Jesse Ransom
Jesse Ransom UltimaDork
7/28/22 8:18 p.m.

There's an 11 year old thread suggesting that BMW hadn't stopped building disposable cooling systems, so I thought I'd label the year of this inquiry...

Just wondering whether my 80k-mile 2016 F55 Mini should several hundred dollars worth of preventive cooling system parts when I'm rooting around to replace the motor mounts.

And, y'know, I can't shake the BMW thing, so knowing whether the later 3 and 5 series cars ever improved on that front would also be nice.

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture UltimaDork
7/28/22 8:39 p.m.

On the newest ones I have worked on (early 2010s E9x) they now have an external fully electric water pump which, more often than not, does tend to need replacement along with the thermostat and expansion tank around ~100k miles. Radiator experiences are mixed, some blow the plastic end tanks off at 80k, others hit 200k without being touched, but most seem to agree that it's a good idea to replace them...so really it's a variation of the same old problem (but more expensive than ever, surprise surprise).

I don't know if they finally resolved those issues as they approached the current decade but I would guess not.

Slippery
Slippery PowerDork
7/28/22 9:13 p.m.

In reply to pointofdeparture :

I agree with the water pump. Not sure if the Mini has the electric water pump, if it does then swap it at 100k. 

The rest of the stuff, I would be comfortable stretching it to 120k or so. If it had a clutched fan that could shatter and take out rad/hood, etc, I would say do it now. 

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) MegaDork
7/28/22 10:39 p.m.

I have only seen the fan breakage thing happen on cars with bad motor mounts.

 

Fix the cause, not the effect...

Caperix
Caperix New Reader
7/29/22 8:27 p.m.

BMW has switched back to a belt drive water pump, but the pumps do still tend to leak, I have not seen one fully fail but that may just be age.  The radiators have switched to a full aluminium design, so no more plastic end tanks but it is some of the softest aluminum ever so the still tend to get leaks.  The low temp radiator that replaces the AC condenser on the newer cars tend to get rock holes quite often.

Jesse Ransom
Jesse Ransom UltimaDork
7/29/22 10:21 p.m.

In reply to Caperix :

What sort of years/chassis codes are we talking about?

Caperix
Caperix New Reader
7/30/22 7:23 a.m.

Anything with the b engines, so f30 lci & newer.  Your f55 mini will have either a 3 or 4 cylinder b engine, but it still uses a condesor for the ac. I have only worked on BMW's version the f39 x2 & f48 x1, the main reason for replacing the radiator on those is the sensor built into them failing. I have seen a large number of leaking water pumps & thermostats as well.  If you are doing the motor mounts the water pump can be replaced through the fender quite easily at the same time.  If the thermostat is leaking, that is part of the alternator bracket & comes with a water pump that is more involved.  Do be warned there is a sib about corrosion in the cooling system that requires engine replacement, but I have never personally seen one have it.

Jesse Ransom
Jesse Ransom UltimaDork
7/30/22 9:58 p.m.

Thanks!

Hrm... Guess I won't mess with what's not leaking; if the thermostat isn't an easy "while you're in there" and would involve replacing the water pump anyhow, might as well wait for one of them to fail. And at least that's "leaking" and not "cooling system bursts and places you on the side of the road in a three-hour queue for a tow."

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