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Fixing the sunroof drain leak. Or water in the footwell
Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.
Just did this last night. However, I didn't mess with the A pillar. Since I have the moonroof, I was able to remove the trim around it along with the visor and the clock and get to the drain tube from the corner of the headliner near the drain. I never thought I could be so happy to see dripping coming for underneath my car instead of down the side of my dash.
I did exactly the same in my 2007 R56. Now water is running smoothly down the floor. Thank you very much to @tvacc that started this forum and to @kdsberg for his last advice.
Bump for this post and a couple pictures.
To get to the FRONT 2 drain plugs...Taking off the inside trim on the pillar there are 2 screws with webbing that will not allow the trim piece to come all the way off. I think it has to do with the airbags?? Any way it's a torque 15 screw and it's super cramped (webbing is not long enough) to get unscrewed. Point is, don't just pry the trim piece off with out unscrewing these two screws.
Here's what they look like out.
Here'w what the tubbing looks like that runs from the drain on the sunroof to the metal tubing flowing into the pillar.
I use 1 hose metal hose clamp and then I found these smaller plastic clamps for the other end.
Both of mine were attached at both ends and no leaks. I used some grass trimmer line to confirm the lines were clear and then I used this brush (use for cleaning water bladder tubes, like Camelbacks) to run through the lines. I really had nothing in any of mine which was a relief.
So I have a thread "No combustion" but turns out this very issue has cause me a great deal of pain!
A little history:
i noticed the car getting wet on the passenger side. Originally thought it was the windshield leaking at the seam but turned out to be the sunroof drain came loose. I did have to do some flood damage control on the floor. Oddly and may coincidental but after I cleared up the water, when I went to start the car, the back doors would fly open. Every time the start button was pressed. I took them apart, put them together, nothing since.
Fast forward a week and I am where I am in the beginning. Car won’t start.
Decided to take my car to Mini and try and do an insurance claim for water damamge - you can do that apparently...
Turns out the car needs a new Junction Box/DME/ Fuse Box. They want 2K for that, another 1K for headliner and carpet pull, clean, dry, etc...
Insurance is going to deny the "water damage" claim though due to this being a mechanical failure of the Sunroof drain plug! They said since I was able to determine the water was coming from the plug that came loose that They would deny the claim and that it should fall under Mini or wear and tear.
So here I am stuck now with a car that doesn't run and a 3K bill... I have been trolling all over the forums about sunroof leaky water issues... Anyone have any advice for me.. Will be talking to Mini and my Insurance Supervisor/Manager. I need something other than -- it's coming out of my pocket!!!
Any thoughts?
MUCH the same experience as yours!
Hard, wind-driven rain w/e before last, while my '13 Clubman (R55) sat outside on my driveway after the Stay At Home order issued by our Governor put paid to any frequent use of it.
I went for groceries that Tuesday, rear doors'd unlatch often during the drive w/o my having touched anything! Then found puddled water on passenger-side footwell when I went to put groceries there.
Dealer opened up again yesterday, I went in this early this morning: estimates to repair damage: $3,300. This after my extended factory warranty lapsed at the end of 2018 once the payments were all in and the title became mine....
MINIKNEWabout this problem all this time and yet did NOTHING to issue a recall to do something - anything - to upgrade / re-engineer the sunroof drain leak issue? Even as far as simply putting some kind of shielding over the critical electrical parts that live under where water is pretty much an inevitable event?
I'm waiting for a call-back from my insurance adjuster once he's talked to the dealer's service manager. It's called COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE for a reason. Should cover manufacturer defects revealed by Acts of God and the collateral damage caused by same 100% of the time. They don't sell these cars just where it never rains or snows, do they?
With close to 80,000 miles on it in 7-1/3 years, as it sits now it's trade-in value is < 0 >.
Thank you wholeheartedly. Yesterday we had an entire day of rain and I discovered an inch or so of water in my passenger footwell. I did what you said and found the rubber hose disconnected from the drain tube. Hopefully now I won't have a pool of water in my Mini.
Hi, just to add to this thread. I see a lot of people using zip ties to keep the drain hoses in place, but those will never keep a consistent grip with the fluctuations in weather. I tried zip ties as a test, using pliers to grip and pull as tight as I could, and on a warm day here in New York, I was still able to slide everything off without any tools. If you're going to go through all the trouble of removing the headliner, and potentially reupholstering the headliner to repair any water damage, I suggest using fuel hose clamps or you may find yourself going through the trouble of removing everything all over again.
