door seal and it solves the issue, I don't see the need to replace the carpet as it would only have been wetted twice (maybe three times). If I detect mold in the future the problem is documented. If the issue persists the request will be part of my next visit.

 

Honestly, I don't see how replacing the door seal will solve this. I assume that any door leak would be noticeable. In your first post you mentioned that the "dampness extended well up the tunnel hump"

- How wet was the carpet and does the dampness/wetness coincide with the location?

- Have you tried reaching up under the glove box to check the dampness under the top of the carpet?

- Have you tried to reproduced the water leak by spraying water on/around the door seal or windshield with a garden hose?



.

 

It all depends on the source of the water ingress. I am willing to let them replace the door seal, it is a reasonable diagnosis.

Q: - How wet was the carpet and does the dampness/wetness coincide with the location?

How wet was the carpet - sodden by my definition.
...does the dampness/wetness coincide with the location? - passengers side front floor pan, so yes.

Q: - Have you tried reaching up under the glove box to check the dampness under the top of the carpet?

Q: - Have you tried to reproduced the water leak by spraying water on/around the door seal or windshield with a garden hose?

No. That the carpet was wet was enough for me. A three week old car shouldn't be that way - time for the dealer to fix it. Any trouble shooting that I engaged in is going to be replicated by the dealer.

At this point the dealer has a) acknowledge the problem and is b) taking efforts to rectify the issue. The issue is documented so I am covered down the road. That makes me content.

A nugget that might be if interest to you is that the dealership mentioned that the passenger door seal leaking was not unheard of in the R56, but that this was the first R55 they had encountered.

 

Now that's a valuable piece of information... Thank you!

 

New seal installed - continued water leakage. Dealership cannot identify source. PUMA case opened. Waiting.

 

Thank you for the update. Having PUMA case in the works will help you if a replacement vehicle becomes your only recourse.

 

Is the carpet getting wet only when it rains? If NO, then I have to agree with the A/C crowd.

 

Dealer has had it since Thursday, and has replicated the wetting in a water spray booth (1 hr+ exposure) both before door seal replacement and after.

 

Sorry if it's a dumb question, but what's PUMA?

Thanks,
-Chris

 

Do you have a sunroof?

 

Not a dumb question. I was told that it was a request for technical assistance both up to the MINI technical folks and horizontally the dealership Service folks.

 

No and I am happy I don't. It really only leaves the AC and the glass/body panel seams. Since the car is not being operated, that eliminates the AC, leaving only glass/body panel.

 

I had a '96 Maxima that leaked water onto the driver's side floor/carpet (happened when new, after the first good rain). Turned out that water was getting around the front windshield seal and making its way (indirectly- not a straight drip) onto the floor. Don't know if the MINI's doing something similar, but worth checking. Bad windshield seals seem to occur not infrequently (as in the high speed howling issue)..

 

Dealership called and reports problem solved. Adjusting the door striker in addition to the seal replacement reportedly did the trick. Will post entire service write-up after pickup tomorrow.

 

Awesome NEWS!