Hi, I can see leaves caught in the bodywork in front the the doors in the space between the wheel and the door frame. You can also see them from the top when the hood is up. I've attached some pics. I expect most of these cars have this issue if they're parked outside. Has anyone found an easy way to clean them out? I tried a screw driver but doesn't really get in the enough and will scratch the paint/rust proofing. Thanks,

 

Maybe try an air compressor and nozzle.

 

shop vac with small section of old garden hose duct taped to end.......?

 

I have headlamp washers so between that bottle and the windshield bottle on the other side I cannot see down into the void but would think if you remove the plastic fender/wheel shield you could clean the area out.

 

Where is the first picture?

 

A strong vacuum cleaner can suck those leaves out.

 

My MX5 had the same thing. The leaves turned to potting soil and some weeds started sprouting at one point. I used an air compressorvto blast the loose stuff when dry and a house when cleaning the car finishing up with the compressor again.

i havent had the mini through an Autumn yet. Mx5 didn't have a air filter for the cabin ac blower. When leaves for in and started to rattle you knew to blast them out elsewhere too.

 

You can actually remove the wheel well liner and clean it out. I cleaned my out when I was installing a big brake kit.

 

^ this. Been there done that.

 

Shop vac from inside the engine bay. You don't have to take anything apart. Done this a couple times on my r56 with no issue.
Definiteley get them out asap though because when they get wet and sit for long periods of time there can be rust developing on the inside of the fender.

 

+1 for remove wheel well liner, did that on the R56

 

Shop vac from the top will only get about 80%, plus it is a PITA since you need a long narrow tube to get down to the bottom. You only have to take out one or two fasteners to pull the back corner of the fender liner back, but you do need to take the wheel off. I had a nice compost pile starting. Grabbed the hose and a soft brush and cleaned it out. Now it is one of the things I check when I rotate the tires.

 

Thanks for this. I'm getting ready to do front brake pad replacement and will make this part of the work. My motivation: used Mini, owned less than a month, came with sugar ants. They had made those organic debris chambers their home!

 

I've used air compressor/shop vac and this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy-...0401/202505170

 

I use something like this for such stuff:

 

Thanks all! I tried the vacuum and grabber so far with 80% success. I'll go for the full removal of wheel well liner at the next rotation. I really appreciate all the responses.

 

Air compressor and some time should get them all out, or a big leaf blower.