Water in passenger foot well and battery drain

[boggey79]

I have a 2009 (59 plate) Mini Cooper S...The car has been great for the 2 years I've owned it, until I started noticing that the carpets in the front and rear passenger foot wells were become soaked with water. At first I assumed that I had carelessly left the window slightly open, I dried it out the carpets and forgot about it. The following few days we experienced some pretty heavy rain and I returned to the car to find that the foot well was fine...all good!

I then took a 200 mile trip and left the car standing for a couple of days. On my return I found the passenger foot well carpets to be completely soaked again. Not only that but the key fob wouldn't open the central locking, I got in with the key and tried to start up the engine...nothing! The battery was completely flat.

I'm wondering if anybody has experienced something similar? If so did you find the source of the leak? I suspect the water is coming in at the top of the A Pillar. The seal running length ways across the roof (passenger side) is ever so slightly raised at the junction with the A Pillar...could the water be entering here and running through the pillar??

Also could the leak cause the battery to drain? perhaps by shorting the electrics somewhere?

Any help or a nudge in the right direction would be much appreciated. I bought a mobile jump start kit today but it seems to be too weak to turn over the engine...all I get is an audible clicking noise.

[mab01uk]

Not sure about the later R56 Mk2 Mini's. However on the earlier pre-2006 R50/53 Mk1 Mini's there have been cases of A-pillar leaks under the plastic trim, leaks from badly fitted replacement windscreens and from the rubber door seals allowing water ingress. There are also cavities filled with thick soundproofing foam under the carpets which can hold water like a sponge even though the carpet above appears dry. In the mk1 Mini this can sometimes cause electrical glitches when cables and connectors at floor/sill level become damp so may be worth checking out on your later mk2 Mini as much of the car is similar in layout.

[boggey79]

Thanks for the pointers! I'm afraid I will need to take it back to BMW...trouble is I can't even start the damn thing!! When I bought a new mini I didn't know that they had retained the authentic leak prone features from the original

[Tigercub]

Check the cover on the top of the battery is secure as there is a seal round the top and two clips that secure it. If its not on correctly and secure water can get into the battery area and cause major problems with the battery and water can run down the wiring loom. Also the black plastic trim along the bottom side of the windscreen must be sealed and fitted correctly as this can cause the same problem if not. A friend of mine had his windscreen replaced and the trim is removed for this to be carried out. The trim was then not re-fitted correctly causing water to leak into the battery area and caused major damage to the wiring loom. Get it checked ASAP. As it will be expensive. Keep it out of the rain until its fixed!

[deadinamerica]

was your ac on when you drove the car? if so your evap drain could be clogged

[deadinamerica]

yes water can corrode electrical connections creating a draw. Your JBE junction box electronics is on the front right, and it has ground connection under the carpet.