A question for you that have removed the radiator and/or replaced the associated fan assembly is when in front end service mode, whether there is sufficient access to R&R the fan assembly without disconnecting the radiator lines? Nope, not mine but instead my buddy's recently acquired 2006 R53 Checkmate factory JCW (shown in post #355 of my sig topic here).

So here's the story...
His R53 acquired from the original owner two months ago with just 6k total miles lacked retained service records, other than CarFAX report indicating extensive maintenance work performed at the original selling MINI dealer in Dec 2017 with just a few hundred miles driven subsequently until purchased by my buddy. On the very day we picked up his car 100+ miles from home, my own R53 fuel system meltdown led to complete fuel pump and pressure regulator replacement after being towed to that same MINI dealer. After that work was completed, I noticed my fuel gauge wouldn't read higher than 7/8 indicated despite being completely filled. That dealer agreed to warrant the work (parts/labor) with no additional cost to me.

We figured it prudent to perform another oil/filter change plus have the A/C system recharged to achieve increased cooling. We decided to schedule a day where work on both cars could be done there at the same time after we returned from our seasonal homes in easternmost AZ, with the soonest available date being yesterday. Cost of his work projects would have been lower if done at an independent shop, however our objective was also to obtain copy of prior service records on his along with full inspection of the car and recommendations of work needed now or deferred until a later time.

He did obtain the prior report of Dec 2017 work done, which was quite comprehensive and cost the original owner ~ $6k according to the service writer. During A/C recharge, the tech assigned to his car determined that the radiator / condenser fan was not operating at all, was difficult to turn by hand and was blowing the 50A fan fuse. Root cause: defective fan (noting the high & low fan relays had been replaced as part of the 2017 scope of work). Root cause of my fuel gauge problem was incorrect routing of fuel pump assembly lines (unsure whether tech install error or component defect) which prevented full free travel of the float/arm within specified range, which was fully corrected yesterday.

So then, back to the topic question. Having reviewed my Bentley manual and watched a few youtube videos (including @Mod-Mini's tutorial on putting the R53 in front end service mode and removing the radiator for access on other work projects), it "appears" there's sufficient space to R&R the fan assembly without draining and removing the radiator. We'd like to do this ourselves using replacement OEM (not aftermarket) fan assy while not needing to drain the radiator (full flush performed as part of same Dec 2017 scope of work). Comments and tips are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!

 

There is probably room to do it. But why? It's literally two hose clamps and 1 or 2 plugs that you undo. I just got doing an A/C delete on mine and just wanted to get the radiator out of the way while I was doing that!

 

It's not the additional time to disconnect and drain but instead, avoidance of need to refill and purge air from coolant having only several hundred miles since drain and flush last done. IMO, deleting A/C is not a reasonable option in AZ - even at our local 5k' elevation.

 

Might try to do it by moving condenser out of way as Mod Mini does, slide the radiator / fan holding assembly forward on the M8x100 bolts, at least as far as it will go with the radiator hoses attached. Still seems like you would have to disconnect the upper hose to clear the fan assembly for removal.

 

^^^ Agreed on mentioned steps. Did some more searching on old NAM topics which suggested the top radiator hose would need to be disconnected to allow sufficient angulation and clearance to R&R the fan assy. Another nice aspect of NAM is the wealth of information posted during the course of 20 yrs since the 1st gen MINI was introduced. No new problems or topics not already discussed during all those years! Thanks for replying!

 

When I did mine on an '03S all I did was put the car in service mode, pull the radiator unit forward on long bolts, pull the top radiator hose and tie it back above the engine. Hardly any coolant was lost and there was enough room to remove the fan assembly. I probably added less than a pint when I filled and bled from the fitting above the radiator. Maybe the '06 setup is different.

 

^^^ Good input - thanks!

 

>2017
If the coolant is that old, might reconsider whether it isn't better to replace it at this point anyway along with hoses, plastic connectors, thermostat etc. After a time anti-freeze breaks down and loses its desirable properties and sort of decays things. Would be most concerned about water pump bearings, seals and oil cooler. These cars don't do well when they overheat, which they run hot to begin with (>210) anyway. Also expansion tank - if the jug's turned brown, don't leave town. Replace it before it goes splodey all over the engine bay...

 

^^^ Actually, the subject car now has 6.6k total miles. The mentioned major maintenance work performed Dec 2017 at 5.6k miles (yes, not driven but 400 miles from then until my buddy bought it 2 months ago) included many of those service items including coolant flush but not water pump, oil cooler, etc. The radiator fan problem likely was faulty even then, since high and low speed relays were replaced as an indication. Just as was flagged by the MINI dealer's tech 2 days ago, the fan blades rotate with a lot of friction (as compared to my R53 fan), which was stated to be the cause of blown 50A fuses.

Here's a pic taken a few days after he purchased it with prox 6.2k miles at that time:

 

cause draining this car’s radiator makes a frickin MESS!