Hey all, new user here. I'm in the process of replacing the thermostat housing on my wife's 2012 Cooper S hatchback and I have a few questions. The style of thermostat housing that came with the vehicle has the one electrical connecter on it (4 pin) and attached to one of the radiator hoses in a metal elbow is what I think is the coolant temp sensor (2 pin). I just bought a new housing from FCP Euro as well as the electrical harness they tell you to buy with it. The new housing has 2 electrical connectors, both 2 pin. I know the manufacture date of the vehicle determines what thermostat wiring adapter you need and the manufacture date was 10/11.

Thermostat housing

Sensor (temp?)


Wiring/adapter harness that was on with original housing


This is the housing I bought from FCP Euro: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/min...rp-11538674895

My main question is whether or not the new housing has a temp sensor built in and if that sensor on the old setup is now redundant. I seems like I still need to use that elbow to make the radiator hose make that bend to attach to the housing.

I hope this wasn't too confusing. I'll clarify if so. And I'll attach some pics to hopefully make more sense of things.

 

Yes it’s all very confusing. I don’t remember exactly how it went with my 2013 but basically I think you want the style of thermostat that includes the temp sensor and then you can replace the elbow that has the remote sensor which is prone to leaking (mine did, see at the bottom of the pic). I can’t remember for sure, there might have been a wiring adapter involved as well.

my tee cracked at some point so maybe replace that as well.
I think I got mine from Mini Mania or somewhere like that.

 

I can’t find where I got the replacement non-sensor elbow but this was my receipt from ECS, with relevant part numbers

 

Yep its does that's the old system with the elbow.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0393

The newest part bypasses that old part and you use the thermostat housing as the built in sensor portion. The old elbow with metal is NLA and with that new hose it deletes it.

The adapter lead is used to convert the old harness with the newer thermostat. For you VIN>

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...d/12517647200/


If you keep the old set up with the metal elbow you need to watch it does not leak.

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








BTW we have lifetime replacement now and its covers more then just Genuine MINI and aftermarket. Performance parts also. So no need to go elsewhere.

https://www.ecstuning.com/LifetimeReplacement/