I'm looking at a very clean 2012 Mini base and it has a check engine light for the coolant cooling too quickly....the dealer replaced the housing/sensor and when they went to hook the wiring up it had switched from a 2 wire to a 3 wire harness....so they got a new harness. The light is still on and they mentioned there is an updated harness but it's on backorder. Does this sound legit?


It strikes me as odd that a harness would be changed multiple times within a 4 yr window but I have no experience with Mini so I figured I'd ask.

 

Sounds to me like they ordered the wrong housing, then replaced the harness to match the new housing. You could check this by searching the RealOEM illustrated parts list --- http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select --- use your last 7 or 8 VIN characters (or select the model info) to access the charts. It might show 2 different housings with an expiration date for one of them.

If you're just looking and haven't bought yet, you might want to keep looking, 'specially if it's not a Mini dealer.

 

MINI has revised the thermostat housing several times. In order to retrofit, some models require an 'adapter' for compatibility with the harness.

Adapters are listed here:

http://new.minimania.com/part/G2NME1...57-58-59-60-61


This thermostat app guide shows which shows which application requires adapters:

http://new.minimania.com/Mini_Cooper...lication_Chart

Hope this helps!

 

The wrong part ordering sounds about right. I did purchase the vehicle, the check engine light is on but my Bosch code reader is showing a P0597 code due to the open circuit. The dealer ordered the new harness for me and I'll install it when it comes in.


There is no Mini dealer up here, I had been looking for a Mini in good condition for quite awhile.....they are tough to come by on the used market without a local dealer. Seems like most of them are older models with the problem transmissions or they are just plain beat up.....mot of them I've looked at had terrible cases of rub rash on the wheels.....scratches and dings all over and the leather seats are typically torn. The car I purchased looked great and runs very well I just want to get the code taken care of.


Thank you for all the info and links, I'll poke around under the hood this weekend and see if I can figure it out.