[lewis_webb]

Hi, I’ve got a 51 reg cooper and like most people have had the usual problems, however this time it is more serious. I left my car last week parked outside my house and went to use it on Sunday when I noticed there is about an inch of water in the passenger footwell. I then notice that the passenger window is not working so I assume that it is not sealing around the top of the window. I took it into dealers yesterday and tried to get them to do something about it, they gave me two options one to have a courtesy car and wait three weeks or they could do it next tues without giving me a replacement car. They would not take a look at it to try and see if they could fix the leak :-( which I thought was bad given the weather conditions lately. Now obviously it can’t be doing the car any good leaving this water in and continuing driving but they have given me no choice. Does anybody have any advice on what I should do? Surely it’s going to cause long term damage leaving water in there? It already smells stale in there.

Cheers
Lewis

[MiniMan7]

My advice is to try to dry up the water using alot of towels if you haven't already done so. Park under covered area (ie a garage) until the dealer can see you. Its really sad that they won't give you a courtesy car.

_adam

[stryder]

Also try to dry it out naturally, if you find a sunny day, park it in the sun carefully, so the carpet can dry. The water isn't the main problem, its leaving it in there that will cause mold and mildew and such, if you can get it all out, you shouldn't be in to much trouble.

And are there any other dealers near you? Perhaps one of them won't have a 3 week wait..

[lewis_webb]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I have spent quite a while trying to get the water out, ive got alot of it out however it is still very damp in there. All the water was in the fuse box too

There is another dealer near me but they damaged my car and are useless and so i swore that i would never go back.

What can i get bmw to do when it goes in? Am i entitled to a complete new carpet etc? What would you make them replace?

Finally this is also a list of what is wrong with it at the moment, many of these problems have been ongoing for at least 6 months:

Alarm siren doesnt sound
Windscreen seals keep opening up
Airbag light
Knocking felt through steering wheel
Passenger window
Leaking water
Gearbox problems
General seat problems (sticking, levers fallen off, creaking)
Loads of rattles

Have I got any chance of getting BMW to recall it, what problems have people had when there car has been recalled?

Cheers
Lewis

[stryder]

Recalls (I might be wrong on the term in the UK) usually are problem fixes that you have to go back to the dealer to get fixed, like the shift linkage on Coopers and Ones falling off. I think you mean Rejected... In which case you should probably check in Faults and fixes, as well as a search for reject* (does reject plus all the endings)

Anyway, I think you're entitled to them fixing the window, how much more they'll fix I'm not sure. They could blame you for not noticing the window wasn't closed, and thus the water damage, it might not be fair, but dealers can be annoying. I'd make them replace most everything that was damaged and can't be fixed. If the carpet dries out and still smells after a week or so, they it would need replacing, if you start getting electrical problems because of the fusebox, that should get replaced. I wouldn't go in demanding it get replacement immedietly though, because carpet can be cleaned, so maybe you should ask for a professional cleaning, and see if that works first.

Anyway, check up on your options for rejecting the car and see where that gets you. I'm not experienced with doing it, but several people have on here.

[randap]

If you can prove the car was never right from purchase, you may still be able to reject it, but as you have owned it for quite a while, you might find that in the eyes of the law you have accepted the car. Bit of a grey area really......

I would call Mini Customer Services (speak to a manager), and then talk to the Service Manager at your dealer. Between them they should come up with a solution. I did with similar problems to yourself, and I had water ingestion requiring a new engine. Mines a 02 reg but I'm getting a new car next week for £600 - a good offer from MINI IMO.