Short description: I have a 2011 S-Line Sportback (which I own, not under warranty) and I'm having issues with water getting into the spare wheel compartment, as well as both rear boot side compartments. It's not every time it rains, it seems to be random times, sometimes a lot more than others. It seems to collect on the spare wheel but has also shorted out electrics in both side compartments. I can't seem to find where the water is coming in, despite reading many threads on various Audi boot water issues. Apologies if I have missed a thread, but I can't seem to find anything with this issue, relating to the Sportback model.
Long description (incase it helps diagnose anyone else's issues early on!): Last October (2019), I had an issue where all the centre console electrics and sound system went off. Having found it all runs on the fibre loop, it went into Audi for diagnosis. They charged £100 for pretty much a basic OBD test and said it would be a further £280 to test and clarify which part of the fibre loop/MMI system was the issue! (before any repair/parts cost!). I eventually managed to bypass the Service rep (more like sales rep!) and speak to one of the service chaps, who suspected the B&O amplifier had failed. Without paying the extra £280, I got it home and took the Amp out, to find that there was obvious signs of water damage, which appeared to have been dripping from above. I sent the amp to boserepairexperts.co.uk (who were fantastic) and they confirmed the amp was fried by water damage. They repaired (for around £250), shipped it back and after plugging it back in and changing the necessary fuse, all the electrics came back on as normal.
At that time, I could not find any sign of water in the side compartment, but they included a plastic amp cover, and I also resorted to bubblewrap over the top of the amp, to keep any further water droplets off.
After around 4-5 months of all working fine, in February, my passenger side front door speaker suddenly started farting away with a terrible burning smell, which was constant when the car was running, both with the sound system on and off. The only remedy was to take out the main fuse for the MMI system. I replaced the door speaker with a used but fully working speaker and found the previous one was clearly fried and had even melted all the plastic on the back of the speaker cone. Plugged the MMI fuse back in...and the same nosies happened again. After immediately taking the fuse back out, I shipped the amp back up to Bose Repair Experts, to be checked out as it was under 12 months warranty. They confirmed that it was again, water damage. But this time, unlike before, it was not from above, but was somehow capillary attraction, getting into the amp from underneath, despite it being on the raised plastic stand. After repairing for a second time, B.R.E. advised lifting the amp up off the stand, which is what I have now done with a few 6mm plastic washers and some slightly longer bolts, and I haven't had any further issues with this. (picture below of raised amplifier unit)
![178243]()
Since having this issue, I've had no signs of water getting into the left-side compartment where the Amp is located. None of the foam has been wet and there has been no visual indication of water leaks.
However... I've now noticed there has been substantial water collecting underneath the boot floor, on top of the spare wheel. It does not seem to be collecting anywhere other than here, although there does look like condensation on the metal parts holding in the battery, etc. I can't for the life of me work out where or how this water is getting in to this point. I will add that the whole of the inside of the boot, bootliners, carpets etc is all bone dry.
This is an intermittent issue as if I leave the boot floor flap open, it does dry out. After heavy rain sometimes I've checked it and there has been no water, other times there has been lots of water and it's hardly rained. We have been having a lot of rain over the last 6 months or so in rainy England, which doesn't help.
Here's a couple of photos of how the water is collecting on/around the spare wheel:
![178244]()
![178246]()
It usually does not however, seem to fill the spaces next to the wheel (although this could be that it drains through this cardboard-type liner material)
![178247]()
To make things worse, a couple of days ago, my airbag warning light came on as well as a "Parking Brake Malfunction" and "Start/Stop System Malfunction". I believe these are somehow linked, and I believe the Electronic Parking Brake module is located in the right-side rear compartment. There is now some TINY signs of water in this compartment (never been any signs of water this side before). So I expect it's highly likely that water has somehow now fried this EPB module.
Generally all the rubber seals around the back end of the car look okay. I've done a few tests (with my limited (but common sense) capabilities), being inside whilst someone is hosing the outside, etc and have not had any luck. It's all always bone dry. I've also done a test drive in the wet, to see if it comes from the spray/wheels and it has still been bone dry. But on another day, when not being tested, all the water will be back on the spare wheel.
