Hi,


I had my 2003 R53 running quite well after a few months off the road, mostly due to a bad wheel bearing. While I was at it I replaced my coolant overflow because it started weeping at the seam.


After a few days I was driving, accelerating pretty hard about three miles from home when I heard a poof and saw a bunch of steam. I let the car cool off, topped off the coolant with water, and managed to drive it home. I had to stop a couple times and let it cool off.


I was looking at the source of the leak and it appears to be at the bottom of a hose P/N 17127518504 attaches to a metal coolant line P/N 17127518503. If I take the cap off the coolant reservoir there's a pretty noticeable drip there. On some Mini hoses I understand there are O-rings, but the parts diagrams that I'm seeing don't show any for this hose.


Is it common for this hose to fail? Is this indicative of anything other problems other than an old tired hose? My Mini has 130,000 miles or so.


Is there a recommended tool that makes it easier to work with these hose clamps? Needle nose vice grips work great but there's not a hole lot of room for the handles to operate in the engine compartment.
-Eric

 

I haven't replaced the rubber lines due to leaks, I've replaced multiple sets of the steel lines due to rusting out and leaking.

The only problems I've fixed with the rubber lines in that area is having to take them apart , clean the rust from between them and the steel line, and reinstall using worm clamps.

I've seen the plastic crossovers that the rubber line connects to break, but that is usually a spectacular plume of steam and coolant everywhere. Quite evident of its failure.

 

Its a little hard to reach on the back side. But I would check those connections, might be a bit of rust on the pipes tahts flaring the rubber hose seal or the clamp its not tight.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ne-called.html 17127518503