Yay, I get to replace my thermostat housing for the first time, since my warranty is expired! I've been researching this job a bunch, mostly this thread here:

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

and also the following YouTube video:

Here's the trouble. I'm currently in Los Angeles, was supposed to drive to San Diego today - CEL came on yesterday. My tools and workshop are in SD. I could do the repair here, but I don't have what I need to do the job (also I need to wait for the part to come in, probably Wednesday or Thursday). Would a trip of that length be a terrible idea with a bad thermostat? Or would it just work my cooling system a bit hard for a few hundred miles? I'm honestly not sure what potential risks there are in driving one of these with a bad thermostat for awhile.

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

Yea, its will leak and you will loose coolant and then possible overheat if the coolant gets low enough. I dont know how slow your leak is, but it will only get worse. Do you have a puddle of coolant on the transmission? Floor ? I dont want you to risk overheat and cook your engine :(

I would get someone else to drive you or see if you can use another car.

 

Are you leaking coolant? How do you know it went bad? are you getting a check engine light? and can you read that check light with a scanner?
If leaking coolant I would not take the chance it will only get worse and possibly over heat.

 

Not leaking coolant at all. levels are fine - haven't gotten any temp warnings or anything either. Had the Check Engine Light come on, pulled the thermostat code (P5097) with an OBDII scanner.

 

You have to pull the intake off and look at the top of the transmission , might be in the early stages of a leak that has not touched the floor ( mine did that ). If everything is up and absolutely no leaks it could be just the temp sensor itself.

 

Aha, now THAT is exactly the kind of info I log on here for! I'll give it a good hard look before doing any serious driving with it. Cheers!!

 

Exactly . Glad to help.

 

Thermostats are on back order, good luck finding a dealer to sell you one as what they get in will be saved for their shop until they get enough in stock again

 

I'd check with one of the vendors that support this blog.

 

We carry them in aftermarket version. Same thing just another option. Also linked in that thread above.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11537534521/

 

We have plenty of thermostats on hand, whether it be for the N12/14 or the N16/18 engines.

Gen 2 Thermostat N12/14

Gen 2 Thermostat N16/18 **Keep in mind there is a harness REQUIRED to replace the thermostat on these cars, which we also have in stock. Thermostat Harness

 

How do we figure out what engine we have?
I have a 08 cooper s and an 07 justa.

 

" 07 justa " . That's an N12 , Takes 11537534521 we have listed above. NOTE * Certain years for certain models take the adapter lead 12517646145 .

More info here.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...out-where.html


So you will just need 11537534521


" 08 cooper s " Thats an N14

You will just need 11537534521

 

We are located in Cali and have local pick up if you need it quick. Thermostats here and they're in stock. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Our catalog is great in that all you need to do is input your information HERE and it'll pull up the correct parts needed for both of your R56 MINI's. The '08 S is the N14 turbocharged engine and the '07 base is the NA N12 engine. If you have any questions be sure to let me know.

 

Mine is a 2013 Hardtop S.

 

Yep, linked above and here as well. In stock.

 

Just did mine today. Make sure you've got a pair of spring clip pliers for the factory hose clamps. Several are super hard to get off without a pair. Not a bad job. Just step by step. Having the new part there helps.

 

I've got over 20 in stock as I bought up when they ran low, I sold several to a couple dealers already that were trying to get customers fixed.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/thermos...5-r56-r57.html

 

Your is here : N18 2013 "S" 11537647751

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2013-...ng/Thermostat/

 

Can someone please

confirm this is a breather hose and not something I'm missing the connection for?

 

It's a breather hose.

 

Yes.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-end-info.html

 

Thanks everyone!

Got it pulled off ok, though some of those clamps were really tough to get to, and that one bolt really did require a u joint. Sadly, as I was trying to install the new one, I dropped the clip for the water pump supply hose. :( and I can't for the life of me find it.

 

Found it by crawling under the car and poking around for about an hour. Next time, I will order extra clips. For future readers, this would be a good hinges to have a spare of. It would also be useful to have a plastic spudger for loosening the hoses.