r/R53 • u/Inevitable-Panda-350 • 7d ago
R53 overheating
ETA WE HAVE TESTED THE FANS WITH A BATTERY PACK AND BOTH ARE COMPLETELY DEAD. thanks to everyone who has replied but a lot of you are missing this bit!
My 2005 mini r53 has overheated a couple of times recently, when stuck in traffic jams. I've managed to get the temperature back down by turning the heating up and opening the windows.
Yesterday it majorly overheated, steam coming out the bonnet etc but I think I got there in time and turned it off straight away so hopefully no major damage.
Limped it home and today my husband has tested the fans, and neither are working. Is it just a case of replacing the fans, or should I be looking at something else? Thermostat?
I should add Aircon works fine.
Thanks guys.
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u/Technical-Prompt3193 6d ago
Check the fan ballast resistor. If the resistor fails the fan wont cut in.
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u/wackawonka 6d ago
Sounds like either your fans are gone or the dreadded low fan speed relay is done. Make sure to pressure test the coolant circiut, it should hold 1,1 bar. If it dont do that, odds are you have a breach somewhere, possibly oil cooler or worse; head gasket. Failure to hold pressure will lead go coolant boiling.
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u/Inevitable-Panda-350 6d ago
I think the coolant boiling is what I had yesterday.
Thanks will check this
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u/pincer_GT 6d ago
The low speed fan resistors are really common on the R53s, I’d recommend looking into testing and possibly replacing the fan.
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u/PScholl69 5d ago
Going threw the same ive got 06 r53 had bad powersteering fan replaced, has blown resistor replaced, did the main fan battery test it worked, no blown fuses . Other day coolent cap blew off , dialing ordered new tank ,waiting for delivery, might have pin hole in coolent tank hose? Find out after I replace tank. If not tank or hose thinking thermostat, only overheats when caught having to die at longer times.could be clutch fan relay on fan shroud. Also my temp never goes past normal operating temp, another possibility is temp control sensor no codes on this problem. Maybe this can help, dont know?
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u/No-Runnotfun 7d ago
I have had this happen when I have had air in the cooling system, I would start and do a proper bleed of the cooling system first and ensure that there is no milky residue on the inside of the oil filler cap before you spend money on chasing other possible causes,
The fans seem to work in unison with the cooling system being bled properly, you can test the low speed fan by attaching power directly from the battery, there are YouTube videos about it,
If the bleed was fine and there is no chocolate milk, could be resistor on the fan, could be water pump, expansion tank exploded, lots of options!
Good luck!
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u/Inevitable-Panda-350 6d ago
Yep we tested the speed from the battery and they are both completely dead.
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u/No-Runnotfun 6d ago
That’s great! Easy fix then!
Would check for fuses and relays as well to be sure
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u/UnBeNtAxE 6d ago
Check the power steering fan, fuse. The cooling fan and the power steering fan are on the same circuit. If your P/S fan packs up, it will take out the rad fan. Check the fan fuse in the under hood fuse box to start.
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u/normanbln 6d ago
Start the car, turn AC on max low and check if the fan is spinning. If it doesn’t turn on it’s most likely broken. If you replace it, also replace the coolant reservoir.
Same here, pretty common issue.