My thermostat housing just gave out after ~55,000 miles. It's pretty much the first thing to go wrong on the car since I ordered it back in 2011.

I'll be purchasing the OEM part and replacing it myself.

 

I replaced my thermostat housing because it was leaking. I had to find out where the leak was. So I plugged up all six hose connections on the old housing and drilled a steel plate to cover the block connection and allow an air line connection. Ran 20 pounds of air pressure. The entire assembly was put underwater in a laundry tub. I was surprised that the leak was not one of the seams but a very small pin hole or crack in the housing. The arrow in the picture points to the general area. The leak was actually in the corner. Again, I was surprised that my housing did not leak where they were joined together. Anyone else pressure test their housing?

 

at 82,000; cost $425. Local garage did it.

 

62k doing mine myself along with a ton of other repairs.

 

Is it always advised to replace the housing with the thermostat? I've done some reading and see a few people saying that it is a good idea to replace both while I am in there. Any other thoughts? I don't see any leak, so I can't see a reason why I should replace it now.

 

When I bought the vert with 46k I put it in front end service to replace the crank sensor O-ring that was leaking. As I had it apart I then also replaced the water pump, tstat and stat housing. The tstat you can do without service mode, the pump you cannot.

You can buy a housing with a tstat for less than $20.00 (and also pay a whole lot more if you want). There are threads here about a metal housing vs a plastic. At the end of the day it comes down to what you want to do with your car.

 

I'm pretty sure it's a combined part. When I pulled my housing off, it did not have a separate thermostat inside, it's all built into the housing.

 

The t-stat is a separate piece that fits inside a clear plastic gasket that in turn mates to the housing on the Gen 1, I don't know on Gen 2 but it would seem odd that tstat is cast into the housing and not a separate piece.

 

Happen to have a link to one? I'd like to replace it while I have my thermostat housing off.

 

Do you have links to this <$20 housing with tstat and the metal housing? I've never seen a metal option, but I'd replace the cheap plastic with metal in a heartbeat if it were an option.

 

2009 Mini Cooper bought second hand last November. 70000 kms. Replaced thermostat housing myself (It already had been repaired with some liquid gasket messy thing). Then took it to dealer as it developed another leaks: water pipe, water pump and oil filter housing gasket (again same liquid gasket previous repair...), 800€ so far... I still wonder why this engine (N12) works so high on temp, around 102ºC...

 

09 R56, replaced at the dealer around ~105,000 miles.

 

If you don't mind me asking, How much did they charge?

 

Around $500, it was a little while ago.

 

my water pump was leaking coolant so I took it to the dealership. I found out there was this lawsuit settlement about the water pump leaking so they agreed to fix it for free. However they then told me there is another leak on the thermostat. I know nothing about mechanics but does anyone had similar issue? Is the thermostat leak related to the water pump or could it be possible the settlement include the thermostat? Thanks!

 

The thermostat is a crap piece of plastic.
It's one of the most commonly replaced items on the R56. Someone please make a metal thermostat housing that doesn't crack. Ahhh!

Not related. Two separate units. Thermostats on these cars have basically became a routine maintenance item.

 

Definitely worst designed thermostat I've ever seen when they replaced mine at 25K miles. I already know that if I keep the car I'm for at least another 2 or 3 replacements.

 

replaced mine between 55000 and 60000

 

71,500 miles and just replaced my thermostat housing for $500 at a local shop. 6-speed 2010 manual hard top base model. This is the first thing that has gone wrong since I got the car 4 years ago with 25,000 miles on it.

 

2014 Countryman All4S 80k miles thermostat internal heater failure. Replaced thermostat and connecting tube to water pump for $850 at dealer. Geico warranty covered the repair with a $250 deductible.

 

135,xxx miles on my 09 FJCW. just replaced the t-stat housing with a part from ebay that i was told was a gates(arrived in a brown unlabeled box)and a genuine mini water pipe. the end of the water pipe crumbled into pieces when pulled out, and the housing was leaking at a seam. after replacement, i have an intermittent code for coolant temp out of range, hard starting sometimes, and 2 body codes i cant identify. other times, runs ok. im going to put the old coolant temp sensor back into the new housing this weekend and see if that fixes this issue.....

 

We have ones listed a couple pages back. My guess its maybe not gates. We had no issues with what we sell. Had a hand full of ones over the many years sold that the temp sensor was bad from the factory but we just sent out a new one and it fixed it. If if does not fix it make sure you bleed the system good, if the coolant makes an air pocket at the top the fluid coolant will not touch the sensor all the time and it will through a temp out of range code. I bled mine like 3 times cool to warm to get all the air out. Use a long skinny flathead screwdriver on that top bled screw and dont back it out all the way, it can pop off easy and fall into the engine bay. Good luck.

 

120~K and still haven't replaced mine. The housing and gasket are great, I did replace my t-stat and coolant temp sensor since I was in there. Still have them as spares if I'm in a pinch.

FYI: Don't try to save a buck on these, you get what you pay for. I received a completely dead coolant temp sensor trying to save $10 (seller to remain anonymous). Trust me on this. Ya get what ya pay for! ;]

 

it was only bled once on initial fill. thanks for the tip. going to try to bleed it again this morning before we replace the sensor with the old one.

 

2008 Mini Cooper Hatchback - had to have the thermostat / housing / gasket replaced at 97,736 miles due to failure. It was done at a private garage and the cost was just under $500.