Hello guys, I recently did a supercharger service on my 04 R53. I'm pretty sure I forgot to connect one of the vacuum hoses that connects to the plastic plenum. You can hear an air vacuum/boost leak (see attached video). Is there a way I can access this part of the car without putting the car in front-end service mode?

BTW I get fault Code P1242, and the car is a little ruff on idle.

 

You may be able to get to them with what I'll call "partial service mode".
You have to pull most of the front end, but replace two of the core support bolts with either extra long ones or threaded rod.
This allows you to slide the core support forward without having to disconnect any of the coolant hoses in turn not having to drain the coolant. Works for alternator swaps as well.
Honestly I just don't know for sure you'll have enough room, but you'll definitely have more.
(For me, draining and refilling the coolant, is the worst part of full service mode)

Good luck.

 

For some reason, I find it easier to just take off the whole front end lol. I got one of those coolant fillers. It creates a vacuum and sucks all the air from the system. I just didn't want to drain the coolant of the car.

 

P1242 + vacuum hiss checks out for MAP line disconnected. The other line is for the brake booster. Also just did the supercharger service; not much fun to wrestle that plenum back into position and connect up those lines and the bypass hose; really hate that thing.

Something like these might help with the job:
https://www.harborfreight.com/13-in-...ca464b20bfe10d

 

So I put the car in front end service mode. Both hoses are loose and the Tmap is nearly completely off. I recorded a video

March 22, 2023

 

I use a right angel needle nose pliers and they're able to grab those hard lines and slide them back into their connectors.. you miiiiiiight be able to access it by just removing the bumper and crash bar and peeling back the radiator support. I don't know how much play the stock hoses allow but with my aftermarket hoses I'm able to do that. Though yiu need to remove the 1x bolt in the intake Manifold that holds the coolant hose onto it though..

 

Well I attached both tubes and I’m still getting code P1242. I made sure the tubes were connected properly. I still hear an air leak. I’m gonna check my boots to see if they are damaged or something. I also checked my pending fault codes and I get P0507 (which means my throttle body is “bad”).

 

Try listening with a stethoscope with a hose for the leaks. It might be easier than you think.

Good luck,
Peter

 

Any updates?

 

I found the leak. Ended up being the Map line being completely cracked where the sensor goes. I don’t even know how that happened because I never touched that part of the car. I replaced the like with a brand new one from ECSTunning and the car runs better than ever.

TMAP/MAP sensor cracked Vacuum line P1242. 2004 Mini Cooper S R53

 

Thanks! Just bought a set of those hose pliers - did not know they existed!

 

Those plastics can get brittle with age and then when you look at them i swear they break. You can get those little red caps also.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-arm-r53.html

 

Thank you for posting this, here and on YooBoob; highly valuable information. And now we can add one more failure prone crappy German plastic part to the list of many on these cars. Might as well throw in its fraternal twin, the brake booster line, while we're at it for a twofer, and the intake plenum for the hat trick. Thanks BMW!