I need some suggestions/answers, please. Some quick backstory...

'06 R53 was running well and not running hot at all, even in the recent Texas 90* weather (without the low-speed fan working). Replaced the radiator fan (resistor issue) this weekend - everything went perfectly and the low-speed fan kicked on immediately when I turned on the A/C, just like it's supposed to. During the R&R procedure, of course I lost a little bit of coolant - probably no more than 8oz. The coolant was also green. Knowing that's not the right coolant, I decided to just head to the local dealer to have the entire system flushed, filled with the correct coolant and bled. $145 for the service and I waited while they did it.

Before they're done with it, SA comes out to tell me that the car's overheating while idling (in the service bay). I go and look at it (not running). I tell them that the instrument needle has never gone above the mid-mark. Tech says that the coolant is not flowing through the engine. Nothing looks like anything overflowed, but they cajole me into allowing the tech take off the front of the car to check the water pump. Scared that I needed a supercharger (because they can't replace the W/P drive gear), I've been on the phone all afternoon.

I finally called the SA back to get an update. No, (happily relieved) the W/P is fine. T-stat is fine. I would assume he'd make sure the radiator wasn't plugged before going on to more intrusive checking. They now want to keep the car overnight to continue checking tomorrow: next on his list is checking for head gasket leaks, coolant in the cylinders, blah, blah, blah... (By the way, the car had a PPI before I bought it, and the mechanic supposedly did a leak-down test to check compression, and found nothing wrong.)

Does this sound right to you guys? Am I missing something that a HG would cause coolant to NOT flow? The car never overheated on me, has run well since I bought it a few weeks ago... this whole "overheating at the dealership" sounds like complete fabricated BS to me.

I fear that they'll either make some problem happen so they can back up the tech's claims of overheating, or find nothing and try to charge me for four hours' labor on top of the approved coolant flush. Note, I did not stand there with the engine running to witness any "overheating", figuring that they're not gonna lie right to my face...?

Further, if I refuse to pay for all of this extra labor, where do I stand legally? Should I call the cops if they don't give my car back? Can I leave money for the approved coolant flush, and then drive away telling them to "sue me" for the other BS money? (I know, this isn't happening...) Do I ask to see someone's boss? How do I argue repair costs with the dealership?

Thanks. I'm so effing frustrated right now...

 

The MINI stock gauge for coolant temp which you refer to basically has just three postitions for the novice driver/owner.

Positon 1 - Below mid mark cold engine. Stays that way for about 2 miles up the road, then settles to mid mark.

Positon 2 - Mid mark - Normal operating temp.

Position 3 - Oh crap needle burried needing an engine rebuild. There is no in between......

My point is this. This guage is not really a gauge at all in the sense that you can see how hot the engine is running. The hash marks mean nothing. And by the time it finally registers higher than normal operating temps damage is more than likely already done.

If you want to keep an eye on coolant temps, get a real gauge or a Scanguage II which is like having 4 gauges in one. Could be while the Aux fan was down before replacement, the engine coolant temps spiked so many times that gasses from a headgasket leak is boiling into your coolant causing an overheat situation.

And green coolant is aok, just don't mix them. Use one or the other.

Good luck, and I hope it's just a matter of bleeding off the system......

 

Next day concerns updated on other post: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3275309

(good to know about the coolant color, GR.)