That is awesome, thank you!!

 

We used to have a TIS access for all MINI that had all of that for the general consumer tech info and BMW closed down the site. https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

This site has some info, but that sheet linked works great.

https://workshop-manuals.com/mini/

 

Ok, last parts arrived so today is the big reassembly day. I assume there's no problem stopping before putting on the crash bar, bumper, reconnecting lights, putting wheels on, lowering car, etc, so I can fill the coolant and run the heat and all that while still partially disassembled in case there's an issue?

 

That's not a problem.

Keep in mind the R50 is quite hard to bleed, even when you are using the two bleed valves. Just check how much coolant you have poured in. From memory it needs 4.5 liters. If you are short on that, run the car so it opens up the thermostat and make sure to open up the heater inside the car.

I've had multiple times that I still needed to fill the reservoir after a long drive.

 

A little stumped here. This is the upper radiator hose on the passenger side where it will connect to the bleeder elbow piece. I assume this hose is supposed to sit into that plastic holder but it doesn't even come close to fitting. Also I'm not entirely sure how the hose is supposed to be routed back there because it's behind all kinds of stuff. There are various pipes and tubes in there I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be routing behind, in front of, above, below....

 

I think its this guy your talking about? The OD on the delco hose look big. maybe the hose just needs slide more to the left?

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/17121475561/

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0219

 

I think you are actually very close! Looking at my own photo that hose should end up halfway the alternator. Then the elbow piece will make the turn which then connects to the upper radiator hose.

Some photos for reference:

 

Yeah, I think the AC Delco is the problem. It was under my make/model/year on Rockauto while the correct Rein was not, but the diameters are different. Arrrrgh.

Also why is this called "lower radiator hose" everywhere when it connects to the top of the radiator, not the bottom? Driving me crazy.

Thank you! Yeah this is not clipping in and I can't squeeze it by outside the clip. I guess I could just break the clip off to make room but then the hose is just loose in there. I've ordered the correct hose. The project continues....

 

After further inspection you seem to come 2 inches short. I don't have pictures for routing from the thermostat housing unfortunately.

You want to rule out you got the wrong part. Does the bleeder valve part actually fits snug or is it floating around in the hose? Can you compare it to the old hose for length and diameter?

Any chance you can get your hands on a hose from Gates? I replaced my lower hose recently and it's a top quality brand while not expensive. (€10 which would be ~$12)

 

They're the same length but the old hose is 39.6mm OD at this end and the ACDelco is 42mm; old hose is about 35mm at midpoint and where it clips but ACD is 41mm there.. It's 2" short because I don't have room to shove it past the clip and can't get it into the clip. Bleeder valve fits snugly, ID seems okay.

 

bummer. rein hoses have worked for me in the past. you might find something at the local autozone?

rockauto is a mess. i'd avoid them unless your in a desperate situation.

now days you can get lifetime warranty on all parts. Its a no brainer

 

Nobody local has it in stock natch. Ordered a Rein from Rockauto. This is the first time they've ever steered me wrong so I'll cut them some slack. I assume they'll take it back (although it's a bit roughed up from being jammed across from the thermostat).

 

Man it never ends. While waiting for hopefully correct fit hose, I figured I'd swap the cooling fan to the new radiator. Saw the new radiator doesn't have the foam seals top and bottom. Can't transfer that from the old one because it's all fallen apart.

Please tell me I can just stick some generic weatherstripping on there and don't need to order more parts, delaying reassembly yet again....

 

Yep these places dont know MINIs and their catalogs are bad. They have crossed up chassis and take data from Data Dumps that have no one looking at the catalogs. We do things manually and have actual people like me building the catalog that are enthusiast.
We do have lifetime replacement also.

Yea that foam degrades and you can replace.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0220

 

In my experience you don't need that foam and you can skip them. And I'm someone who has a Mini dealer 1 mile away and regularly buy bolts and other small stuff to keep things original.

 

Thanks, I did have some generic weatherstripping foam that was a perfect fit for the channels on top and bottom of the radiator so stuck it in there.

 

While waiting for that last hose to arrive, during initial disassembly this piece #13 "plug in connection bracket" fell out. Will it be obvious where it goes? Because this diagram doesn't help lol. Also I'll have to look but I'm not sure it has those clips and bolt #14 and #15, possibly lost to the aether....






Also, Pelican procedure for coolant change says "Using a large funnel in the expansion tank, slowly fill the car with new coolant."...but my expansion reservoir is already/still full even with coolant drained from system and hoses detached. So instead I'm just going to take the cap off the reservoir, open the bleeder valve at upper hose elbow, and fill at main cap on thermostat housing? Do I need to open the other bleeder valves? Then run car, heat on max, until coolant comes out bleeder valve, then close bleeder(s), caps on, top off reservoir and call it a day?

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/17107514009/

This has two slots to hold the wire end plug in place.




Cooper Non S set up: https://www.mini2.com/threads/help-m...ew-plz.190132/

You have a non pressurized system in the R50 / R52 Cooper expansion tank.

 

#14 always breaks so I aways zip tie it to the bracket on the chassis leg.

As for filling it with coolant, valves shut, thermostat housing cap off and fill it. Then open valves and fill it some more. Then run car with heater matrix on and wait for the thermostat to open and watch the reservoir, it can suck some more in.

Also keep checking it after the first couple of trips, usually you will find that once the engine cooled down the reservoir will be at minimum.

 

Man nothing is easy. What kind of clamp is this and how do I get it back on, or should I just go buy some screw type?


I would have been so lost without your all's help, infinite thanks!

 

Yep, those are the hard ones to install. I used waterpump pliers or beak style pliers to pull it together and a flat head to nudge it in.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben.../006343sch01a/ work but you have to get the clamp closer together.

 

What he said plus don't replace them with jubilee (screw type) clamps as these and the ones on the coolant hoses apply the right amount of pressure. You can't overtighten them where the jubilee clamps will cut into your hose.

 

Ok so clearly I am not cut out to be a mechanic and should have left this to the pros, but too late now lol.

Current problem:



I can't seem to figure out the order here. It seems like before putting on the plastic front #1 I need to get that thing #2 up to where the earlier mentioned bracket piece holds it and the wiring harness in place at #3. But I can't get it up there with the AC condenser down to the side like that, it doesn't reach. And I can't get the condenser up until I have the radiator mounted on the plastic front #1 which I can't do because then it blocks me from getting #2 up to #3....


Ready to put the wheels back on and roll this thing off the nearest cliff...

 

you can clamp those from the top with needle nose pliers

 

looks like you might need a second set of hands