My fiance has an '05 Cooper S and a while back we noticed that the heater never got hot. It would always blow cold air no matter what temp you set the gauge at. Luckily, she's got heated seats. I don't like riding in her car these days because I think it's a freezer. In fact, I don't think her heater has worked ever since she took delivery of the car back in June '05. Anyone know of a quick fix for this? Blown fuse possibly?

 

But if it's never getting hot, sounds like the heater valve isn't being opened. That is, if the car has one!

The manual doesn't say if it has one, but it does have something called a "blend door". This is the way that the heater routes air either through or around the heater core. It's easier if you have the manual air system, as it's just cable operated. You can get to it pretty easily by removing the down tubes, the switch panal, and then the heater control panal. IF the cable is attached at the panal end, you can see if it's attached at the heater core end. The Bently manual is a bit vauge about that, but it looks to be directly behind the control panal, you may have to remove the head unit as well. Don't worry, the hardest part is getting over your fear of pulling HARD on the plastic dash panal to get the down tubes out!

IF you have an automatic climate system, the air temp is controled with a servo motor, and you have to get the glove compartment out to get to it.

If you're still under warranty, just call and have it done with the next service, if you're out of warranty, get the bently manual (about $60 on eBay), and have at it! The work doesn't look to bad.

With the automatic system, there's also a heater core temp sensor as well. I'd guess either of these could be the culprits with an auto system.

Matt