Rust :: door sill area of '02-'05 MINIs
#101
#102
Originally Posted by Skiploder
Let's see how Mini USA's sterling customer service and always helpful and fair dealership service network deals with this.
In the past, they've been very upfront about known issues such as the wiring harnesses and the car fires. Why should we expect anything less than full cooperation from them?
Then we can plan on mass hysteria.
In the past, they've been very upfront about known issues such as the wiring harnesses and the car fires. Why should we expect anything less than full cooperation from them?
Then we can plan on mass hysteria.
#103
Originally Posted by caminifan
Ha! I wonder how MINI would explain a warranty denial decision on the rust warranty if a car had been flagged as having been tracked? Specifically, how does the car being taken to the track and raced become a contributing factor to the development of rust?
Let me take a stab at that one:
"The excessive speeds and g-forces generated at track and autocross events can result in deeper penetration of water into the weatherstripping. The weatherstripping was engineered to keep aqueous substances out only at street legal speeds."
See, it's easy.
Slightly off topic - I have the infamous poltergeist glovebox. I called our local dealer and informed them of the problem. The said drop the car off and they would look at the glove box and order a new one if necessary as they did not have one currently in stock.
I protested that it was stupid for me to drop the car off for three hours so they could look at a problem they damn well know plagues the earlier models and then order a part and have me come back again to install the new box. I asked them to preorder the box - no go.........
I offered instead to remove the glovebox and drop it off so they could poke and prod at it to their heart's content - that way we could both avoid wasting some time. I was told, and I kid you not, that this would invalidate my GLOVEBOX warranty- so don't do it!
I called two more dealers and got the same response.........
Let's Motor!
#105
#106
Originally Posted by kapps
fj0, you need to look under the weather stripping. It's the soft rubbery material that's inward from the door sill. All you have to do is pull a section up and take a look. It goes back in easy without any problems.
#107
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 2
From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by fj0
That's what I did, I think that's a part of my sideskirt and since it was painted like 2 months ago if it was there it would be gone now(?)
Maybe that helps,
Tatt
#108
Originally Posted by Skiploder
Let me take a stab at that one:
"The excessive speeds and g-forces generated at track and autocross events can result in deeper penetration of water into the weatherstripping. The weatherstripping was engineered to keep aqueous substances out only at street legal speeds."
See, it's easy.
Slightly off topic - I have the infamous poltergeist glovebox. I called our local dealer and informed them of the problem. The said drop the car off and they would look at the glove box and order a new one if necessary as they did not have one currently in stock.
I protested that it was stupid for me to drop the car off for three hours so they could look at a problem they damn well know plagues the earlier models and then order a part and have me come back again to install the new box. I asked them to preorder the box - no go.........
I offered instead to remove the glovebox and drop it off so they could poke and prod at it to their heart's content - that way we could both avoid wasting some time. I was told, and I kid you not, that this would invalidate my GLOVEBOX warranty- so don't do it!
I called two more dealers and got the same response.........
Let's Motor!
"The excessive speeds and g-forces generated at track and autocross events can result in deeper penetration of water into the weatherstripping. The weatherstripping was engineered to keep aqueous substances out only at street legal speeds."
See, it's easy.
Slightly off topic - I have the infamous poltergeist glovebox. I called our local dealer and informed them of the problem. The said drop the car off and they would look at the glove box and order a new one if necessary as they did not have one currently in stock.
I protested that it was stupid for me to drop the car off for three hours so they could look at a problem they damn well know plagues the earlier models and then order a part and have me come back again to install the new box. I asked them to preorder the box - no go.........
I offered instead to remove the glovebox and drop it off so they could poke and prod at it to their heart's content - that way we could both avoid wasting some time. I was told, and I kid you not, that this would invalidate my GLOVEBOX warranty- so don't do it!
I called two more dealers and got the same response.........
Let's Motor!
I think that they want you to drop off your car so they can charge (MINI/BMW) for the labor to remove and replace the glovebox as well as investigate the cause for the failure. Even at wholesale rates, they are still makng some margin.
#109
I just checked my early '03 out. I keep my car garaged and is rarely out in the rain. After I wash it I always dry inside the doors and rim the seals. The last time the car was washed was three weeks ago. My passenger side was bone dry and absolutely no sign of rust. The drivers side seal was still wet deep inside the groove and there was some surface rust along the top edge and at the unpainted part. There is a small plastic film over the unpainted part that is starting to bubble up. Now part of my wash routine will be to pull the seals and dry them completely and wax that area. Thanks SpiderX for saving me some aggravation down the road!
-Dan
-Dan
#110
Originally Posted by Greatbear
Checked mine out tonight, and sure enough, there was a touch of rust. Not much, but starting at the edge of the pinchweld. '03 DS MCS.
#115
Rust along sides
Originally Posted by snoopy
It is a 02. Here is a photo, and what is a bit of a worry is that we have not had rain for weeks (live in a hot dry place) but i wash the car about 3 days ago and it was still real wet under the trim rubber. also you can see the untreated area were the rust is at its worst.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ze=big&cat=500
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ze=big&cat=500
#116
While cleaning up the MINI today I pulled the door seals and looked closer. At first the inside of the seal appears damp or wet, but while trying to dry it out I discovered there is a shiny adhesive of some kind along with a little moisture here and there. Perhaps these seals were intended to be glued into place. Additionally, the seal, which is continuous around the door open, may actuall collect some water near the top of the window and channel it down within the seal (capillary) rather than getting wet from driven water at the door sill. Either way isn't good, but pulling and drying them at each washing isn't all that hard.
