A Pillar Leaking Water

[jeffreyj812]

I have water running down my A pillar into my floorboard. After a few test with a glass of water it seems to be coming in though the plastic windshield cover. I have read of defect in the plastic connectors that attach the plastic cover to the car. Has anyone removed the outside or inside cover to fix the problem, if so could use some tech help. My feet are wet on my 05 S and the dealers 2 1/2 hrs away.

[mab01uk]

This thread has a pic of one thats come off showing the plastic clips, the pillar and the top foam seal which can leak (there are also screws behind the rubber door seal):-
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...ler-cover.html

[jeffreyj812]

I have taken the screws out under the door seal before but can't figure out which way to pull to release plastic cover. Thanks for the link

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffreyj812 (original)

I have taken the screws out under the door seal before but can't figure out which way to pull to release plastic cover. Thanks for the link

They just pull off once all the screws are undone, but those things are very brittle and often break (so be very careful) , the later 1st Gen MINIs had different clips on them too the earlier 1st Gen MINIs, so they are a little harder to remove (the later ones).

At the top of the screen pillar trims there is a small plastic end on the end of the gutter trims & these also have a clip on them that holds them on & this can also leak so it may be worth sealing that as-well .

[Randall Raines]

The pic shown in the link is off the earlier type clip which was a two piece clip which was easier to remove but also prone to blowing off at speed, hence, they revised the clips to a one piece clip which your MINI should have if it's an 05 which is a little harder to get off & less likely to get blown off at speed (but it increases the likely-hood of damage ).

[jeffreyj812]

Finally got the plastic cover off , siliconed clips and reinstalled but still leaking. Can the plastic cover where the pillar is on the inside be removed so I can find water entry point without screwing up the air bag?

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffreyj812 (original)

Finally got the plastic cover off , siliconed clips and reinstalled but still leaking. Can the plastic cover where the pillar is on the inside be removed so I can find water entry point without screwing up the air bag?

More pics here which might help removal of interior trim

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...llar-trim.html

Quote:-
"After the rubber door seal from around it is pulled back, the cover is removed by simply pulling it from its top edge.
There are No airbags mounted behind the cover
The airbag is not actually in the pillar, its in the headliner,in the seat, above the glovebox, and in the steering wheel. The reason it says airbag on the A-Pillar is due to the wiring running through it to warn paramedics using the jaws of life on the A-Pillar that it might deploy a possibly-fatal airbag"

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by mab01uk (original)

More pics here which might help removal of interior trim

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...llar-trim.html

Quote:-
"After the rubber door seal from around it is pulled back, the cover is removed by simply pulling it from its top edge.
There are No airbags mounted behind the cover
The airbag is not actually in the pillar, its in the headliner,in the seat, above the glovebox, and in the steering wheel. The reason it says airbag on the A-Pillar is due to the wiring running through it to warn paramedics using the jaws of life on the A-Pillar that it might deploy a possibly-fatal airbag"

The AIRBAG / ROOF-BAG / CURTAIN is behind the cover (if you have them fitted) or at least a strap that runs down the pillar & is fastened to the bottom of the pillar, the actual pillar cover has a couple of small webbed straps screwed to them and fastened to the clips that fit in the pillar that hold the whole lot in place (these stop the pillar trim hitting you if the roof-bags / curtains are deployed.

IMO you wont see much once that pillar cover is removed anyway , Did you seal the clips at the top of the outer A-pillar screen trims, that hold the two end pieces at the front of the gutter trims? .

It may also be worth sealing the aerial .

[jeffreyj812]

Finally after removing the inter pillar cover, the rear view mirror, and pulling back the head liner I found that the drain tube from the sunroof was not connected. I'm dry again, thanks for the help.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffreyj812 (original)

Finally after removing the inter pillar cover, the rear view mirror, and pulling back the head liner I found that the drain tube from the sunroof was not connected. I'm dry again, thanks for the help.

Part of the problem with water leaks is, the water can get in somewhere and start too drip in a different place after it has trickled around the MINI, sometimes giving the impression that a leak is from somewhere else, they're always hard too sort out & give advice on especially as the MINIs can usually have more than one leak , and one leak on a MINI won't necessarily be the same leak on another even though it could be dripping in at the same point .