I ran over a large piece of rubber on the interstates which went directly underneath my car. Everything is working well but when looking up from underneath I see a long rubber tube behind the intercooler which is hanging down. I think maybe it was secured somehow but is now drooping down. I hope it ok to have it checked the next time I have my mini serviced. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

I noticed the same thing on my wife's 2008 MCS this weekend while changing the oil. There is a little plastic clamp like thing that goes around the hose has a little point/stem sticking out of one side. There is a little connector thing that this point/stem goes into to hold the hose in place. Seems a little flimsy. I will check this weekend to see if it stayed in place during my wife's 550 mile round trip.

Sorry for the very technical description.

 

I think that's the lower radiator hose, some people have had that hose pierced by road debris, seems like it should be better protected.

 

That's the one reason I have a skidplate. It does very little to protect the oil pan or other important engine components, but it protects that poor flimsy radiator hose. You tear that thing off on some debris and your car is gonna be hurting

 

Does the skidplate affect access to any servicing, such as oil changes, etc?

 

No on the second gens the skidplate no longer covers the oil drain plug like it did on the first gens. It's because of this that it also adds very little protection for the oil pan which isn't the best for lowered cars that scrape a lot...but oh well.

I'm sure it would affect access if you had to service the rubber hose we're talking about...but even then it's just 4 quick bolts to remove it.

I got mine from moss mini. I believe it's made by cobalt...or something like that.

 

A very old thread, I know, but came across it and wanted to point out that the lower rad hose talked about, is actually held "up" by a third clamp with expanded rivet that is always destined to break off and disappear, allowing the hose to sag dangerously. The clamp attaches upside down to a small flange with a hole in it, located on what looks like a plastic muffler on the hose that is the intake to the intercooler. I bought my 2008 MCCS with 19k miles on it in mid 2010 and that clamp was already gone. I fashioned a sturdier hanger out of 2 tyraps. The one through the hole in the flange is your standard heavy duty type and makes a simple loop, while the one around the hose itself is a very wide one, about 1/2" wide that goes around the hose and through the loop.

When I got the car up on my lift for inspection the first time, I knew the hose was way too loose to be correct, and noticed the two white lines painted on the hose near the junction of the hose and fan and intake to the IC, indicating where a clamp or hanger should be. Once properly and securely fastened up there the other two clamps really just guide the hose along the bottom of the IC and it is tucked in away from harm, for the most part.

I always wondered what those that replaced their IC hoses did, and if that part was replaced, how the radiator hose was supported?

 

I used a couple of zip ties after messing with the original hangers for months