Sidecases: waterproof or not?

[Hammam]

I just bought the BMW panniers, and after a rainy night, I found a small pool of water at the bottom. I'd say about a small cup. Is this normal? I know there are waterproof liners provided, but shouldn't the panniers be waterproof anyway? At the tune of Can. $1,100, I find this unacceptable. Should I check with the dealer and see what the warranty says? Your opinion is appreciated. Thank you.

[SKID]

No they are not waterproof.

They do stop road spray but will let in water in a terenchal downpour.

[Jason C]

Originally Posted by SKID

No they are not waterproof.

They do stop road spray but will let in water in a terenchal downpour.

I went on a long ride last month and it absolutely chucked it down all the way, I was dreading opening the panniers when I got there (even though the stuff was in the waterproof bags). When I did open them up there wasn't a single drop of water in them!

p.s. SKID - I like your take on the word torrential

[Hammam]

Originally Posted by SKID

No they are not waterproof.

They do stop road spray but will let in water in a terenchal downpour.

Thanks. They are not waterproof, at least mine are not, but aren't they SUPPOSED to be waterproof?

[Hammam]

Originally Posted by Jason C

I went on a long ride last month and it absolutely chucked it down all the way, I was dreading opening the panniers when I got there (even though the stuff was in the waterproof bags). When I did open them up there wasn't a single drop of water in them!
...

There. Thanks, Jason.

[chris f]

No, they are not intended to be fully waterproof ---- you must use the waterproof liners supplied with cases. I have ridden on a few very wet days and my clothes stayed perfectly dry although there were a few drops of water at base of the hard case.

[SKID]

Originally Posted by Hammam

Thanks. They are not waterproof, at least mine are not, but aren't they SUPPOSED to be waterproof?

No! They've got breathing holes in the bases and there are no water tight seals present.

When you discovered that your sidecases were not waterproof was it one or both of them that had water inside?

[SKID]

Originally Posted by Jason C

p.s. SKID - I like your take on the word torrential

One too many Buds' (If there could ever be such a thing but at least it wasn't bloody Magnet )

Chloe's 8 and she sits beside me correcting my speeling as I type but she'd gone to bed when I posted that

[katego]

nope. not waterproof. tis what the dry bags are for.

-k

[Hammam]

Originally Posted by SKID

No! They've got breathing holes in the bases and there are no water tight seals present.

When you discovered that your sidecases were not waterproof was it one or both of them that had water inside?

Actually, I only checked one.

[WildWilly]

I knew when the bags came standard with water proof liners, that they were not water proof. If the bags were water proof, the liners wouldn't have to be.

[steve n rose]

All manufacturers of panniers recommend that anything affected by water should be placed in a waterproof bag as they can't guarantee that they will be waterPROOF. The most water I have ever found in mine has been a few drops in the bottom at the hinges.

[Glenn Wainrib]

My Givi V35's did not leak a drop in 700+ K's of rain.

[papasong]

I have the side cases, and I put stuff in the waterproof liner during a heavy rain.

[SHU]

I've never been lucky enough to have a pannier that wouldn't let a little water in. An all day rain being pushed at 65 mph- that's going to be tough to keep out. As a comparison, it's the unsealed stitch (needle) holes in your tent fly or raincoat that usually leaks in a hard rain. Those are pretty small holes. So a mm gap somewhere in your pannier closing would be plenty big to let a bunch of water in.

Rather than design and build the bags to such critical specifications, I think the liners are a better solution to keeping everything dry. Having had lots of wet gear when backpacking, I pack anything that must stay dry in coated stuff sacks or plastic bags- inside the liner bags- inside the side cases.

.............shu

[jrgroo]

Bought my ST second hand. The OEM water proof liners were missing from the saddlebags. Dealer wanted $59 USD ea. for replacements. Went to Walmart and found nearly identical rolltop waterproof bags in the camping department for $13 USD ea. Yes, they are yellow, but who cares? Hope this saves someone a couple of bucks.

Jim in Columbus, OH

[danham]

Another good alternative (or addition) to the waterproof liners is the dry bags sold in various sizes by West Marine. They are not cheap, but neither are the things I put in them when the weather is narsty or I'm offshore: my wallet, my electronic car/house keys, my Garmin (non-Zumo) GPS, my iPhone, my Valentine radar detector, my phone charger, etc.

-dan