Searched but did not find here - 2009 base. Based on Youtube it seems can be done from wheel well using normal hand tools but some say no way, need to also have access from above.

I assume also should replace the plastic tube same time, I replaced 30k ago with thermo housing but I know its fragile.

 

Here is all the DIY for the Cooling: Water Pipe..etc

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html

Water pump you can get through the wheel well with the wheel off.

 

I did water pump pulley and water pump back in January. I couldn’t imagine doing it with only the wheel well off. I had it accessible from the top too. The pulley and pump both had to go down and back before they would come out of the wheel well area. I suggest supporting the engine from the oil pan and getting the mounts up top out of the way so you can get to the pulley bolts a little easier

 

Thanks, will definitely allot a whole weekend for this just in case. Looked up the typical charge for this and apparently its ~$1000!!!

I know from experience the difficulty of working on an engine from the wheel well when car is on the ground - you are either on your knees and can't see the engine very well or you are lying on your back and arms may not reach.

It almost seems like they may have changed the distance between engine and body for some years or models because a pro YouTube mechanic makes it looks easy from wheel well but some commenters said they tried that and no way.

 

If you have midget hands and the wheel well off yea you could probably make it work. Unfortunately i do not have midget hands, i am a 6'5" 250lb male, so I did it while doing my timing chain.

My suggestion would be familiarize yourself with the radiator support removal procedure, do that, and then support the engine from below with a jack, remove the upper passenger side engine mounts and intake tube along with the wheel well.

Once you do that you will have a much easier time completing the job and if you ever have to go back in there again you will know how to move the parts in the way.

I just had to rip my mini apart again to diagnose a rattling friction gear, so i took everything out of the way and it makes for less busted knuckles and cursing and head aches. I really like to have adequate vision and lighting when i am working on something.