Hey everyone,

Any knowledge on this is helpful. Have a coolant leak on my n16. It was coming from the passenger side near the firewall so I’ve pulled the waterpump to replace it thinking it was the water pump shaft or oring. Looks like there was a leak based on the corrosion but the leak seemed to come from the backside of the housing too but I guess that could have just been the leak?

Is it possible to have a leak on the backside of the housing where I circled in the picture?

Or do you think this is mainly the water pump based on the corrosion?

I attached a photo of the water pump and oring too for any context.

 

Yes that plastic crossover pipe breaks or the o ring rolls. Use OEM crossover pipe and thermostat, or see if the ECS metal pipe works.

 

FYI

You have to remove thermostat-housing to replace water-pipe (mentioned above by Jason). So, I suggest replacing both the thermostat-housing and water-pipe since you're there, specially if thermostat-housing has not been replaced in last 50K miles.

Goo Luck!

 

We have the metal water pipe in stock. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ecs-part.../048583la01~a/

When you touch those plastic pipes and they are old they break every time. My guess is it cracked. If its never been changed they tend to stick to the metal on the hole and you have to clean off the end of the old pipe.

Yep the factory older water pumps are plastic also. New ones factory come in metal outside. Plastic Impeller. You can also get the metal impeller/metal outside. https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/11517550484/

Thermostat here: I think you have a 2011 R56 Cooper. Watch as the first time this is changed they updated the thermostat housing and if it was never done you will need that adapter harness noted in red on our site.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2011-...ngine/Cooling/

 

Thanks for the heads up. I got an OEM one today when I picked up the pump. I should’ve just gotten then thermostat housing then but it’s only a 20 min drive or I can grab it on ECS. I’ve only replaced the water pump as well as the main serpentine belt because it was pretty cracked up when I went down there.

Yeah, thank you. I’m realizing that after I only got the crossover pipe. So I’m going to see if it still leaks after the water pump replacement and if not get the thermostat housing in the next couple of weeks and do both then before one gives out.

 

Update: new water pump works lol. The car still leaks after it heats all the way up and cools back down so I’m replacing the thermostat housing and crossover pipe because I can clearly see it leaking from the crossover pipe to water pump. I can’t get the thermostat housing to disconnect from the crossover pipe so I can get both out so that’s where I’m at right now. I was very delicate on trying to get the thermostat housing off of the crossover pipe and it just slipped out of the water pump. I’ll keep you guys posted.

 

Tip: When replacing thermostat housing and water-pipe, lubricate o-rings on water-pipe (that goes in behind water pump) and thermostat housing (tail that goes into water-pipe) with plenty of silicone grease.

Good luck

 

Thank you for the tip. I will do that. Currently waiting for the clip that holds the two together. Mine didn’t have it. They were pretty baked together. Idk if they were original as I got the car at 119k and were at 148k but the dealership didn’t have them in stock.