[Tiny Tim]

Hi Fellow Cooper Friends,

I am new to the Cooper Family. About 1 month ago, I traded my truck for a new 5 door hatch. I am loving it.

But, I wasn't loving the water puddles I found in the front driver and passenger seat under the floor mats. We have had no rain, are in a dry spell and yet, to my horror my carpets were wet, in a new car!! After a sleepless night, I took Tiny Tim down for a drive to the dealership yesterday. They asked me, "did you take the car through a touchless car wash service?" I said, "Yes". Since I have had Tiny Tim, I have bathed him each time I fill up with fuel (3 times).

He said, that may just be in. They do not recommend automatic car wash services for any car. Particularly cars with sunroofs and convertibles - as the seals are sensitive.

It seems likely poor little Tim has a blown seal. I am heart broken.

Anybody else have this experience?

 

[swearingino]

It's mostly the touchless car washes as they use high pressure to wash your vehicle. I use the touchy car washes and don't have this problem. The brushes and tentacles don't scratch my black roof either.

 

[02fanatic]

I would never...NEVER put my MINI through an automatic car wash!!!

 

[Angib]

I would never...NEVER put my MINI through an automatic car wash!!!

Oh, it can be worse than that...did you know some people drive them on the STREET...with no cotton wool around them!!!

 

[Evlkarl]

I use an automatic car wash once or twice a week and the upper seal on the wind shield starts to separate from the left to the right about 2 inches. It looks like somebody used a razor blade and started cutting it. Spoke to my Dealer they have look at it before they will replace it. I am sorry if the seals are that weak that they can not handle a car wash than Mini needs to fix it because i will not wash my car by hand when it is 115 outside. Of Course when the temp drops into the 80th,s than the bucket will come out.

Honestly I think you do more damage to the paint with a sponge

and a bucket than a no touch car wash.

 

[Heisenberg]

Automatic car washes are notorious for damaging vehicles. In the past 12 months, my 2013 BMW 328 has been hit while going through the automatic car wash. The attendant cut the engine off. It sat there trying to be propelled along the conveyer system only to be hit by the vehicle behind it. Another more recent incident involved the attendant leaning on the hood and causing a small crease/buckle. I knew this was a structural flaw in the design of the hood (it's posted all over the BMW forums) and I had always avoided leaning on the hood while drying the windshield. Apparently, the people at the car wash do not know this or just don't give a sh*t.

My advise? Wash your new Mini by hand yourself or drive it dirty.

 

[JPslov]

I've used an automatic car wash (touchless) and have a sunroof and haven't had any problems. How much water got into the car? I can understand a bit of leaking but I really don't think so much water should be getting in to the point where the floor is soaked. That makes me think something may be wrong. I mean the car has to be able to withstand rain and stuff (and it rains pretty good here).

Oh, it can be worse than that...did you know some people drive them on the STREET...with no cotton wool around them!!!

hahaha. I think we're all a bit sensitive about keeping our MINIs pristine. But yes, the car is going to get banged up a bit over the course of driving it. Sadly that is reality.

 

[Ryephile]

...
But, I wasn't loving the water puddles I found in the front driver and passenger seat under the floor mats. We have had no rain, are in a dry spell and yet, to my horror my carpets were wet, in a new car!! ...

There was a crop of build dates where the air conditioning condensation drain wasn't fully inserted and would not correctly drain out of the car. The result was the carpet under the floor mats would get soaked.

The car wash excuse from the dealership is deplorable and ignorant. Grind-a-washes, while not ideal for best paint gloss, are a fact of common automotive life. They've seen the TSB for the A/C drain and should know about the fix.

 

[blazingmini]

^This.

Wet floormats are indicative of bad AC drains. I doubt its your carwash, it takes a lot to force water into the footwell.

Confront your dealer about this TSB, or find another dealer.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Thank you!

I will speak of this at its appointment next Tuesday

Thank you!

