The leaky shed

[S2r]

The shed money convertible has decided that it doesn't want to keep a full expansion tank and has decided to spring a leak.

I can't see where it's coming from, I just noticed a tiny swirl of steam coming out of the grill the other day (drivers' side) so I checked the water level over a couple of days and it has dropped ever so slightly. I've also had the front bumper off but can't see anything obvious.

So, I'm thinking duff radiator and/or leaky hose... has anyone actually changed a radiator (with air con) and is it as easy as 'you tube' seem to think? Is it worth changing anything else while it's in bits?

[mike9009]

What MINI do you have?

Therostat housings are notorious on the R56 for giving way.

[S2r]

It's a 2004 R52 (?) Cooper convertible

[Elliot2000]

Thermostat as someone said, but they also leak from the seams on the side of the rads when they start to corrode

It’s a pretty easy job, don’t disconnect the ac condenser tho, work with it in situ

[E-bmw]

Also renowned for expansion tank caps.

[S2r]

So, radiator changed in about an hour and was pretty simple to do.... and then 2 hours trying to bleed the thing. I got bored / fed up so have filled the expansion tank to max and will see what happens tomorrow (I have got more coolant in the boot and screwdrivers and sockets to bleed the system again at work or on the way to work if needed)

Rocker cover gasket set has been ordered to sort out the leaky rocker cover and spark plug holes full of oil...

[E-bmw]

Bleeding isn't normally an issue, just fill to the top, set heater to full, get it up to temperature with the cap off, open the bleed & keep up to max until all air is out.

[S2r]

So, radiator doen't loose any coolant, the rocker cover gasket now seals and I've got 12 months MoT and all is well, or would be if the roof hadn't leaked during the rain this morning...

Looking at it, the front of the convertible bit seems quite a way back from the seal above the windscreen (not sure if that is how it should be, anyone got a picture of theirs?) but there wasn't any obvious signs of water running down the inside and the door seal at the bottom of the drivers door was all wet??

Any ideas where to start looking?

[Elliot2000]

What makes you think it’s the roof causing the leak?

The outer a pillar trims used to be a favourite cause of leaks

[S2r]

It's a convertible and by their very nature they are bound to leak at some point, there are joints on top of the car and after 15 years seals get a bit worn and hard...

However, it may be an easy fix because after a few minutes with a watering can, torch and thin pliers, I found a small old rusty screw blocking the drain hole at the top of the windscreen. Once I'd removed it the water runs down through this hole and out of the bottom, rather than pouring into the drivers' side foot well.

The leaky shed appears to no longer be leaking (again).

Result.

Edited by S2r on Monday 16th July 20:50

[S2r]

Easy fix he says... er, no now it's just an intermittent leak.

So for example, over the past 24 hours we've had plenty of rain and it's been dry as a bone inside. Then when I got out of the car tonight and closed the door it's like a tap on the inside (about quarter of a litre in 15 minutes, it was quite heavy rain) running from the joint between the windscreen seal and the 'side bar' seal - that's where it comes out of but not where it gets in, I can't find that.

There's nothing blocking any of the drain holes, the drivers' side seal look like the passenger side, no obvious splits and to be frank no obvious signs of how it gets in and I treated the roof to an autoglym clean and treat a month or so ago so I'm stumped.

Could the window have dropped a bit due to wear so it no longer seals or something else?