My wife drives a 2012 JCW and when she came out of work yesterday there was a trail of coolant coming from under the car and leaking from somewhere on the drivers side of the engine. I am out of town and can't get to the car for a while. The coolant reservoir was empty and she sent me this picture of where it was wet in the engine compartment.




I'm having a hard time trying to figure out exactly where that is but I'm thinking its right around the thermostat housing. She filed the reservoir, drove home and now its no longer leaking and still full? I'm just trying to get some information of where to start looking when I do get to the car. Has anyone else experienced a leak in the thermostat housing area that comes and goes?

 

I had this exact same scenario, sometimes after driving I would notice a small puddle, sometimes not at all. Looking under the hood it was puddling in the same area in your picture next to and below the driver side shock tower. I would also get some on the ground as well, just a couple ounces once parked. I replaced both the thermostat housing and water cross over tube. All was well once again.

 

Yeah, the thermostat housing and that coolant pipe back there are known failure points. Do both, not just one like the dealer did with my car...FCP Euro has lifetime warranty. I would recommend the Italian Facet thermostat over the Chinese Rein one.

 

Thanks for the reply’s. I’m getting pretty confused trying to order the correct thermostat housing though. I’ve got a few choices. Mahle, Gates, Rein, Facet, Beck, Four Seasons, Stant and Motorad. Per zrickety input I’m eliminating the Rein. My problem is I don’t know my engine code. It looks like the engine could either be a N14B16C or a N18B16A? Some brands don’t have different housings for different codes though? Some have different housings depending on the build date? Could someone help me figure out what housing I should be ordering? It’s a 2012 JCW hatchback. Here’s the VIN plate and I’m assuming the car was built November of 11?



Also, what brand of housing do you guys recommend?

 

Take your VIN, go to realoem, and put it in there. Then click yourself through until you reach the thermostat. Look at the image, compare to what you see in your engine bay, them copy and paste the part number into ECS or rmeuropean or your favorite dealer. I think rmeuropean has a label what is OEM equivalent. Don't pay for the genuine. And don't forget to also buy a new pipe.

 

You have an N14 JCW engine. 11/2011 production.


https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2012-...ng/Thermostat/


If the thermostat has never been changed then you will need the pigtail https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/12517646145/

 

Thanks. Now the housings I have found say that I also need the OEM adaptor but none of the sites say what the adaptor is? After some reading I am assuming that the adaptor is "V" shaped wire adaptor? Also, Is the tube everyone says to also replace the thermostat to water pump tube?

 

Just updated with info ^^

Tube on the back you can do and its the same on all. Water pump to thermostst.

DIY here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html

 

You are going to want to replace the water pipe in the back of the engine too. It may even brake as you remove the thermostat housing.