 

[hotrunner]

Honestly I have NEVER had an issue(s) with touch less car washes with any of my Mini's.
Esso Touch Less is far superior than Shell. Esso uses a finer mist and less direct pressure than Shell does. Something that I have always pointed out to Shell but they don't want to listen. That is why I switched years ago to Esso. Shell pressure is too high and wide and rips the paint off the car. It's about time Shell upgrades their equipment. Esso is very gentle and I have no issues to date. One thing, always unscrew and remove your antennae. I wish Mini would change it to a flat oval type antennae. More streamline and you would not have to worry about it breaking or theft.

 

[BoCRon]

While I really hate auto car washes, I have used a touchless in a pinch. I've never had a problem. I do take along my own after spray and drying towel and finish off in the parking lot after .
Having read your post, the AC drain line issue was the first thing that popped into my head as well. Make sure they either replace the carpeting or completely dry it somehow. I have heard of people discovering issues with the carpet a few months after the fix.

Annette

 

[Evlkarl]

Annette, I bet you got a Goodie Bag in the trunk for a quick wipe down.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Update:

So, my appointment to check out the problem isn't until next Tuesday. But since my original posting, I pulled up the rubber mats to allow the carpets and mats to dry fully. 2 days ago, I put the mats down and drove the car as usual, with full on air conditioning. Today, I pulled up the mats. Soaked again.

So the verdict must be the air conditioning and not the automatic car wash! So, I have a call into the dealership to let them know so they do not waste time checking seals with pressure spray, and work on fixing the problem. I'm going to request they clean the carpets or replace. Its a shame. my little timmy is only 1 month old! glad to know now, but disappointed none the less. Thank you all for giving me your thoughts . Had I not read about the potential of it being an air conditioning problem, I would not have looked.

Be blessed.

 

[Seattlemini]

I only hand wash, taking delivery tomorrow and dealer agreeded not to touch the car except peel off the transport tape

 

[Evlkarl]

Tiny Tim, looks like you need the correct driving shoes. Good Luck with the repair keep us posted.

 

[Tiny Tim]

The problem is fixed. It was the Air Conditioning drains. The dealer fixed the problem. Many thanks because I went into the shop explaining that members of the forum felt that was the issue and we should look there first.

So many many thanks.

Now, I have a dilemna. I have an idea of how to wash a car as I wash my motorbike. (I bathe horses too) But, I really do not know how to use a sham and how to dry the car without harming the paint or scratching and streaking.

Many of you may say, its the same way as a motorbike. The only thing, is that we, who ride harleys, were told we must blow dry our little beasts to avoid water drops and scratching. So, I bought a little Harley Davidson hand dryer for that. I would look ridiculous going around the mini trying to blow it dry.

Also, my daughter is now 12. She laughs in hysterics when I dry the motorbike. So, to avoid any playful mockery, I let the bike dry in the shade most times and I polish afterwards.

Really don't know how to do this with a mini. Much bigger unit. Not certain of products, inside or out for that matter.

Any ideas?

 

[Evlkarl]

Tiny Tim glad to hear it was an easy fix.

 

[Accountant]

Aircon drainage is a repeating problem in all Minis. Happened to my Countryman. Whole interior required strip down. Was kind of hoping it was fixed in this latest generation.

 

[Jelster]

Tiny Tim, I have hand washed my cars for years, but always seem to be short on time. Here's my suggestion:

First of all, get the exterior professionally detailed, waxed & sealed. This forms an excellent base to start from.

Buy a jet wash with a foam lance. When you need to clean the car:

1) Wet down with a hose/jet wash
2) Cover the car with snowfoam
3) Make a coffee
4) Rinse off snowfoam
5) Dry with a microfibre towel (or 2)
6) When dry, go over with a quick detail spray

This takes me less than an hour, unless I'm giving the inside a good clean too.

Yesterday, after we had some of that "dusty rain" I just rinsed, dried & detailed in less than 30 minutes. Car looks as good as new.

Every now and then I will spend time doing all of the really detailed stuff, like inside the wheel arches & the engine bay, but to keep it looking "good" just get into a routine. I have snowfoamed my bike too...