Mini threw this one on Monday.
Cleared it & had it come back next drive.
Kept an eye on temps via BlueDriver on my drive home yesterday & it seems to be holding temps, but guessing I'll be due for a thermostat replacement.

Doesn't look like a straightforward job. The Mini is appropriate as that's the size hands you need to do much under the hood.
Not your typical thermostat job either, looks to be integrated & requires the whole housing to be replaced.

Either the electric thermostat is bad or the plug is corroded.

Might be worth just replacing both. Under $100 combined, plus new coolant.

quote:

P0597 Code

Thanks HRK, will watch that in a bit.
Mini forum also said could possibly be resolved by unplug the connector & reconnect. Will try that before spending any $ on it.

quote:

Mini forum also said could possibly be resolved by unplug the connector & reconnect.

Sometimes coolant can seep through the sensor/switch and corrode up the connector. Look for this when you unplug it, also for any signs of coolant wicking its way up the wires.

I didn't care to watch that whole video on replacing the thermostat on this car, but some vehicles make a thermostat replacement absurdly, ridiculously, insanely difficult. The GM/Opel/Saab V6, most commonly found in Saturn L and pre-2004 Vue, is the worst I ever personally encountered.

Thanks, will check on that as well. Going to try to look at it this afternoon. Definitely no coolant smell under the hood.

I hope it's not expensive!

There's a reason why there are a ton of these on the used market.

I had a supercharged Mini Cooper S and it was a hoot to drive but just waaaay too much TCO for a daily driver for me

Luckily, mine's a base, non-turbo. A bit less to fuss over. Always liked the supercharged 1st gen models, but have heard a lot of stories about the SC going around 80k & needing replacement.

And it was free, apart from getting it registered & a few parts replaced [battery, convertible top window]. Wish it was a manual, but can't complain, it makes for a fun DD.

Sometimes you get ghost codes, my F150 will throw an occasional code for 02 sensor bank 1 and theres nothing wrong with the stuff.

I'd probably clear it and see if it comes right back.

If you have a lot of miles on it, like you said replacing the T-stat and sensor are just a normal maintenance work, might as well do both while you're in there.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Sometimes you get ghost codes, my F150 will throw an occasional code for 02 sensor bank 1 and theres nothing wrong with the stuff.

I'd probably clear it and see if it comes right back.

If you have a lot of miles on it, like you said replacing the T-stat and sensor are just a normal maintenance work, might as well do both while you're in there.

I've cleared the code 2-3 times & it comes back after a drive cycle or two.
Had a phantom catalyst code on our Expedition. Cleared & never came back.

2 hrs, some colorful language & some scraped up hands/knuckles, and it's done.

Hardest part was getting the spring clip back on the connector to the water pipe to the water pump.

Code is cleared & didn't come back, and no leaks.