I don't normally use forums, but just wondered on the rare chance that someone has had a similar problem and has a resolution any thoughts/help would be greatly appreciated. There are various water leak posts, but seem to be very few for the Sportback variant.
I think my next task will be to remove all the interior trim right back and do more investigating. I also have not really investigated to see if it's getting in somewhere due to the rear lights / light seals.
Long description (incase it helps diagnose anyone else's issues early on!): Last October (2019), I had an issue where all the centre console electrics and sound system went off. Having found it all runs on the fibre loop, it went into Audi for diagnosis. They charged £100 for pretty much a basic OBD test and said it would be a further £280 to test and clarify which part of the fibre loop/MMI system was the issue! (before any repair/parts cost!). I eventually managed to bypass the Service rep (more like sales rep!) and speak to one of the service chaps, who suspected the B&O amplifier had failed. Without paying the extra £280, I got it home and took the Amp out, to find that there was obvious signs of water damage, which appeared to have been dripping from above. I sent the amp to boserepairexperts.co.uk (who were fantastic) and they confirmed the amp was fried by water damage. They repaired (for around £250), shipped it back and after plugging it back in and changing the necessary fuse, all the electrics came back on as normal.
At that time, I could not find any sign of water in the side compartment, but they included a plastic amp cover, and I also resorted to bubblewrap over the top of the amp, to keep any further water droplets off.
After around 4-5 months of all working fine, in February, my passenger side front door speaker suddenly started farting away with a terrible burning smell, which was constant when the car was running, both with the sound system on and off. The only remedy was to take out the main fuse for the MMI system. I replaced the door speaker with a used but fully working speaker and found the previous one was clearly fried and had even melted all the plastic on the back of the speaker cone. Plugged the MMI fuse back in...and the same nosies happened again. After immediately taking the fuse back out, I shipped the amp back up to Bose Repair Experts, to be checked out as it was under 12 months warranty. They confirmed that it was again, water damage. But this time, unlike before, it was not from above, but was somehow capillary attraction, getting into the amp from underneath, despite it being on the raised plastic stand. After repairing for a second time, B.R.E. advised lifting the amp up off the stand, which is what I have now done with a few 6mm plastic washers and some slightly longer bolts, and I haven't had any further issues with this. (picture below of raised amplifier unit)
Since having this issue, I've had no signs of water getting into the left-side compartment where the Amp is located. None of the foam has been wet and there has been no visual indication of water leaks.
However... I've now noticed there has been substantial water collecting underneath the boot floor, on top of the spare wheel. It does not seem to be collecting anywhere other than here, although there does look like condensation on the metal parts holding in the battery, etc. I can't for the life of me work out where or how this water is getting in to this point. I will add that the whole of the inside of the boot, bootliners, carpets etc is all bone dry.
This is an intermittent issue as if I leave the boot floor flap open, it does dry out. After heavy rain sometimes I've checked it and there has been no water, other times there has been lots of water and it's hardly rained. We have been having a lot of rain over the last 6 months or so in rainy England, which doesn't help.
Here's a couple of photos of how the water is collecting on/around the spare wheel:
It usually does not however, seem to fill the spaces next to the wheel (although this could be that it drains through this cardboard-type liner material)
To make things worse, a couple of days ago, my airbag warning light came on as well as a "Parking Brake Malfunction" and "Start/Stop System Malfunction". I believe these are somehow linked, and I believe the Electronic Parking Brake module is located in the right-side rear compartment. There is now some TINY signs of water in this compartment (never been any signs of water this side before). So I expect it's highly likely that water has somehow now fried this EPB module.
Generally all the rubber seals around the back end of the car look okay. I've done a few tests (with my limited (but common sense) capabilities), being inside whilst someone is hosing the outside, etc and have not had any luck. It's all always bone dry. I've also done a test drive in the wet, to see if it comes from the spray/wheels and it has still been bone dry. But on another day, when not being tested, all the water will be back on the spare wheel.
I don't normally use forums, but just wondered on the rare chance that someone has had a similar problem and has a resolution any thoughts/help would be greatly appreciated. There are various water leak posts, but seem to be very few for the Sportback variant.
I think my next task will be to remove all the interior trim right back and do more investigating. I also have not really investigated to see if it's getting in somewhere due to the rear lights / light seals.
