2004 MINI Cooper S R53: Replacing the thermostat and gasket

In this video, I replaced the thermostat and gasket on a 2004 MINI Cooper S R53. This procedure covers all 2002-2006 R53 Cooper S coupes, and 2005-2008 R52 Cooper S cabrios.
Tools needed: 10mm socket, extension, universal, ratchet (I used 1/4-inch drive). Slip joint pliers. Flat blade screwdriver. T25 torx driver. Rags. Masking tape.
Parts used:
Thermostat/Gasket www.fcpeuro.co...
Genuine MINI coolant www.fcpeuro.co...
Distilled water (to achieve 50/50 coolant mix)
Air filter www.fcpeuro.co...
I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@gregorysorce1898]

Outstanding video. You explained everything so well and you got your camera in there so everything is clear. Thanks for taking the time to make it.

[@phildb4]

Read a few articles and watched some videos on this procedure...yours was by far the best...video was very clear and your explanations very precise. Thanks

[@AKJeeper]

Thanks for the comment. It's not a terribly hard job, but it involves a little bit more 'work' (mostly getting stuff out of the way) than most vehicles. I figured a video would help people see what all is involved.

[@MorganBurris]

Thank you for your great instructional video! Our mini coopers are overdue for some TLC and this is one of the jobs we are tackling ourselves! Thank you for all your Mini Cooper Videos!

[@EweKnowWho]

Great video! Your explanation and camera work is super helpful.

[@AKJeeper]

Thank you! I really appreciate that you took the time to leave a comment.

[@ohbayer22]

Broooo!! Thanks for the tip . Had to replace the MAP sensor and could not find a video on it.. 👍🏽

[@tdilly8530]

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO THOROUGH. IT WAS SO NEEDED

[@lostcycleofnaturelcon6029]

I own a r53 and I whould suggest anyone who change the thermostat to change all the clamps while you there not only the coolant clamps but all of them you see and change the clamps at the radiator bottom up change the clamps at the power steering reservoir and coolant reservoir too change them all these car are know to rust and leak from the clamps just take the time to change the clamps as you work on it will make a judge difference .

[@diriazi]

Good Job! I just got a used 2003 Mini standard. With 116k so I will need to do this and you made it look easy. I'm sure it's not that easy. You're just a pro. :)

[@s1914]

I like your presenting style, nice vid, and thanks for the torque spec on the housing 👌

[@AKJeeper]

Thanks! Glad you liked the video!

[@roamingmancunian1941]

great job well explained, tip for hard to access screws (replacement) have some grease in your socket what the screw will hold to

[@ghostwrench2292]

I usually tear off a small corner of paper and put the bolt in the socket with that to hold it secure. Or if you have a set of magnetic sockets...

[@sabirsheikh8428]

Very nicely explained

[@izzycard1934]

great instructional video

[@Benji000891]

Very good guide. solved my issue. Good job man!!!☕😬😬😬😬

[@AKJeeper]

Glad this helped! I tried to get the best camera angle as possible. The bolts are kind of hard to see and some of the other videos on YT showing this procedure kind of gloss over those details.

[@St1ckl3r]

Great video. Thank you very much.

[@vasilebohiltea2254]

good video, very good points of view, thanks

[@AKJeeper]

You're welcome! Glad this video could help!

[@dartarkana4279]

"That's a rather long one" Sounds your mother has been talking about me 😆 I'm just kidding man. Your presentation is the best

[@jlowpez__]

I have a leak coming from behind the engine. Can’t seem to find what’s leaking. Could it be a thermostat and housing?

[@mikep47]

Great video . I’m seeing a little bit of coolant leaking on my R53 and the only slightly wet places I can find is on the distribution tee . Do you think I need to replace the tee . Far as I can tell the thermostat isn’t leaking . Thanks again, very good video . I’ll sub to your channel now .

[@mertcapkin7263]

How did you clean the surface where the gasket is placed on?

