Hello everyone from North Carolina! I've had my triple black 2010 Mini base model for a little over 3 years. He was used but new to me. This car hasn't given me one lick of trouble until recently. Maintenance has always been done on a regular basis. With that being said he does have 88,*** miles on him and as I was getting on the interstate to come home one day my thermostat light came on(yellow) then immediately went back off. I did drive him home and it didn't overheat but now I'm scared to drive him and he is sitting lonely in the yard.

Any idea what it could be? Thermostat? Water Pump?

I appreciate any advice given!

 

First, welcome to NAM. Next, can I suggest you make a post in the Gen2 Stock Problems/Issues area?

The overheating light is one thing, overheating light and water blowing out is the other thing that makes one worry about a warped head. I am also thinking that the MINI ECU will shot the car down when it gets too hot. Friend of mine lost a belt a couple weeks back and the car shot off automatically when it got hot.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

It may be low on coolant and got an air bubble in the system.

 

+1 ^^ check for leaks, if the coolant was changed or something else with the coolant repaired then there might be air. If not you have a leak I bet near the thermostat housing.

 

I would have some diagnosis and see if you find any leaks and make sure what is and isn't working right like fan and thermostat.

Thermostat is the most common failure so that would be my first guess.

 

I had a similar problem with my R56. We had just replaced the T-stat, water pump, and bled the system. Then is started boiling the coolant out of the overflow tank. Turned out the rubber surface on the main pulley that is the friction drive for the water pump got some kind of contaminant on it an was causing it to slip and not turn the water pump. Copious amounts of brake cleaner on the rubber surface took care of the problem. That being said, I agree with everyone else that it's probably that Rube Goldberg version of a thermostat.

 

^^ +1 Inspect, Inspect, and Inspect.. Check it all. Crankshaft pulley has a rubber insert that attaches the inner and outer parts of the pulley, the rubber can perish and this can effect the ability of the ancillaries from working properly.

Motor On!