2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Coolant leak?

Discussion in '2nd Generation: 2007+ R55 through R61' started by Apok, Sep 19, 2015.

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  1. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    So out of nowhere this morning on a short errand trip with no agressive driving, I get the yellow temperature warning indicator. It went away about a min later. I thought this was odd as it was only about 75 out this morning. Much to my horror about a min later the red temp warning came on. I pulled over and shut the car down for a moment to let everything cool off so I could finish my relatively short drive home, less than 5 miles. In that time the red indicator went off and on several times went off and on several times and then a yellow check engine light came on. It's only Saturday morning, I mean come on!!!!

    Once home I throw the hood open as I can smell coolant and get a bunch of steam coming from the right side of the engine, below the intake tube but above the transmission and the cooling fan was running at full force. And I decided to just let it cool off before I got to looking around.

    Due to the placement of the intake tube I can't see what is going on or where the leak is coming from, however I can see that there is coolant pooled on top of the transmission.

    Any thoughts? I made an appointment to get it into mag on Monday morning. Woulda been a nice day to go for a drive.
     
  2. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    Usually a failed thermostat gasket or housing, when there's coolant in that location.

    FWIW, the convention is to refer to that as the "left" side of the engine.
     
  3. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I'm glad you made it home. When you get those warnings it's best to stop open the hood & investigate. I'd guess the Jarvik 7 has died.
     
  4. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    Water Pump??
     
  5. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    I was thinking either that or the water pump. Ugh, this is gonna cost me.
     
  6. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    ^^^ Hope the head didn't warp...
     
  7. Motoring Magic

    Motoring Magic New Member
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    Thermostat assy

    the thermostat assembly will have a crack in one of the rounded corners, we replaced 2 yesterday. Part of ownership of an R56 series car. If your car has more than 60k on it, ask them to replace the coolant transfer tube that runs from the T stat to the back of the water pump housing-it is going as well and you will just have to pay t stat labor again to get it replaced soon......We never replace a thermostat without the transfer tube anymore. These are a 60k maintenance items on those cars anyore....
     
  8. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    I just know that what you described, is exactly what happened when my electric water pump went out on my 5 series BMW last year. MM gave some great insight to be considered and focused upon for sure.
     
  9. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    Thanks for the heads up.
     
  10. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    That's what it was. Tstat was borked.
     
  11. Motoring Magic

    Motoring Magic New Member
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    and you paid the extra 180ish (dealer prices) to have the transfer tube done, right?:wink:
     
  12. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    ^^^I was wondering the same thing...
     
  13. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

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    Nice to hear your problem was solved !!
     
  14. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    In the three years I have owned mine, I think I have had to replace every gasket and reservoir on the cooling system, and a couple oil gaskets. Lucky for me, I have an extended warranty, so the cost has been manageable.

    I believe the first gasket to go was the water pump gasket. That one leaked at a pretty fast rate. I had to stop and add water on the 15 mile drive from my house to the MINI dealership.

    CD
     
  15. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    Yeah, sure did. Cost me a bloody fortune! But the baby is all happy and purring along like normal.

    Though honestly for the cash I had to fork out, it really should got a little faster!!
     
  16. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    The thing is.... It could have gotten a lot slower....
     
  17. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    I'm just glad I didn't overheat it too much and warp the head. I really couldn't have afforded a new head.
     
  18. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    For sure.... parts and labor would be something I bet...
     
  19. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    How many miles on it?
     

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