Back in the 80's i bought a new trans-am, and when I went to pick it up, the carpeting was soaked. They had taken it for a test drive (argh) and left a window open. I asked for and got (with a lot of trouble/haggling) a letter from the dealer stating that they would warranty the interior for mold for 5 years at their cost if anything needed to be replaced due to the issue.

maybe you can get the same deal?

It depends on how much water got in.
Tell them to do the interior detail, but you will not be satisfied untill the smell is gone.
It may take a couple of days after the detail for the smell to come back.(if it does)
It sounds like they are at least trying to help you out.
Let us know what happens.

If they have admitted wrong doing i would try to get it in writting so that if something happens down the road and it's a clear indication the moisture is the cause then you will have written proof who is responsible. Make sure you get a work order for the detail work and the reason it's being done. If they don't write it on the order you hand write it in when you pick up the vehicle. Make sure they see what you have written before you sign for it and let them know your doing it so that you will have a record of why the work is being done. Then you sign and they sign and put a date and time on the paperwork.

When I picked up the car, the carpet was soaked. I pushed some pressure on the carpet and I could see the water squeezing out. The front two seats were wet (although I could tell that the service advisor could have wiped them out quickly before brought the car out to me). My back and pants were wet by the time I got home (it was a 20 minutes drive).

Wow!!
How much did it rain???
Sounds like they will have to replace the carpet.

Yeah that sounds pretty bad!!! I would not be happy with just a detailing if this had of happened to my 4.6is!!!

Like I said it was Friday 13 :), and we had a storm with some RARE heavy rain that night in AZ. It is some bad luck.

It rarely rains here in AZ, right SuperGreg? But it rained hard that night while my sunroof left opened.

Would it make sense to demand that they pull the carpets to insure that the water is actually dried out? Short of keeping the car in in a paint booth set on "low heat", you could have mold issues, no?

:iagree: Get them to pull the seats and take up the carpet. Clean the carpet outside of the car and dry the interior. Putting it in the paint booth is a good idea. Tell them u want the carpet completely dry before they re-install it. Trust me, the smell will come back. There is no way to get at all the water with the carpet down. And them saying all the wiring is wrapped is a bunch of :bsflag: . Water will get into the wiring. Also like most have said on here, get them to admit it in a letter. I would also send it to BMW as well so they have a record.

My friend owns a auto wrecker here in Niagara and they rebuild cars all the time. They will never take a flooded car for the reason of interior electrical problems. My friend had a lexus rx 300 and the same thing happened (he left his sunroof open). Not sure if it was related but his seat caught fire about a year later and wrote off the vehicle. GET IT IN WRITING!!!

Sorry to hear that!