The wife phoned me this morning to say that the temp gauge was right over in the red when she got to work.

So, I checked the coolant level tonight & it was low but not enough to cause overheating. I topped it up anyway.

Took it for a drive & after 5 mins the gauge crept up into the red. Let it cool down & checked the coolant level again, but it hadn't moved from the last time.

The fan cuts in & the heater doesn't seem to getting hot either.

Faulty thermostat maybe?

Sounds more like a failed water pump impeller. I don't know if they are plastic like the VAG ones, if they are then it's very likely.

If it was the 'stat you would get plenty of heat from the heater.

HTH

Would it still be driveable (for short distances) if it was the water pump impeller? Need to take it to a garage.

i would try a thermostat first

i will ask the BMW tech tomorrow if there is anything common on the MINI to go

When this happened to my mother's car it was the thermostat.

Not saying yours is, but makes it a definite possibility (double negative, sorry!)

Google turned up the following thread - no idea if it's any use....

Overheating MOD - MINI2 - MINI Forum

Chris

IIRC the mini (like all BMW's) is a f**ker for getting airlock in the coolant system. if the water was low it could mean there is an airlock somewhere.. does the heater in the car work?

IIRC the mini (like all BMW's) is a f**ker for getting airlock in the coolant system. if the water was low it could mean there is an airlock somewhere.. does the heater in the car work?

Nope. Heater is stone cold.

Nope. Heater is stone cold.

Its almost certainly airlock then... there should be bleed screws somewhere around the back of the engine to let the air out i think

spoke to the ex-BMW technician thats just started working at our dealership , he says the early MINIs can suffer from sticking thermostats , also they need the correct amount of antifreeze or they boil up like a kettle, so no good topping up with water , HTH

I believe theres' a bleed cap on top of the thermo housing.

I had another look at it tonight & I've found a leak at the bottom of the radiator. So, I'll get some Rad-Weld tomorrow & another lot of anti-freeze!

Surely in a car of value, rad weld is a false economy and you would be better off draining the system, flushing all through and putting a new rad in. Might as well do the thermostat while you have the system drained and once you top up with new antifreeze you will hopefully be problem free*

Apart from airlocks :P

You are using the right type of antifreeze I assume?

I believe theres' a bleed cap on top of the thermo housing.

I had another look at it tonight & I've found a leak at the bottom of the radiator. So, I'll get some Rad-Weld tomorrow & another lot of anti-freeze!

the BMW tech also mentioned the radiator as a source of possible leaks ,hit by stones quite easily apparantly, but as you hadn't said there was a leak didn't think it was relevant , he also says the radiators have a habit of falling apart at the bottom , which is difficult to see from the top

I didn't notice the leak until last night.

It was at the bottom left corner, probably caused by a stone! :rolleye:

Used a bottle of K-seal (similar to Rad-Weld) & topped up with anti-freeze & everything is fine now. Engine runs upto normal temp & stays there. Thermostat must OK (Probably jinxed that now I've said it!)