(I thought I posted this 10 minutes ago, but it hasn't appeared yet so I'm re-writing it, with an update.)

I, too, have a dead Mini (2008 MCS, 55k mi) with a cracked thermostat housing that leaks a stream of coolant whenever the water pump is running. My shop has been working the phones to find one; my dealer says they have several customers waiting and there are 16,000+ on national backorder.

I note eBay has at least three "Buy it Now" auctions for $800-850. (Search for 11 53 7 534 521.) BavAuto.com assures me that the eBay seller "bavarian-auto" isn't them.

It looks like we'll be a one-car household for a while. I'm considering going the JB Weld route for a temporary fix.

 

Replaced mine a few months ago at 40k. Had to replace the entire coolant tank everyday until I could get to a shop to fix it.

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

...and when I google the PN and call places like fcpeuro.com, they chuckle friendily and say they know that PN by heart. The rep I talked to said demand blew up for these about five weeks ago.

 

The posts in this thread include both first and second generation. Is the thermostat housing the same for both? If not, please indicate which generation applies to you if not clear from your post or your signature.

 

One thing that I've noticed in the last month is the aux pump sounded like there were air mixed in with the coolant, I know what water and air sounds like when mixed together flowing through a water pump and I heard this familiar sound. My thermostat housing cracked at the mounting base returning from the beach yesterday, it was 77 degrees at the beach and 95 degrees 15 miles inland. for the amount of coolant loss I would bet it starting leaking when the temperature went up half way home.

Do the main coolant hoses live a short life like the thermostat housing or do these actually last a long time?

 

How about this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Cooper-Thermostat-Housing-Sensor-Seal-Genuine-OE-751-VIN-REQUIRED-/271272041162?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f2912daca&vxp=mtr
Buy It Now for $112.

I hate pragmatist vultures trying to make money out of BMW's shortfall.

 

The photo looks the same as 11537534521, but I don't see my part number on the eBay auction.

While part-hunting in this ordeal I've seen some evidence that 2011+ models use a different thermostat housing part number, which seems to be the part in the auction that you found.

("Yeah, the difference is that the 2011+ part doesn't bust open." )

 

Does this mean that I can install a 2011+ thermostat housing on say a 2007 MCS? The new part number seems like an improvement in the design.

 

To be 100% clear, I was joking, that was a made-up "quote".

Without design knowledge (or at least the BMW engineering drawings), we consumers can't know what the difference is between the 2007-2010 part and the 2011+ part. I can tell you that manufacturers would rather have only one part number in their service catalog and service inventory*, so I deduce that it is likely the 2011+ part isn't backwards-compatible with 2007-2010 vehicles.

* Ha!

 

Have a 2007 R52 MC Sidewalk. Replaced the thermostat housing at 28K because it was cracked and left a couple of coolant drops on the garage floor. An indy in Flemington, NJ did the job for $340.73 including a serpentine belt change (I provided the belt). A thousand miles later - no problems.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360597578354I just talked to these guys in U.K. and they assure me they will have the part in hand tomorrow, and shipping should take 3-ish business days to me in the U.S. I ordered one; including shipping, the total was $201 (125 British).

I'll post an update when I find it actually shipped toward me.

 

Have to replace mine at 72k. Can't keep coolant in the tank longer than a day.

It's been at the dealers for the better part of a month. Dealer ran out of loaners so they hooked me up with an Impala....

 

Update: Neat Car Parts seems to have come through. It has shipped and I have a tracking number from FedEx.

I have to say, it feels pretty cool to call England to get a Mini Cooper part that isn't available in the U.S., plus it's a complete experience with hearing the European ringback tone "brrt-brrt", "zed" for Z, and a friendly "Cheers" to close the call.

Cheers!

 

Was able to get one shipped from MN and should be here Tuesday. I'm sure its an older stock, not sure if the new parts will have some form of update. (better plastic or something) If it gets me till its sold in a few months thats all that matters.

One dealer thought the US would see some the 15th, another 3-4 weeks. So I guess no one really knows. Either way its a huge problem for those who's car is needing replacement. Especially for what seems to be a common issue.

 

One more follow-up from me, Neat Car Parts DID come through:
I ordered Tuesday by phone (they had me use ebay.co.uk), it arrived Friday.

 

2009 JCW, 37k miles. Went down 3.5 weeks ago. Thermostat housing leaking when driving, parked no leak. Overheated briefly why driving caused me to look. Dealer told me the overheating probably caused the water pump to also start leaking. Getting both replaced today at independent mechanic due to dealer's 30% overcharge. Had to wait in line for the thermostat housing like everyone else, around 3.5 weeks.

Will see what happens later today when i get the car back.

 

Had my housing replaced earlier this month.
Like most of you before the replacement I had to constantly replace the coolant almost every other day or so :(

 

The water pump was a recall item replaced free on my 2007. Check with the dealer to make sure you're not paying for something you shouldn't.

The water pump was recalled because it could leak and cause an engine fire from overheating. I don't understand why the same logic doesn't apply to the thermostat housing.

 

Thanks for the note, but the"engine-fire-recall" was done by the car dealer before I picked it up used last year. The local dealer suggested that the overheating may have caused the leak in the waterpump.

 

Hi all. I have am adding my Count to the Thermostat Housing Roll Call. I have a 2009 JCW Hatch, 56,000+ miles and last month it started burping coolant. I was not able to get to look it over till last week. After looking it over discovered it is coming from the Housing. Now, when can I get the part? Is this being redesigned out of aluminum? With the problems I am reading about, it would make a LOT of Miniacs happy. Just glad this did not happen when I made it from Fontana Village to Fort Worth in one day. Love not being able to see how much has leaked out of the radiator, but that is a different issue.

 

Don't confuse the aux water pump recall with the main water pump, the aux water pump cools the turbo when you shutoff your engine. Is the aux water pump supposed to be plastic or aluminum? I doubt that the thermostat housing is going to be made from aluminum, it's still going to be plastic,

 

I would love to replace mine, but alas, no part to replace it with. I have it and a vacuum pump leaking oil. Very tempted to jb weld where I believe the leak is coming from. See image







Suggestions always welcome.

Paul

 

Got my part in from MN last Monday. Went on vacation Tuesday so didn't get a chance to install until yesterday evening. Went smoothly and took an hour or two double checking work as not to miss anything. The hose clamps can be a pain but a good pair of hose clamp pliers makes it a lot easier. I'd probably recommend the cable operated ones though.

I also got a call last week from my local dealer stating they had some housings in. So they appear to be trickling out. My original one was stamped 2008 and new one 2013. Forget the month. I couldn't visibly see a crack in my original but there were dried deposits on it and lots on the transmission webbing.

So far all appears to be good. Temps have been holding more steadily. Only have a a few heat cycles on it though. Had a 30min drive this morning and never got above 108C Will see if there is a puddle/lake underneath it at lunch.

 

Replaced my thermostat housing last week at approximately 75,000 miles. Did it myself. Dealer wanted around $450.

 

Damn. Dealer replaced mine under warranty for a minimal $100 deductible and they did it in close to 1 hour. Well worth it for me. That job would have taken me most of the day and probably would of had a really good back ache after it.