[SunKing968]

Hi Gents

I have a 2005 325i with the N52 motor and wanted to ask my mechanic to proactively replace the infamous "Mickey Mouse flange" but he's a bit confused as to how to source it. Can someone send me the part number please? And can it be purchased separately, or only with the hose it's attached to?

Thanks!

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by SunKing968

Hi Gents

I have a 2005 325i with the N52 motor and wanted to ask my mechanic to proactively replace the infamous "Mickey Mouse flange" but he's a bit confused as to how to source it. Can someone send me the part number please? And can it be purchased separately, or only with the hose it's attached to?

Thanks!

I'm not sure about parts sources in Germany, but if you can find a supplier of Rein parts, they have two options:

REIN CHC0609 is just the metal flange that includes a replacement spring clamp. REIN CHU0484 is the metal flange attached to a new hose.

eBay is a great option too, that's where I got mine. I usually don't buy eBay/Amazon/Aliexpress parts, however these metal flanges are a fairly simple design so I didn't stress. Two years after I installed it and it's still going strong, even with the included o-ring.

[mainbearing]

I used the Rein aluminum flange, but the o-ring material is substandard. It hardened and leaked. You might want to replace it at the beginning with a BMW o-ring.

A quick search on eBay shows $7.99 USD flange. But those are no brand ones. Rein does come with a spring clamp, which is better than the worm gear clamp in the picture below.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/195821005718

[lookalikehuuh]

Also ensure your mechanic knows the correct coolant system bleed procedure for BMWs... since he doesn't know what the mickey mouse flange is or where to source it. Anyone who has worked on BMWs definitely knows what that flange is since its essentially guaranteed to break if you even look at it.

[SunKing968]

Thanks Gentlemen, all very helpful information!

[sonofsun]

Also read the DIY to replace the Mickey Mouse Flange. I can't seem to find the threat. It was written by Efthreeoh or gbalthrop

The main part that I remember when I did mine around 110,000 miles was to drain the coolant from the bottom of the radiator, clamp a hose pinch-off plier to prevent any broken plastic from going to any place it don't belong.

Once the flange is removed from the engine (in tact or disintegrated), carefully stuff a little cloth inside to prevent debris from going anywhere. Then crush the plastic flange to remove it.

Then remove original clamp, then inspect inside and clean the hose, remove the cloth and clamp, then install new metal clamp.

Also if bits of the old flange are still stuck to the engine, remove them carefully without letting them fall inside. Stuffing a cloth will help as well when you remove the left over pieces.

If this is not done properly your mechanic can cause further damage to the engine.

[Efthreeoh]

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1618232

I'll look this morning in my Amazon order history for the MMF part I used.

Update. This is the part I used on both of my N52s. Both have been installed for 6 years. Still available on Amazon.

[RealJ22]

It's literally the most visible hose going into the front of the engine block. I would be weary of a mechanic that is skeptical about this, its quite a common / easy fix.

I'm changing the entire hose and breaking off the new plastic bit because my hoses were crunchy. Granted my other hoses had issues as well.

This hose goes into the T-stat. Word of caution - once a hose goes bad, most of the other ones are going as well.

[SunKing968]

Cool, thanks! I should probably have mentioned that so far my hoses etc. aren't leaking and I just want to do this as preventive maintenance, also I'm doing this in Bulgaria so there could be a bit of "lost in translation" although I did send him a photo of the part...