So yesterday I replaced all my worn out struts and shocks, gave her some nice new pretty Bilstein B6’s on all corners. Took her out for a quick spin and she was running beautiful and feeling good. Today hop in just to run down the road and when I get home I immediately recognize the smell of coolant on a hot engine, open up the door and find a sea of coolant flowing beneath me. Coolant crossover pipe decided it was the end of its life. At least it happened at home. Part is on the way, I just hope I can replace without removing the intake manifold, ordered gaskets just in case. I thought for sure her new bilsteins would make her happy and keep her nice for awhile at least.

 

If it did the engine would be toast.

you got lucky.

 

gen2 mcs give all owners the same 'love' - LoL

Fwiw - I also replaced my struts/shocks with Bilstein-B6's (kept OE mcs springs). Ride is 100% improved.

Suggestion: Might as well replace thermostat-housing also if replacing failed water-pipe. Always replace them together even if only one of them is failed. I replaced my mine w/ removing intake. I used a USB webcam to view/confirm water-pipe was correctly inserted into rear of water-pump housing.

Good luck

 

Yes you can remove and replace the coolant pipe without removing the intake manifold, but you have to come up from underneath. I'd recommend a 100K mile time change interval on the coolant pipe, or change it whenever you change the coolant at the recommended change interval.

 

The pipe that hangs in the front behind the grill I am assuming is the reference?

 

No, it's under the intake manifold.

 

DIY here for the water pipe: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...stat-pipe.html

 

i cant stress this one enough, by OEM water pipe. I went with a rein first and leaked after a year. Replaced with all OEM, water pipe, thermostat, water pump, and if you pick up a gallon of mini coolant and gallon distilled water, you will have 2 gallons mixed for cheaper than buying 2 gallons pre mix.

 

I did mine in Sept '21, using non MINI cross over pipe which now looks like it has started leaking from the thermostat connection. With the help of my 6"1 son we were able to slide the pipe into the water pump from the drivers side reaching across and under the intake. You can just see the connection from above and I used a long trim tool to help guide it in. I now have one of those boroscope type cameras which I hope will ease the replacement. Greased the O-ring with some Vaseline and it needed a firm push to stay in place. Removing the intake requires attacking the hidden bolt from the passenger side wheel well, I believe, which is a lot more work. This was all done because the thermostat leaked and the original pipe broke coming out - not that I had planned to reuse it.

There's an Italian outfit that makes an aluminum pipe: Motortek.it and I have asked around for an idea of price but no one has responded. Guess I'll have to email them.

There are 6 ! different versions of this cursed pipe at our site sponsors ranging in price from $14 to $90 for the MINI part. I find it hard to believe there are 6 different factories churning these out. There's another thread where someone showed that there were different lengths between some brands.

Did the original engine designer rub their hands with glee when they said "here put this fragile plastic pipe that carries very hot coolant behind the engine so that our dealers will make a fortune replacing these or that anyone who does it themselves has to be some kind of masochist".

cheers
MacMini34