Has anyone had to replace their radiator yet and what was the mileage?

I searched and could not find a thread that had this information in it. My R53 is currently at 96,000 miles. At 100k or 105k miles, I plan on doing the following:

- Upper/Lower radiator hoses
- New radiator fluid
- New fuel filter (on a 50k interval)
- Replace thermostat/gasket and housing
- Replace both O2 sensors (on the fence about these)

But, while I have the front end of the MINI removed, I like to replace as much as I can while I am in there. What I want to avoid is replacing all of this only to have the radiator spring a leak at 110k miles. Might as well replace it at that time.

I've already replaced the radiator fan at 90k miles. I have ALWAYS used MINI radiator fluid in the radiator since I picked him up at 23 miles back in Nov-2004.

Thoughts? Feedback? Would be greatly appreciated. I'm even eyeballing the water pump but I believe those can last to around the 130-140k mark. I only put about 10k miles on the car each year.

 

If it ain't broken, but it's really up to you! Usually, a radiator won't be a catastrophic failure, unless something pierces it.

 

Mine failed at about 120k.

 

True! I am a big supporter of if it ain’t broken… True, not a huge failure, but I can land a replacement radiator for ~$122. So for about $275, I can replace the lower and upper radiator hoses, fluid, thermostat/gasket/housing and the radiator. And have another 100k miles of trouble free operation from the cooling system. Not including the water pump of course.

Thanks. I was hoping to get a few more pieces of data to see if there is a range in which these radiators die. I was a bit surprised when I had to replace the radiator fan at 90k miles.

 

I’d leave the radiator alone and go for silicone hoses. All of them. And check the fan to be sure the low is working. Most, IMO, are probably not.

Why do you want to touch the O2 sensors? If there are no codes, leave them alone. Mine are fine and I am approaching 150,000.

Is the thermostat housing leaking? Check your water pump too. Mine started leaking at about 100,000 and I did a supercharger rebuild at the same time.

The fuel filter is separate as that is under the rear seat. And I would save some cash for Lower Control Arm bushings which are probably shot as well.

Rich

 

Thanks Rich! The fan was replaced about 8k miles ago. It is working! The bearing started to go on me and creating a "ticking" sound.

O2 sensors as a maintenance item. The Milltek header is about 6,800 miles old and that came with a new catalytic converter. But if you have reached 150k miles on your sensors, then I am shelving those for another day.

No, the thermostat housing is not leaking at this time. Im hesitant on messing with the water pump or supercharger until something goes south. Knocks on wood... I am hoping that is a ways down the road.

 

If this were a BMW E46, I'd say do it cuz you're on borrowed time.
On the R53, different answer. The coolant reservoir is the only weak point in the cooling system from what I've seen here, and even then, it's not a catastrophic failure that can take your engine out as on the BMW's.

 

My was replaced at 100,000 miles and the car turned 9 March 18, 2014. Think it was a week after the last day in March.
Think time wore it down vs miles.