Hello poeple. I did a search, but came up with nothing. Im thinking about getting a radiator hose kit for my 03 Cooper S. How many different manufactures are there for the silicon hose kits? I would like to get the kit that includes the heater hoses also. If you have a set on your car and have a pic, please post.
Thanks....

 

There is Samco, Forge and SFS Performance to name a few. I know they make kits for us.

 

Hose Techniques seem to have the best prices.

 

I got a Samco kit on ebay a few weeks back - I think that it was $45 plus shipping. Seems that no one wanted it ;-) I got the blue one and the red one went unsold. Samco hoses are very popular in the UK and I really like the coordinated under bonnet look of matching hoses and plug wires. I have to get around to installing them when the glacier pulls back...

Let me know if you want a part #, hose count or a piccie

 

Here you go, not much to see actually. A couple of things ...

1. They are MUCH thicker than stock. Tight squeeze
2. You can't use the OEM hose clamps, they are one time use only and wont fit around these anyway. You need a set of normal hose clamps

 

Thanks for everyones reply and the pic from chows4us. I did some research on the ones stated. WOW. there is a big price gap between some. Lowest I found was like $135.00 and the highest price was around $279.00. The problem Im finding is that some kits do not state what hoses come with the kit. Here are a few links to hose kits Im looking at. It seems like Alta may be the way to go, but still doing research

http://outmotoring.com/mini_cooper_s..._hose_kit.html

http://www.kassmotorsports.com/advan...ohb7&x=18&y=10

 

Ur welcome. That SS is what I bought. Also note you will need these ... http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NME8003/InvDetail.cfm or something like it for clamps. Also beware, I think the 3 piece kit is for MCS and the five piece kit is for MC. Call Alta and ask to be sure your getting what you want

 

Them clamps are $$$$$$$$ There almost $10.00 each. I think I'll stick with the reg worm clamps, or get the t-clamps off ebay. 5 for $14.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-X-T...35799293QQrdZ1

 

that will work. I have no idea why the MiniMania ones are so much money. OEM ones will not work.

 

T-Bolts are ALWAYS the best best. They will hold the most pressure and not pop off.

 

Here's what I got. I checked the receipt and I won with a bid of $75 (also the opening bid). the seller was ForgeUSA out of Orlando. They are the real thing from the UK. Can't wait to install them. Roll on spring...

 

I have the kit for the S, and I just ordered clamps, thanks for that bit of info.

How hard was the install? Some of the hoses look like they could be pretty hard to get to.

 

Much of the hoses can you see from the top of the engine bay? From the one picture posted earlier, you really can not see much. Just curious, as to the only reason seeing in buying these hoses is for looks.

Garrett

 

do these help at all for performance or cooling?

 

Silicone hoses have the advantage of outlasting most cars they are installed in, unlike the stock rubber ones which should be replaced every few years to remain trouble free.

There is generally no performance benefit, i.e. your engine will not run cooler with silicone hoses of the same size and shape of the originals. The benefits come from the hoses being able to handle higher temps without deforming, handle higher flow rates without collapsing, and in the case of well-made hoses, the bends and flares are generally less restrictive than stock. Silicone hoses are also easier to reuse when constantly taking apart an engine (the silicone rubber does not stick to the fittings like regular butyl rubber does). Most get the hoses for the available colors.

 

oetiker makes lots of different sizes of the OEM style hose clamp if you don't want to buy the more expensive t bolt style or squish the hose with a worm type.