2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Why does the thermostat fail?

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #2 Nathan, Sep 23, 2015
    Probably because it was engineered to a price point.

    To bolster MINI Parts sales.

    It's French, they don't fail, they surrender.
     
  2. 2010Chili

    2010Chili New Member

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    #5 2010Chili, Oct 1, 2015
    because they are useless plastic junk, on par with the craptacular timing chain tensioner.
    Mini is becoming a love hate relationship with me...
    Ask me again tomorrow after I pick mine up after 43 days at the dealer (this time....) and I may answer differently
     
  3. genik

    genik Member

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    #3 genik, Sep 23, 2015
    Ok even if that's true, why weren't the replacements better?

    :D
     
  4. nkfry

    nkfry New Member
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    #4 nkfry, Oct 1, 2015
    These cars run much warmer than older cars, and making a thermostat out of plastic was only a matter of time until the heat got to them.

    The thermostat is constantly opening/closing to both get the car to operating temp and once at operating temp it is trying to stay as thermally efficient as possible. 220F+ isn't uncommon to see on these cars just daily driving.
     
  5. genik

    genik Member

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    #6 genik, Oct 1, 2015
    Arent there any better quality, 3rd party, thermostats out there?
     
  6. 2010Chili

    2010Chili New Member

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    #7 2010Chili, Oct 2, 2015
    The Mini OEM replacement is a bit better, I have never heard of anyone making an aftermarket one.
     
  7. genik

    genik Member

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    #8 genik, Oct 2, 2015
    In what way is it better?
     
  8. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    #9 ZippyNH, Oct 3, 2015
    "Service" parts, aka OEM replacement parts usually have design improvements implemented.... Some might be very minor, and not even need a new part #...
    Even on gen1 cars for example, there was 2 or 3 different materials used for the thermostat gaskets as mini/bmw/OEM tweaked the parts.....same part number, but the part was different.
    I'd bet the same has been done based on failure analysis of the older part....when they fail, they do cost MINI $$ in warrenty repairs, and realibilty rankings.....