I did try to search for this before posting so if I missed an existing thread please point me in the right direction.

I have spend the last couple years w/o heat in my 2003 R53 MSC. Recently I was doing a clutch replacement and I figured while the coolant system was drained I'd replace the heater core. I thought the problem was the core because everything else climate wise works fine. AC works good, can change the air flow up/down/defrost/etc, and can change the fan speed.

Replaced the core, old one was gunked up/ and initially didn't have any heat again. Figured I have to move onto the next part in the chain. Now it looks like I may have had an air bubble or something and today my heat came on w/ a vengeance! It's running about 100deg here in FL today and I was running the AC but my right leg was burning up! There is definitely coolant flowing through the core now!

Anyone else have this issue in the past? What part should I start looking at next?

 

Minis don't have heater valves like many cars that can stick open or closed. So engine coolant is always flowing to the heater core. There is a plastic flapper door and an actuator that controls whether you get hot or cold air. Sounds like that door or actuator is stuck to heat mode. There have been threads on this.

 

David, Thank you.
I'm only getting the heat on the driver's side floor board so I'm guessing I need to reinstall the panel I removed several years ago while troubleshooting the no heat issue? It probably never felt like this before since the core was clogged and coolant wasn't flowing in that area for quite a while and I just got used to that panel being off. It does seem like a lot of heat for a plastic panel to contain but I'll give that a shot next and see how it goes.

 

Definitely start there.

Also a good time to wiggle your head down their and see if you can see the flaps moving while you move the AC controls around.

 

How do you replace a hot cold blend door motor on a 2003 R50, I see a wire that I think goes to it.

 

pull the glove box. It’s on the left under the dash. I know I’ve seen the process in Bentley and in tis

 

I just remembered that I did buy the Bentley book. I will look into that if I run into a problem. If I can switch out the engine/transmission I think will get thru this one LOL!

 

for sure, very easy job if the wiring is in order