Windows misting up inside really easily on 2001 Cooper

[Kat333]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem with windows misting up really easily on the inside of their mini? Doesn't happen in my mum's 2005 One, but does in my 2001 Cooper.
Got some of the cleaning stuff from the local dealer which helps a lot but is it just mine? Or all from the July 2001 range? or what?
Any long term solutions? Is it caused my cigarette smoke? (I think that the previous owner was a smoker and its just impregnated into the roof lining but I'm not sure, might just be a strong cleaner smell & dirt mark)
New windows!? :S

Thanks

[linseyc83]

Hey! I have that problem on my 2002 cooper then discovered the boot was leaking from the top running down the inside of the trim to the boot carpet. check the carpet in the boot on the left by the seat. I hope its not this!!! it's a pain to find and fix! hope you get sorted!!

[mab01uk]

Check the heater cabin paper air filter has been changed at correct service interval and is not blocked, cigarette smoke would not have helped. Do not leave the heater (or air con if fitted) on recirculation only mode and check the carpets are not damp anywhere. Check also heater matrix is not leaking slightly........but you would normally smell coolant/antifreeze inside the interior if this happens and passenger footwell would be damp where it leaks, plus coolant level drops.

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by linseyc83 (original)

Hey! I have that problem on my 2002 cooper then discovered the boot was leaking from the top running down the inside of the trim to the boot carpet. check the carpet in the boot on the left by the seat. I hope its not this!!! it's a pain to find and fix! hope you get sorted!!

Sometimes caused by the rubber seal on the high level centre rear brake light leaking.

[minicore]

Damp carpets or a leak somewhere would be my first thought.

[Deep_27a]

Quote: Originally Posted by mab01uk (original)

Check the heater cabin paper air filter has been changed at correct service interval and is not blocked, cigarette smoke would not have helped. Do not leave the heater (or air con if fitted) on recirculation only mode and check the carpets are not damp anywhere. Check also heater matrix is not leaking slightly........but you would normally smell coolant/antifreeze inside the interior if this happens and passenger footwell would be damp where it leaks, plus coolant level drops.

This is a spot-on reply!

[Kat333]

Wow, thank you for all the suggestions everyone! You've genuinely been such a massive help!
Sorry I didn't get back on here sooner though. I'm going to try all your suggestions and get back to you then!
Huge thanks again

[Kat333]

Took the air filter above the passenger footwell out and it's completely covered in dirt! Going to try and get a new one on monday and see if it makes a difference.
Haven't left in on recirculation mode, can't feel any dampness anywhere and can't see any water comming in either.
Will update soon!

[Kat333]

Drove it with the new air filter in today. This has helped a bit so thank you mab01uk, but not a lot
Going to have another really through check for gaps, leaks etc again when I get a chance. Can't think of what else could cause it? Anyone had any more thoughts?
Does it help if I give more details?
Like once it has misted up after I drive it from 7:45am - 8:25am it remains misted up the entire time it is parked from 8:25am - 5:30pm and I have to put the de-mister on as soon as I get in at 5:30pm so that I can see out properly. It continues to mist up on the way home from 5:30pm - 6:15pm BUT is fine when I get into it in the morning again (and then starts misting up within the first 2-3 minutes of driving it). It is stored overnight in an old garage with an asbestos roof and 3 concrete walls (no garage door - the end where I drive in an out is permanently open - there is no wall there)

Sorry if this is too much detail, just getting a bit fed up with it really! Having to wipe the window with my arm at every junction in which time I could have pulled out (someone beeped at me for holding them up the other day!) and it just looking really odd (and slightly embarrassing!) when its parked for the whole day completely misted up.

I get that there is hot air released when people breathe etc but this really does not happen at all on my mum's 05 and there are often 3 people in hers rather than just 2.

[stripelizard]

Hi Kat,
we had this problem in our cars,turns out was only moisture in the car from every day getting in and out with wet clothes shoes and brollies in the boot ect ect, we solved our dampness with 2 of these one for each car:

NEW TWIN RECHARGEABLE DEHUMIDIFIER MOISTURE ABSORBING on eBay (end time 01-Apr-11 14:24:02 BST)

if the inside of the car never gets a chance to dry out (short journeys, closed windows,recirculation button on) the moisture`ll never dissipate so these dehumidifiers should help, they may need a few recharges to begin with but once the majority of the moisture has been soaked up you should see an improvement, you`ll need to recharge every couple of days to start with due to the amount of water but after a while they`ll be sucking up less so need recharged less, this ovbiously may not be the cause of your dampness but it should help reduce the misting... HTH

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kat333 (original)

Drove it with the new air filter in today. This has helped a bit so thank you mab01uk, but not a lot

Sorry to hear you are still having problems........perhaps also try the dehumidifier as mentioned by stripelizard above.

If not there is almost certainly a hidden source of water/dampness in the car. In Mini's this normally comes from a current (or previous) leak from something like the windscreen or a rubber door seal, where water runs down and gets under the carpets. Although the carpets can appear perfectly dry above there are quite deep compartments in the metal floor under the carpet which are lined with a thick sound insulation material. This has been known to store water like a large sponge in Mini's giving the problems you describe under certain weather/temperature conditions. Unfortunately like most modern cars the carpets are tightly fitted down under seats and centre console, plastic sill trims, etc, so it is not that easy to check the insulation at a quick glance and dry it out. Some have reported squeezing several pints of water out of this insulation in bad leakage cases.

Less likely I think is perhaps a problem with the heater recirculation button not switching over to fresh air intake despite the green light functioning correctly but my gut feeling is hidden damp material in the car is more likely.

[Kat333]

Hi everyone, sorry for this ridiculously late reply again!
I purchased a dehumidifier which seems to have helped a bit but since the weather has warmed up I'm having almost no problems at all!
I will have a closer look under the carpets and check the recirculation button though, as I fear that the same problem may occur when it gets cooler again.
I'll post again once I've checked.
Thank you all so much