New to me 2012 R60 S All4: 100k on the clock.
2 weeks ago she dumped coolant all over the driveway when off, I thought I had found the leak (top coolant sensor under the intake) - replaced that sensor (I'm wondering if that's the issue but read on) refilled the system, bled the system and went along my merry way. I still have the old sensor which i slapped some rtv on it as apparently they all leak.


So last weekend I was driving along the highway and I starting losing power going up a hill... once I got up that hill, it was fine.
I brought the car home, hooked up torque and found no codes.. (also side note: no lights on the dash when all this happened)
Tried Carista, same thing.. no codes.

So I hooked up torque, set up some live monitoring, First I thought it was boost.. not getting any.. nope thats all good.
Then I checked temps.. My Water temp was at 246f
Brought it to my local Euro specialist and They found the following:
Low coolant in system.
Cracked water pump rubber wheel
Cracked water pump serpentine belt.
Cracked intake snorkel.
They replaced all this at a tune of $800 and "its all set"
I drive the car, and well.. its not all set. temps were 232 (its 20f out) and the fan was running constantly.

I'm at a loss as to what it could be, they will take it back in but charge me again.
In the last 2 weeks I have already thrown $2k at it for various diagnostics and repairs. (wheel bearings, then axle.. dont ask..)
They also want it back for an o2 sensor for $400 monday.. I found an NTK one on amazon for $70 with decent reviews.

Thermostat housing was replaced 6 months ago with the new design one.

I have never had a car require so much love in the first 6 months of owning it. it had a good service history, 1 owner southern car when I got it 6 months ago.
The shop is kinda at a loss and we just keep throwing parts at it.

• Could it be that top sensor is bad? (the new one I got) Ive also seen the new hose has that sensor removed.. so its not even needed anymore..
• Is there another temp PID I can go off of to verify the thermostat is working?
• Could it be that new thermostat housing that was replaced in September?
• Would the secondary O2 sensor cause this?

I really do love the car, but I also owe $8k on it and I have a feeling I will be underwater if I try and sell it.

 

If you are not using the temp sensor in the little coolant elbow, but are now using the one inside the new thermostat, did you put the retrofit harness on it? Would have had to for it to connect to anything I believe. Even then, did you do it the right way? All other plugs correctly plugged in after the stat swap? I have seen a couple people replug things incorrectly, and maybe with similar results.


EDIT: similar issue - was just a faulty sensor in the one case: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ant-temps.html

 

The shop I got the car at put that new thermostat housing in, and was fine for 6 months. I do remember him having to order a new retrofit harness to get it to work. (was the first he had seen)
The sensor up top is still connected.. Does the new retrofit cable eliminate that sensor cable in the metal elbow? (if it does, then no wonder.... but also still its been 6 months without a temp issue)
Can I disconnect that sensor in the elbow? (I'm at work and the car is home while I stew in anger at it)

I'm going to start looking up ways to drain the coolant on this thing without it dumping everywhere.. I may just replace that housing myself if that's the consensus.. While I really do like the guys at the local shop, this has cost me a lot for something that I think should be simple.
Thank you for the link, that seems to be the same situation.. Mine didn't light up with a high temp warning, but the temps are right on the money.

 

Yeah you dont need that elbow sensor plugged in - if the harness is installed right it CANNOT be plugged in since there would be no plug available for it!

I feel your pain though. I had to tuck my tail and have a shop do my thermostat - twice (paid once). They are human just like us, and R60S's hate humans....they are not biased lol

 

So If I'm understanding you correctly. since that sensor in the elbow is actually plugged into the wiring harness, It wasn't done correctly? (as it shouldn't be plugged in)
I'm wondering what the connections on the thermostat housing are actually connected to then....
Going to start reading on newtis....

 

That is my understanding, yes. There is actually a replacement elbow Mini sells to delete it with the updated thermostat, but its like $100 so you just leave the old one there to plug the hole.. Unhooked.

another example of harness problems: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-what-now.html

Also, I think there may be like 8 different harnesses (according to Way) for the various thermostat changes that you may not even have the right one.

 

Fair enough, I'm going to start removing the intake tomorrow and see if I can figure out what connections go where to this new housing. I did talk to the parts guy at mini who was showing me the new hose to get rid of the sensor a couple weeks ago and he said it shouldn't even be used anyways.. which makes me wonder why mine is still hooked up....

Edit:
Thank you!

 

So I just got home and checked the wiring. They bought the wrong retrofit adapter. They put the two to one on there instead of the ones that look like just extensions. My car is a July 2012 which requires the two not the one. I also pulled that temperature sensor up top and the computer freaked out.


I was able to run down to many before their parts department closed and was able to pick up the correct harness so that the temperature sensor is the one inside the thermostat housing not on the tube.

 

correct. The one in the housing. I hope that does it but it’s strange it went 6 months being okay.

 

I did change that top sensor out a couple weeks ago as it was leaking. (I couldn't get the mini one so I used an amazon special. Which another person had the same issue in the thread you linked with an Amazon one.)

This way if I can correct the wiring on the thermostat housing, It will use the temp sensor in the housing. Then I can see if The housing needs to be replaced as a next step.

I'm feeling pretty good, thank you again. Kinda calmed me down knowing the exact same thing happened to other folks.

​​​​​​I will update over the weekend when I can get away and see if I can figure out how the air tube disconnects from the bottom of the airbox

 

i think if you unbolt the box and sort of lift it upward with the tube attached you can rotate it like 1/3 of a turn and it will ‘un-key’ itself from the tube. That or violently pry it out at the joint before the keyed one which is a tabbed press fit. I always end up doing the violent one before realizing I could just unscrew it.

 

So, that was it!
Temps are much better now. Now I have a p053a which is due to me pulling the intake hose off I think. (Heated breather?) Need to mess with the cables to see what's not connecting right, but I was able to go for a 15 mile mi
​​Drive without temps going over 222f. Super stoked,

O2 sensor hasn't acted up since yesterday, but new one came anyways.

 

That’s great! Hope that last code is just leftover or some loose connection.

 

It was the connection on the right side of the turbo intake "snorkel" rtv around the rubber gasket as it kept releasing when the car got cold.


Next up: rear bearing hubs!
​​​​​​(did my fronts 2 weeks ago)