Anybody here have install instructions?

Do the install themselves?

Have a DIY available?

Bentley manual alsorefers to a gasket, do I reuse the stock one? Should one have come with the thermostat when I ordered it? Do I need to order a stock one from the dealer?

 

Depending on the mileage it would be a good idea to replace the gasket. Here is where you run into issues. From Mini you can buy a thermostat and it comes with a gasket, but the gasket does not have it's own part #. M7 should, IMHO, supply a new gasket but since they are not available from Mini as a stand alone part it creates this quandary.

I could rant as to this is an issue where I feel M7 has let the customer down but I think ya'll get my drift.

 

75k miles, got the M7 because my current thrmostat is suspect ina coolant leak common with the '05s, if I was going to pay to replace figured I might as well upgrade, I'm not keen on buying the stock part too. (Bentley says to replace the gasket)

And yes this is my first experiance with M7, a thermostat shows up in a baggy not a shred of paperwork with it.

Anyone have install info or is this a follow the Bentley thing all others be d*mned?

 

I was waiting to figure this one out. I have a m7 thermo which I was going to install, but have not because I did not know about the gasket.

 

Thermostat is easy.

You don't want to do this on an HOT engine for obvious reasons. WARM is OK.
Place a pan under the car to catch coolant.
Remove the air intake, then remove the thermostat housing on the drivers side of the head.
Take note as to which way the old themostat comes out.
Gently peal the old gasket off and intall the m7 the same way the old one was.
Re-Assemble

loosen the little screw on the coolant line and top off coolant tank until it starts to come out of that screw, tighten the screw.

Test start, check for leaks, make sure it comes up to temp and not over heat. Then go for a test drive.

I hope that helps!

BTW I have a brand new m7 thermostat, send me a pm with a decent offer if you want it.

And why does everyone expect directions when you recieve performance parts??? It's merely above and beyond if certain co's decide to do that.

 

I totally agree. Directions do not come with the OE parts that you buy at a dealership.

 

Depends on the part. For a simple part swap like a thermostat or brake rotors I can see no instructions. When you get to something like and adjustable sway bar I'd want to have instruction on how to adjust and what the different adjustments mean. Bonus points to the vendor for including basic install instructions for a part such as that.

However with a part like a thermostat where one really should replace a gasket and the OEM comes with a new gasket it would behoove the vendor to include the gasket or at least make it available if it is hard to source.

 

I edited my other post to clear up some confusion.

Nate I can't agree with you more!

 

Now do yall have any tricks for swapping over the bleeder pin?

And even the OEM fire extinguisher comeswith install instructions and thats just two rivets and a snap.

 

I don't understand your question.

 

On the stock thermostat there is a bleeder pin in a little hole that on the S sits at the top of the stock thermostat, the 180 is lacking it. The Bentley manual does refer to it as far as placement. I decided to skip that and let it go with just a hole, but in the same alignment.

Letting the high temp silicone gasket maker set up before I refill the coolant. if there is any leaks after a few test drives then I'll spend the $40 for a stock thermostat to get the gasket. (thats one expensive gasket, but I'm not entirely sure I can get the right gasket by going to a Dodge dealer either).

 

I don't remember messing with a bleeder pin...sorry.

Why did you decide to use gasket maker? If you're carefull you can just peal the old gasket off the old t-stat. Last I heard you couldn't buy just the gasket, you would have to buy a whole new t-stat from the dealer, that was a couple years ago, maybe it has since changes.

But yea let it set for 24 hours before you mess it, Let us know how you make out.

 

Yeah I got the gasketmaker as a precaution because I had a leak from that area... sure enough the gasket was brittle and removing the housing started a break and the rest crumbled as it was removed from the block.

I figured $2 was cheaper thanthe $44.75 for a new T-stat. I'll let it set up if it works great if not I'll buy a new T-stat (begrudgingly)and replace it that way. But I am curious if I canpick up just the gasket from dodge as it is an engine part that is on the Pentagon Neon engine.....

 

Be careful with the gasket, mine was nearly pulp coming off the old thermostat and tore.

 

Yeah mine fell rightapart but after 75k and the fact I think it was the source of my leak I was hardly suprised. Annoying that MINI wants more for the stock piece than M7 does for the upgraded one, but you have to buy the MINIone for anewgasket (or least thats the common preception)

 

I've added the M7 Thermostat to the Reviews area and left a review.

May need to be approved my management before it's visible. Thats standard policy when adding a new product to Review on most forums to all you conspiracy people.

 

Hey Motor On, if you end up at the Dodge dealer, please let us know what the part number is. I'm at 61500 on my 05 and will upgrade to the M7 too.

If it is a part M7 could get from Dodge I hope they would.

Wouldn't a corner parts store have a gasket?

Thanks for doing the local testing and install.

 

No, sorry it's a special gasket.

 

Ditto I eventried looking at the # under the American car section, the thermostat there doesn't even come with the gasket, which seems to meandealers have cornered the market onthis somehow.

 

haha, you conspirator!