Had my car tech'd a few months back in prep for a PCA HPDE and the guy at the check in table asked if someone could inspect "this tin can". (I ended up being in the top 3 fastest cars in my group just behind a 997 C4S and 997 Turbo S, but I digress.) The condescending Porsche club inspector pointed out that my lower radiator hose was kind of dangling in the wind.

While working on my car ('11 MCS) yesterday I was thinking that this does in fact seem like a bad design. It's "secured" by two plastic clips at each end (one of which had popped loose). Seems like there should be some type of shroud to protect that hose. I searched online in case my car is missing a panel, but it doesn't look like it. I believe there's a GP2 front underbody panel that can be added for $250 or something and I was considering it.

Is this just how it's supposed to be?? Every time I'm at the dealership I forget to check other cars on the lot.

 

My brothers 2010 R56 is the same. Last time we detailed it I found the same hose hanging and had to reattach the clips.

 

It's a ridiculous design, IMHO. That lower rad hose must be 5 feet long. Held up by a couple of cheap plastic clips, too.

Surely the engineers at BMW can do better than this.

 

Found mine flopping around on my clubman the other day. Fortunately nothing was broken and I could just snap the clip back on. Agreed it's kind of vulnerable, are other cars like that?

 

Scares the heck out of me! One small piece of road debris in the right spot and I could be stranded somewhere. Just one of those silly things. Always a good idea have a roll of duct tape in the trunk.

 

I got some metal strapping and cut two appx 7 inch lengths and bent a hook at the ends to cradle the hose and pushed the straight end btween the plastic lower edge and the bottom of the bumper bar (?). All I could do w snow on the ground. Will keep an eye on it until things dry up.

 

Mine was also like this. I secured mine better with a few zip ties.

The Porsche owners i've met on the track have been either really friendly or really condesending to my MINI when I still owned it. Not everyone can be a true "car guy" and just respect everyone. Everyone comes to HPDEs to become a better driver and the guys with attitude just make it worse for everyone.

 

Get that hose secured ASAP. My Clubman's hose dropped down low enough to let the pavement scrub a hole through it.

 

Its the little hose clamp. Mine where broken and once I replaced them they held in better. If you do have the GP2 belly pan kits we have it helps hold it in place also, a little extra insurance in-case the clips snap again.



#11 http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11722756407/




And here is the GP2 Belly Pan kit. Which we include the extra hardware.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-in-stock.html





Thanks

 

Lucky you caught it. When I first got mine used, that hose was almost worn through from dragging on the ground. The stock clips are crap so you want to zip tie it as well as already noted. The GP2 belly pan is the ultimate answer!

 

Like most things MINI that price is alot for plastic. I replaced my wifes miata belly pan for
like $60 shipped, and BTW it came with those as a stock item.

 

WOW thats dirt cheap. I replaced the belly pan on a 2008 Mazda 3 and the belly pan was $230! I guess its just selective pricing.

Mine was that way as well. The clips were broken on both sides. I secured it with zip ties in 4 locations instead of 2. Quite a joke of a design really.

 

Sweet, I'm putting on my new hose kit and was struggling to find the right image that showed all the hoses! Death to the original fasteners and stupid pinch clamps!