I recently picked up an r53 and have owned it for a few months and love it up to this point. I live in Seattle and the rain has just started picking up. I notice when it rains hard my passenger floor mat is soaked and the drip seems to be falling from the cabin filter. The previous owner recently put a windshield in do you think the leak could be seeping in through there? Also noticed my driver side seatbelt was wet after pulling it out to buckle up? Any ideas? I checked to make sure the sunroof drains were free and they seem to flow out the bottom without issues

 

For sunroof drains, also check front of the headliner by the rearview. When my sunroof drains clogged, that area was damp. As for findng where the water on passenger/driver side is coming from, I'd just follow the moisture upwards. Might have to remove some paneling. New windshield seems a likely culprit. If the installer left any opening when applying the adhesive caulking, you can bet water would find its way in.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll give that a go and see what I can find. I just realized the installer Also broke some clips on the windshield trim. Now it's not sitting flush on the window. Might also be causing some issues

 

FYI I don't think the trim clips are broken but instead they are not meant to be removed/replaced. At least that was my experience when I had paint work done on the rear and shop had to remove/replace all the trim pieces. One by one they started popping out and even the wheel well trim flew off on the interstate. The window trim clips are the angled plastic teeth design which I guess grinds down the teeth enough on first removal.

 

Check the to cassette where the water drains in the corners. Sunroof drain tubes. They can clog with debris and such. There are two in the front and two in the rear. #10 and #11 in pics.

Gen 1 R50 / R53 MINI Cooper Models:::

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51738197504/ #10

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/54107043425/ES156702/ #11



Also if they are clean and look ok the drain tube might be leaking. You have to get behind the headliner and A pillars to see. Since its in the front you will want to check #10 connection as the problem.

Click Here for how to: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...of-drains.html

Thanks and good luck.

 

I had the same problem with my driver seat belt. Turned out to be my aftermarket antenna just needed to be tightened a little. Water was getting under the gasket. With the amount of rain we've had recently here in sea I hope you find it quick. Good luck.