How to Change Mini Cooper Water Pump

If you are asking how to change a Mini Cooper water pump, then you are a do-it-yourselfer and need congratulating. We are part of a dying breed in this world of disposable parts. This car is similar to others in the way the pump can be removed. The only difference is the longevity of the OEM pump.

Before you remove the serpentine belt, use an open ended wrench to loosen the fan clutch nut. If you do this you can take the unit out as one piece. It is possible that this will be a left hand thread, so be very careful. If you are not sure about the threading, then ask the company you bought the replacement pump from. Another thing to watch is how far you swing your wrench. It is tight in there and those hoses and fittings could cost you $25(U.S.) each, or more. Anyway, if it does not come loose, remove the fan, radiator, then the pump. Put the pump in a vice and try again. Use a good penetrant, like PB Blaster, before you start wrenching. Pay attention to the belt routing. That may sound silly to you, but many is the time I have had too much slack because I did not pay enough attention.

Now that you know how to change Mini Cooper water pump, I would suggest you do it every 60,000 miles. The OEM pump is prone to failure from a plastic impeller. There is a better pump available from Stewart Components that has a high quality bearing, stainless steel impeller, and a long term warranty. It is priced around $200(U.S.), but it is well worth the extra cost. Some people recommend changing the belt, reservoir,and hoses, and thermostat at the same time as the pump. I do not think all of that is needed. Just clean out all of the old coolant and you will be ready to rock.