#118
#119
just inspected my car and I have a theory. These points on the car where there is potential for rust (I have surface rust) are probably contact points for painting using electrostatic paint processes. For some bizarre reason BMW engineers thought it would be ok to cover these post paint with clear plastic sealers (on my 03). This appears to be an inadequate method to prevent rust in an area that naturally retains moisture.
#120
Just want to say a HUGE thank you for the 'heads up' guys! Since an Aussie saw this thread and informed us over on the MINI2 regional forum, a lot of Aussies have checked their cars and have found they too have rust!! My 08/02 MCS has it on the driver's side, but not the passenger side. (It appears that the UK owners are also finding it too).
We don't have the extreme cold weather that you experience, and don't 'salt the roads' (although the majority of the population lives along a coastline).
I am going to write a letter to BMW Australia and let them know to expect quite a few owners will be taking their cars into the dealers and asking what can be done? I will emphasis that is would appear it is a 'world-wide' problem which would indicate it goes back to a manufacturing problem
On a run yesterday, I checked another 3 cars - and 2 (a 2003 and a 2002) both had the problem. The other car (a 2006) is so new, you wouldn't expect to see it anyway!! (Not that ANY of us should have rust on such young cars) The day before, we also found it on a friend's 2005 MINI Cooper S.
After having watched "Full Throttle" last night, where they refurbed and raced 2 classic Minis - hearing about how much rust they found made me more than a little nervous
Cheers
Avril...(in Sydney, Australia)
We don't have the extreme cold weather that you experience, and don't 'salt the roads' (although the majority of the population lives along a coastline).
I am going to write a letter to BMW Australia and let them know to expect quite a few owners will be taking their cars into the dealers and asking what can be done? I will emphasis that is would appear it is a 'world-wide' problem which would indicate it goes back to a manufacturing problem
On a run yesterday, I checked another 3 cars - and 2 (a 2003 and a 2002) both had the problem. The other car (a 2006) is so new, you wouldn't expect to see it anyway!! (Not that ANY of us should have rust on such young cars) The day before, we also found it on a friend's 2005 MINI Cooper S.
After having watched "Full Throttle" last night, where they refurbed and raced 2 classic Minis - hearing about how much rust they found made me more than a little nervous
Cheers
Avril...(in Sydney, Australia)
#121
Here are some more pictures from my 09/02 build date 2003 MINI Cooper:
Build date is on the plaque:
The plastic covering coming off the scuff plate - not a big deal, I've already replaced the (silver) scuff plate on the other side of the car:
The rust, if present, will live on the metal that is underneath the black rubber strip in the door opening, not under the plastic side skirt. There is an "unpainted" looking rectangle towards the back of the door opening. It does seem to be covered with something resembling a fancy kind of clear tape.
The passenger's side of my car doesn't show much (if any) rust, but does show the unpainted area:
giant version: http://static.flickr.com/45/155702978_d209a77a80_o.jpg
In the giant version of the picture, you can see the edges of the clear tape-like covering over the unpainted area.
The driver's side shows a little rust:
giant version: http://static.flickr.com/52/155703606_850d8255c6_o.jpg
Build date is on the plaque:
The plastic covering coming off the scuff plate - not a big deal, I've already replaced the (silver) scuff plate on the other side of the car:
The rust, if present, will live on the metal that is underneath the black rubber strip in the door opening, not under the plastic side skirt. There is an "unpainted" looking rectangle towards the back of the door opening. It does seem to be covered with something resembling a fancy kind of clear tape.
The passenger's side of my car doesn't show much (if any) rust, but does show the unpainted area:
giant version: http://static.flickr.com/45/155702978_d209a77a80_o.jpg
In the giant version of the picture, you can see the edges of the clear tape-like covering over the unpainted area.
The driver's side shows a little rust:
giant version: http://static.flickr.com/52/155703606_850d8255c6_o.jpg
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Vitruvius (08-23-2019)
#123
I removed the delaminating plastic on the passenger side completely, and cleaned up the residue with rubber alcohol as was recommended by someone else here. Looks beautiful. Changing it out would seem to be a waste. The driver's side looks as though the plastic is already gone. Much shinier without the plastic covering. It is at all possible that this was a protective film intended to be removed at delivery and no one ever did?
#124
Originally Posted by ToBFree
I removed the delaminating plastic on the passenger side completely, and cleaned up the residue with rubber alcohol as was recommended by someone else here. Looks beautiful.
#125
I just bought my 06 MCS less than a week ago and have been following this thread as soon as I noticed even 05s have this problem.
I checked under the rubber part and it's wet. I picked up my MINI a week ago yesterday and haven't washed it since! I'm getting really paranoid because I thought that since I have those 2 holes in the rubber, that 06s would be exempt from this problem. But I've just noticed that in the pics posted, you all have those holes too.
As other people have mentioned, if you have any preventative measures that you know about (other than wiping the inside of the rubber after a car wash) please post! My MINI's not even a week old and already I'm freaked out!!
I checked under the rubber part and it's wet. I picked up my MINI a week ago yesterday and haven't washed it since! I'm getting really paranoid because I thought that since I have those 2 holes in the rubber, that 06s would be exempt from this problem. But I've just noticed that in the pics posted, you all have those holes too.
As other people have mentioned, if you have any preventative measures that you know about (other than wiping the inside of the rubber after a car wash) please post! My MINI's not even a week old and already I'm freaked out!!