[@garytinson]

what was the list of tools you used to do this job.

[@shunneddangerfield1094]

❤ur da man

[@warwickdean]

Is that the only amount of coolant that came out, was expecting a lot more or did you drain the system before

[@AKJeeper]

I kept the cap on the coolant reservoir to prevent more from coming out. The system was not drained prior to the work. Engine was stone cold also.

[@warwickdean]

@@AKJeeper Rodger that! I probably will take a gamble then and not bother to drain the system, just get a catch tray in there and an old microfiber cloth 🍻

[@noel5ilv3rlake]

Cool vid , I plan to tackle this job to my R3 soon ( including CTS), 2 questions that will help me so much , why did you disconnect the ECU? To make access a bit easily or to prevent something else Lastly, do we need to disconnect the negative terminal battery too? Thank you I will be appreciated

[@AKJeeper]

I unplugged the ECU because it is attached to the lower part of the air filter housing. I removed the air filter housing for better access. Yes, it’s always a good idea to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery whenever dealing with any part of the electrical system. It is why I showed the battery getting disconnected as the first step of the video.

[@noel5ilv3rlake]

@@AKJeepergonna do DIY this weekend soon 👍since the car is 17 years old now ( I will replace PCV, cover gasket, thermostat plus CTS and check FPR and hoses, I’m noob so your vid is helping me a lot , huge thanks

[@noel5ilv3rlake]

@@AKJeeper I need to confirm one specific thing, is your MCS have 6 manual transmission or Another AISIN 6 speed with paddle shifters ? Think I have to tackle another problem with stage-1 radiator fun won’t kick in, some said it’s about Resistor kaput , so I will replace it too Did you have any prob after re-connect the battery or everything just fine 🙏 thanks

[@AKJeeper]

@@noel5ilv3rlake the car in the video has a 6spd manual gearbox. Both radiator fan speeds were working prior to replacing the thermostat, and worked fine after replacing the thermostat.

[@itubeover]

Hi! I need HELP finding the location on my R53 of the coolant temperature sensor. No luck anywhere :( please help if you know / Needing to replace my temp sensor 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@AKJeeper]

Monique T You can see the coolant temperature sensor in the video at the 9:35 mark. It is located next to the thermostat housing.

[@itubeover]

AKJeeper thanks a million!! Love the details in the video by the way I just missed that detail where you mentioned it 😊👍🏼

[@StarchyCsGoDailyStreams]

@@itubeover Did the faulty temp sensor give you a p0118 code?

[@itubeover]

Chad Dublin no, my car kept overheating in idle. Checked all the fuses then got the temperature sensor to replaced

[@dartarkana4279]

I did everything here and plugged everything back in hooked up the pipes and it wont start

[@AKJeeper]

dart arkana did you remember to plug the ignition coil and map sensor in?

[@carlosdominguez7581]

How can you tell if its the thermostat housing leaking or the water pump o rings leaking?

[@AKJeeper]

Water pump on these supercharged models is toward the front of the car, behind the radiator. The water pump is driven off of the supercharger. If you see a leak there, it is likely to be the water pump. If the leak is at the thermostat housing (the part that I replace in the video), the leak will generally wind up going over the transmission bellhousing, or coolant will pool up just below the thermostat housing. Hope this helps!

[@jlowpez__]

@@AKJeeperif it’s the thermostat housing would it leak down behind the engine ?

[@Freerydah73]

Just curious, why you wanna remove the battery before replacing the thermostat?

[@AKJeeper]

Bred Saint The main reason is because the engine management computer comes out. It's best not to have any power going to the computer's harness before unplugging it. Just a good practice.

[@Snakeplayerp]

Hello ! My mechanic asked 400€ for this work (Switzerland is ~120€/hour). Do you think it’s too much ? I think so !

[@AKJeeper]

Hello there. That sounds a little expensive. Does that include the cost of the parts, or only the labor?