It this is covered elsewhere, let me know, but I couldn't find it.
I have an 09 Clubman S. It has started to run cold in the winter. For the first two years, the winter engine temperature was about the same as the summer. Of course, if I am flogging it, it does its computer-aided cool-off from about 215 to 180. Last winter and this winter, the only way to get the engine over about 165 is to let it idle, or drive slowly. The service people say it is OK, but the fuel mileage goes down, so I think that the computer is calling for more fuel, as it sees a cold engine. Suggestions?
Thanks

 

First instinct is thermostat failed in the open position, have you verified that the thermostat works correctly?

 

My current N14 runs between 222 and 227 regardless of the outside temperature. My previous N14 operated exactly the same. +1 on either a thermostat issue or the aux.fan is running continuously.

 

Yep that's not right. First guess would be a bad thermostat

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That is a perfect description for a failed thermostat. It's been a common failure on the R56 cars.
We have a few left in stock as they were on backorder for months
http://www.waymotorworks.com/thermos...5-r56-r57.html

 

If this was not German, I would suspect the thermostat, but I was told that the temperature was also controlled by the computer on the Mini?

 

Why do you suggest the whole assembly if only the thermostat is faulty?

 

From the look of things the entire housing is all one unit. No stand alone thermostat in there. It's integrated. If I'm wrong on that, the thermostat housing is one of the most common failure points on these engines, so you should change it while you're in there anyway.

 

Had this experience for the first time today. Got the car in July and it has always shown 221-227. Today it was 19F out and after my 27 min commute (mostly highway), I was at 177. Heat was on medium, not blasting. Watched it creep up to that slowly the whole way in. If I had run longer, it may have climbed more, but it was very, very, very slow rising.

 

Sorry, I am used to older cars that have housings and parts that last. I believe that the Germans have made a part that does not last. I has a Passat and the catalytic converters went at 70,000, so a thermostat housing that goes at 40,000 should be no surprise. I just think it is a poor way to build a car. I guess it is a way to charge more, because there is no other reason I can think of.

 

I just replaced the thermostat (last week) on my 05 envoy. It is also a housing type setup, ~$100, and went at 82k miles. Just a current trend in auto making it seems.