How To Detect Front Radiator Support Damage In Your Mini

Engine and transmission overheating issues are detrimental to your Mini. Once this happens, as in the example of a damaged radiator support, you could spend a large sum of money to have a repair made. The front radiator support on your Mini has an important purpose. As the name suggests, it supports your Mini’s radiator, fan assembly, and the condensing unit. Why is this important? We will discuss this and what to do if you have issues with your radiator support. Follow along as we share tips to detect front radiator support damage in Mini.

Causes of Radiator Support Damage

Before looking into what the symptoms of front radiator support damage are, let’s see what are some of the possible causes. Knowing these causes could trigger your mind and relate some symptoms to these issues when noticed.

• Loose Mountings: Vibrations and rough roads can play havoc on anything attached to your car. Over time the mounts on the radiator support system can come loose or break.
• Impact: The biggest culprits here are either running over an object in the road such as a piece of a tire that has stripped off of a semi-truck, or taking a collision into the grill area of your car from a large bird or other other type of animal.
• Hitting a Curb: Although this will almost always cause more damage to your car’s alignment, a heavy jolt into your tires and axles from turning early into a curb can cause enough of a jolt to cause the radiator support to come loose due to damage.
• Vehicle Accident: Being involved in a vehicle accident either from the front or the rear can cause damage to the mounting system of your radiator support.

It is always a good idea that if any of the possible causes above happen to you, to have your car inspected right away. For damage such as a loose mounting that happens over time, it is imperative that you have your Mini serviced at a reputable shop that is an expert location on the systems of a Mini.

By having your Mini serviced at a location that is trained on the manufacturer’s suggested servicing plan, you can keep your Mini in top condition and save money on expensive repairs when something like your radiator support system fails on you.

Symptoms of Radiator Support Damage

Now that we know some of the causes of radiator support damage in your Mini, let’s take a look at a list of symptoms that you’ll need to pay attention to.

• Rattling Noise: Your Mini is a well built vehicle, as most owners know, so if you begin rattling sounds coming from the front of the car while driving, it could be that the radiator support has been damaged and is allowing the radiator to move.
• Overheating: If the radiator support of your Mini is damaged it can lead to a leaking radiator or some of its components such as the intake and exit hoses. If this occurs you may see steam rising from under the hood, a check engine light that is illuminated as a warning, or a temperature gauge that has climbed into the red zone.
• Leaking Fluid: If you find colored coolant under or dripping from your vehicle it means that you have a leak in your car’s cooling system. If this occurs, one reason could be that the radiator support system has failed and has caused a leak in the radiator or one of the components of the system.

Keeping Your Radiator Support From Damage

Earlier, we discussed having your Mini inspected and serviced as part of the Mini’s manufacturing service plan. Again, this is the most efficient way to keep your Mini driving on the road for years to come without any major issues.

At Bavarian Workshop, our highly trained Mini experts, are your dealer alternative to high prices with quality care. Being the leading German car experts serving Agoura, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, and West Hills, California takes years of training and knowledge to perfect. With decades of satisfied customers, our team will become a tradition in your family’s German auto experience. Contact us today to have your Mini or other high-end German manufactured car serviced or repaired.