So there are many good videos on youtube of the thermostat replacement. Here are just a few of my thoughts.

This was on a 2013 mini cooper roadster not an S. The whole job took me 3-4 hours. I absolutely recommend a set of coolant pliers before attempting.

I used PEAK Original Equipment Technology Antifreeze + Coolant for European Vehicles - Blue from Walmart for the coolant.


Reference coolant line photo with the air intake removed.



Reference coolant line photo with the air intake removed.



If you can get the wiring harness out of the way you will have more room.



Reference coolant line photo with the air intake removed. I also moved the coolant overflow reservoir by removing the 10 mm fastener. I did not disconnect the coolant lines.



Reference coolant line photo with the air intake removed.



Plug removed.



Two more plus removed.






Out with the old and in with the new. I used a BOXI Thermostat from Amazon. Note make sure you are getting the correct model for your mini. Mine is a 2013 Model Year Roadster, but it was manufactured in 2012, so I needed the 11538699290 part number. Double check this because the wiring connections will be different. Note, this was a cheaper unit and not OEM, but I figure that the OEM is what failed anyway. I'll update if this one fails. BTW, I did not use the bleeder valve at all. I found it does not work very well, and I always end up having to add coolant anyway after a coolant replacement - even my professionals.



The clip that holds the thermostat housing to the cross-over tube to the intake of the coolant pump is almost impossible to get back on. So I carved, using a grinder with a cutting wheel, some notches into a needle nose pliers to help me maneuver the clip into place.


The clip that holds the thermostat housing to the cross-over tube to the intake of the coolant pump is almost impossible to get back on. So I carved some notches into a needle nose pliers to help me maneuver the clip into place.


I think I got lucky.


Now, this is a life saver, if you tie a string to the clip before attempting to install, you will avoid dropping and losing the clip. Do this... and yes, I dropped and lost the clip for a while before I got a little less dumb.

My thoughts on the clip - I do not think you need it. Disclaimer, I am in no way a mechanic, but I have a theory that the clip is meant so that when you replace the thermostat housing you also can more easily remove the cross over pipe to the coolant intake.

So if you are replacing both, the process would go: unhook and unbolt everything, pull both the thermostat and the water pipe away from the pump, then unclip. Now to install, install with the thermostat and pipe clipped before fulling inserting into coolant pump intake. That makes sense to me.


Here is a reference photo after install, but before reinstalling air intake.



Here is a reference photo after install, but before reinstalling air intake.

Note, I also removed the cover to the engine computer but not the computer itself. This gave me a little more room.

Other things I am considering doing - maybe replacing the coolant hoses with silicon hoses, a custom speaker system with amplifier.

I will attempt to answer any questions you may have. Good luck and keep motoring.

 

Thanks for the DIY. You should add it to this one, every little tip helps the next person.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hermostat.html

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Thanks for posting over there.