Awesome, I will get him to send me the vin number so and i will email the last 7 digits to you. Thank you so much for the help!!

The only way we can identify the correct replacement is with the last 7-digits of the vin number from the MINI.

As you discovered, there have been several iterations of the thermostat / housing. The metal elbow with the sensor has been replaced by the new thermostat housing, usually with an electrical adapter. Here is the hose that replaces the one with the elbow/sensor.

If you email us to [email protected] with the vin number, we can let you know the factory replacement.

So I'm helping my uncle with his 2011 mini coopers 6 speed manual and he has a check engine light for his thermostat. We ordered one online and I went to put it on for him on saturday and quickly realized it was different than what came off the car. I did some research and realized that there is an updated part for that year mini cooper that needs an adapter harness. Well upon further investigation it looks like his setup is different than every video Ive watched of the thermostat being replaced. One of the front pipes on the thermostat has a small silicone hose coming off of it and then there is a metal elbow with what looks like a temp sensor plugged into it with 2 wires coming out of it leading to what looks like an adapter harness, the other 2 wires coming off of the harness go into a large plug at the bottom of the thermostat housing it looks like the plug is designed for 4 wires but it only has 2 going into it. I unfortunately don't have any pictures of it at the moment but I just want to figure out what type of thermostat and wire harness adapter I need. I am a tech at a Honda dealer and am fairly good at doing stuff on cars this is just new too me and I just don't have much experience with Minis and want to make sure i get the right fix for his car. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I always had luck asking for help before I became a tech on the Honda forums and I figured the mini forums would be just as helpful and much more knowledgeable than anybody I know. Thanks for any help!