wondering if anyone can help:) nnot long just bought a 2004 jcw everything seemed fine till i noticed my fan on quite alot, i then noticed that steam was coming from the cap on expansion tank i opened it to look inside and there was plenty of water in there so carried on as normal till i noticed the steam again someone told me to change the cap, so i went to bmw to get a new cap and when i went to change it there was no water in there but i topped up, but im not getting any heat from the heating even wen i turn it up full someeone please help!!!!:confused:

If your heater is not working you have an airlock in the system due to the coolant level getting too low for a while. The system now needs to be bled of air via the various bleed valves on the engine/hoses. After bleeding if the new pressure cap still does not cure the overheating it may be that the 1st stage radiator fan speed has failed.....by the time 2nd stage fan cuts in it is too late to cool things down.

More info here:
Solving MINI Cooling Problems.......... - Forums (http://forum.minicooper.org/showthread.php?t=13263)

thanks , i have had the system bled and i am now getting some heat through but i dont think its as hot as it should be have any suggestion on what this could be? much appreciated

The cooling system can need bleeding several times to clear all the air completely........if not maybe possible heater matrix blockage or silted up matrix is not unknown if you search Mini2....there was a case quite recently on here which proved very hard to solve but was cured with a new matrix.

i get heat but coolant boiling up through expansion tank, someone recons that ive got a crack on the bottom end, do you know if there's any truth to this?

The bonnet (Hood) release cable on my 2008 Cooper has snapped in the engine compartment and I can not get the Bonnet open, there is very limited space to get at anything and try as I might I cant get it open, Had anyone else had this problem and if so how did you fix it

Oops! I would think you might have to grit your teeth and break in through the grille?

On the Mk1 MINI you can remove the front wheel arch black plastic liners to access the bonnet catches each side.....not sure if Mk2 is the same?