52 reg Cooper S overheating

[JimmyConwayNW]

Hi,

Having an issue with a cooper S.

Car overheated and found it was very low on coolant, seemed to have an air lock.

Have topped up and bled cooling system and there is now no airlock.

Car is running fine, but as soon as it is idling the temperature gauge starts to go towards red.
Give it a few revs and it backs down to sit at a middle temperature.

Can anyone point me in the direction of where to be looking?

It is not loosing water anywere, I have been under checking for leaks and such.

Many thanks.

[woodypup59]

Head gasket.

[Campo]

Sounds like a water pump problem. Quite common on the R53 as its driven by the supercharger rather than belts.

Normal symptom is same as yours, overheats at low revs but ok when you run the engine at higher speeds.

Not sure how hard it is to replace as I had a Cooper which is a different set up.

[JimmyConwayNW]

That would probably make sense.

I had a feeling it would be water pump or a thermostat issue.

I actually have a cooper in at the moment with head gasket gone which is a job for another day lol.

It's just knowing where to start sometimes without wasting a load of time tracing the wrong issue.

[JimmyConwayNW]

Bloody radiator.

Sorted now, after a garage diagnosed head gasket aswell. Amateurs