R50/53 Thermostat housing - plastic or metal?
#1
#2
You could probably buy 3 or 4 plastic ones for the same price....so if a plastic one lasted 100,000 miles...it cost you ...mine was still good after 100,000 and 10 years when the car was sold....
There comes a point when adding reliability before a false economy...a quick look or smell will let a driver know their housing is failing...
There comes a point when adding reliability before a false economy...a quick look or smell will let a driver know their housing is failing...
#3
#4
Not sure what you mean. Is it the saving of a few bucks ($50 or so) isn't worth it at a certain point? I think I'm at the point where I'd just rather get the metal one and be done with it. That would be worth it to me.
#5
Many spend $$ on a 10+ year old car with the idea of "improving reliability, and to improve the length of life....simple hard fact is the older the car, the more likely an accident or medium mechanical issue will total out the car....
Putting a metal housing on a mini might have made sense imo when it was 3 or 4 years old....if you had the intention of keeping the car for the long-term....
But putting a $$$ alternate replacement part with a 200,000 mile + payback on a car that is 10+ years old, and often had 150,000+ miles might not make sense from a economic standpoint....
If you want it to be a "better" MINI cause it your passion. Go for it...but don't justify it as a $$ saving idea....the payback, even if you had a pro install the part is not really there....
Now...a track or race car, subject to extreme heat....maybe... perhaps...but cost might be no object...
But for a daily driver...not so sure.
#6
That right there captures what you mean. I totally get that. In between posts here I thought I'd talk to a buddy in the parts industry (supplier) and said tons are plastic, that's just how it is. I'm not too keen on the metal replacements either, given the potential low quality manufacture. I'll probably end up going with another plastic, then try real hard to keep on top of it to catch any future issue when it's small. Missed it this time.
#7
Vendor
iTrader: (10)
Over the years we have thought of this, but the plastic ones are so cheap and don't have enough failures to warrant the aluminum. Plus most the issues are just the gasket. We keep both in stock:
https://www.waymotorworks.com/thermo...t-r50-r53.html
housing
https://www.waymotorworks.com/r53-th...t-housing.html
https://www.waymotorworks.com/thermo...t-r50-r53.html
housing
https://www.waymotorworks.com/r53-th...t-housing.html
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#9
Did you find the leak location?
On my 2009 Cooper thermostat housing, after closer look, it turned out to be the o-ring on the water temperature sensor. About $5.
Very easy to get to since it is non-turbo/non-supercharger.
5 minutes to swap in a new o-ring ... was lucky the housing is still fine.
The repair was as easy as changing a light bulb (pull out retainer clip, then sensor, pop on a new o-ring).
You may want to look closely at that area first.
Ron
On my 2009 Cooper thermostat housing, after closer look, it turned out to be the o-ring on the water temperature sensor. About $5.
Very easy to get to since it is non-turbo/non-supercharger.
5 minutes to swap in a new o-ring ... was lucky the housing is still fine.
The repair was as easy as changing a light bulb (pull out retainer clip, then sensor, pop on a new o-ring).
You may want to look closely at that area first.
Ron
#10
As many others stated, there is no reason to spend the extra on the metal housings as the plastic ones hold up just fine, and again it is almost always the thermostat gasket that is the problem.
We have seen a couple of people with problems after installing the metal housings, they don't have stops for the thermostat and will allow you to install the thermostat backwards if you don't pay attention.
We have seen a couple of people with problems after installing the metal housings, they don't have stops for the thermostat and will allow you to install the thermostat backwards if you don't pay attention.
#12
For those looking to replace their thermostat housing in the future, here's a helpful video:
Thermostat Housing Swap MINI Cooper S - GEN 2 - YouTube
Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.
Thermostat Housing Swap MINI Cooper S - GEN 2 - YouTube
Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.
One hell of a way to confuse folks....
Go vendor go!! DID YOU really read the post?!NOPE
just rushing in....to have your name on EVERY thread....trying to one-up ECS.....
But waymotorworks and destroy tuned jumped in first....
Last edited by ZippyNH; 10-06-2016 at 05:56 AM.
#13
#17
FWIW, I'd stick with the original proven design.
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