MINI Cooper S: Battery Box Water Leak - the presence of water in the back hatch storage compartment of several R50 and R53 MINI Coopers.

Battery Compartment half filled with water

Even a small crack can cause the seal
to fail and water to enter the hatch.

Something we have seen in our shop more and more frequently as these cars get older and take some abuse, is the presence of water in the back hatch storage compartment of several R50 and R53 MINI Coopers.  This problem is directly attributed to the seal around the hatch door handle wearing out and allowing rain and other water in.  Sometimes the leak can come from the plastic handle itself cracking from repeated pulling or from using it to support the weight of the hatch itself.

  

 

Rust and mud spreading from the screw holes

This can be a costly repair if left unchecked.  Not only have we seen rust damage in these areas that can rot the sheet metal, but in the Cooper S the battery and several electronics attached to the battery can be destroyed.  Repair of the cables, sensors, and fuses connected to the battery are a minimum of several hundred dollars in parts alone and will require several labor hours of wire routing.

Battery Compartment half filled with water

This handle is held on by 4 screws and is easy to replace on your own.  If your handle is not cracked and in good shape, you can just replace the gasket.  If the handle is cracked, you can replace the entire handle, with a new gasket included, safely and easily.  If you ever wanted to upgrade the look of the rear of your MINI, this is also a great opportunity to upgrade to a black or chrome handle that will not require any color match painting.

Installation and removal only involves these four screws

MINI Diagnostics: Fault Code and Service Reset Tool

Ever been on a spirited drive in your MINI and had that troublesome "service engine soon" light or "check engine" light take all the fun out of your day? Your MINI Cooper is a precision built machine that constantly monitors operating systems to ensure high level performance. If there is any problem with operation, or time for a maintenance issue to be addressed, it will trigger one of these warning lights. Promini has a compact tool that can properly read and report MINI engine and service codes safely and easily. Having the ability to properly diagnose engine lights from a parking lot, garage, or roadside is a valuable asset that saves you time and gives you peace of mind.

A warning light should never be ignored and can range from anything as simple as a loose gas cap to a serious timing issue. It's never fun to go to a mechanic and pay over a hundred dollar fee to find out a technician only had to replace your radiator cap, or pay for a costly engine repair that could have been prevented by having that engine light checked sooner. Our fault code reader can quickly and easily give you an accurate reading of what your engine light is trying to tell you as it happens. Built specifically for MINI applications, our fault code reader reads and displays all MINI-factory fault codes.

Warning lights also come on to indicate routine maintenance issues such as brake component replacement and oil service. A routine MINI oil service with system reset can run anywhere from $100-$150 at a service shop, but with our service reset tool the same oil service can be performed at home for a fraction of the cost. Don't stare at that glaring service light when you know its already been taken care of. A "must have" for any at-home or independent service mechanic, this service reset tool is an inexpensive way to save time and money.

Cooper "S" R53 Power Steering Pump Failure - click to read

Cooper "S" R53 Power Steering Pump Failure

 

A Mini Cooper "S" R53 was driven into the shop last week. The alternator light was on, and there was a horrible burnt smell and smoke coming from under the hood. Once the smoke cleared, (literally) we checked what was going on. My first thought was alternator seized up and the burning smell was the belt. The belt was moving freely, and the smoke had stopped. However the power steering had stopped working. Evidently what has happened the P/S pump had grounded internally causing the large positive power lead to the pump to begin melting down. Is the power steering pump the cause of the melt down or the result of the melt down? Once we removed the burnt power lead from the P/S pump the alternator light went off and the alternator was able to charge the system. Evidently the alternator was severely over loaded to a point where it was not able to keep up with the demand.

 

I'll keep you posted on our findings?

    

here is the photo of the replacement pump and the destroyed pump.

TECH TIP: MINI Cooper "S" Coolant Tank Upgrade - replace that old cracked plastic tank with a new aluminum version. Click here - to view this D.I.Y. upgrade.

TECH TIP: MINI Cooper "S" Coolant Tank Upgrade
Problem: MINI Cooper "S" plastic coolant tank failure: Polished Aluminum (Silver-Chrome) Anodized Aluminum (Black) Vehicles Effected: Mini Cooper "S" R52 (2002 to 2006) Mini Cooper "S" R53 (2002 to 2006) Solution: Replace the original plastic tank, OEM Part# 17137529273, with an aluminum replacement tank upgrade! (polished aluminum BMP Part# 300372, or black anodized aluminum BMP Part# 300373) - Read how to below...
	Project Outline: This project will show you how to properly replace the coolant reservoir/tank. In this procedure we will only remove enough coolant to avoid a spill when replacing the tank. If you are planning a coolant flush or replacement check out this article. The project will require removing the coolant in the old tank. Removing one mounting bolt, 2 factory pinch clamps, replacing the tank, re installing the hoses, re-filling the system and checking for leaks. This project will take about 20-30 minutes depending on your mechanical ability and skill level.
Tools & supplies required: 10mm socket and ratchet assembly Conventional plyers Liquivac fluid extractor (103005), or an old turkey baster. 10mm wrench MINI / BMW Blue coolant (82 14 1 467 704) Flat blade screw driver Project Steps: Tank removal Allow your Mini cooper S to cool down to relieve the pressure build up in the cooling system. Using your Liqui-vac or Turkey baster remove all the water from the original coolant tank. Release the pinch clamps using the conventional pliers. Slightly twist the hoses to release their grim on the coolant tank fittings and slide the hoses off the fittings(note if clamps are not easily accessible you may need to proceed to step 5. Using the 10mm socket assembly remove the 6mm upper mounting bolt, then tilt the tank forward and remove from pin hole locations.
Tank installation: Set new aluminum coolant tank into position. Place an old towel on top of the engine heat shield directly below the coolant bottle mount bracket. (this will catch the new mount bolts in (step 3) after you drop them once or twice). Select the 3 sets of 6x15mm hex bolts and 6mm washers, and install the upper mount bolt first. (finger tight only). Carefully install the driver side lower bolt first (finger tight only) Be patient, you will drop the bolt, and you're working up-side-down, turn the bolt the other direction.. Carefully install the passenger side lower bolt first (finger tight only) Be patient, you will drop the bolt, and you're working up-side-down, turn the bolt the other direction.. Using your 10MM wrench or socket assembly tighten all three bolts. Install the lower and upper hoses and install pinch clamps. Fill system, install cap and allow engine to heat up in order to build pressure and check for leaks. View Related Products, Manuals & Tools Below: MINI Cooper Coolant Tank - Polished Aluminum (Silver) BMP Part Number 300372 MINI Cooper Coolant Tank - Anodized Aluminum (Black) BMP Part Number 300373 MINI Cooper Plastic Coolant Tank w/Cap BMP Part Number 300373 MINI Cooper Expansion Tank Cap BMP Part Number 300552 MINI Cooper Brass Bleeder Screw BMP Part Number 200082 MINI Cooper Blue Coolant/Antifreeze BMP Part Number 300800 Liquivac Oil/Fluids Changer BMP Part Number 103005 MINI Cooper Coolant Flush/Fill Tool BMP Part Number 115186