MINI2

MickCooperS · Sep 26th, 2007, 08:24 AM

hey, just noticed a noise this morning when i steer....i drove into an empty carpark and drove moving steering wheel one turn to the left and the one turn back to the right as i drove along and it sounds like a creak? Any ideas? Cheers

rgn · Sep 26th, 2007, 12:53 PM

I've had this, and it was the steering col bearings, I think they have changed the design on later models. I just removed the lower steering col cover and applied some spay grease to the bearings and it's been OK since.

S1.6 BJD · Sep 26th, 2007, 01:12 PM

had the creak, changed column under warranty, so if you can, do that. Since then I had a knocking through the column, changed again under goodwill, now fixed. Think they changed design inbetween,You should get
a good column now if it is changed.

MickCooperS · Sep 26th, 2007, 01:53 PM

Cheers for the help.....hmmmm

just out of warranty one month!

Quote: Originally Posted by rgn (original)

I just removed the lower steering col cover and applied some spay grease to the bearings and it's been OK since.

how do go about doing this rgn ???

rgn · Sep 26th, 2007, 02:14 PM

There are 2 trox screws that hold the plastic cover on (t5 I think). I also removed the rubber gromet from around the ignition key. The plastic cover can then be removed. If you look down the col towards the pedels you will see the bearing. I just gave this a spray with the white grease that I use for hidges etc and it's been fine. Attached is a diagram of the col with the bearing arrowed.

MickCooperS · Sep 26th, 2007, 02:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rgn (original)

There are 2 trox screws that hold the plastic cover on (t5 I think). I also removed the rubber gromet from around the ignition key. The plastic cover can then be removed. If you look down the col towards the pedels you will see the bearing. I just gave this a spray with the white grease that I use for hidges etc and it's been fine. Attached is a diagram of the col with the bearing arrowed.

Thanks!! I might try that! ....would WD40 do the trick?

rgn · Sep 26th, 2007, 02:39 PM

I think WD40 will do the trick, but it may dry out quicker than grease, but worth a go if you don't have spray grease.

MickCooperS · Sep 26th, 2007, 03:08 PM

Cheers!!! Will try get my hands on some spray grease and give it a go!! Thanks for your help!!

rgn · Sep 26th, 2007, 03:28 PM

I hope it works as well for you.

Most motorfactors stock spay grease.

S1.6 BJD · Sep 26th, 2007, 04:03 PM

MINI know about the problem, well documented on here if you do a search, so if you ask your dealer they will approach mini for a goodwill claim. I have done this two or three times now.

they may try to ask you to pay the labour £140,or half the labour and supply the part (£240) , but if you stick to your guns they should pay the labour aswell, as it is a known issue. and you are only just out of warranty- so act quickly

oldnell · Sep 26th, 2007, 08:34 PM

Rgn, how long ago did you spray the grease? I've read others who've done this come back a few months later saying that it was only a temporary fix.

Oli

rgn · Sep 27th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Olnell, it's only been about 3 weeks! I think it may well come back, but as the Mini is well out of warranty I don't mine re doing every few months rather the fit a new col!

MickCooperS I think you should see if they will bo repair under warranty before trying to fic the problem

MickCooperS · Sep 27th, 2007, 12:58 PM

Cheers for the advice lads!

I might mention it to BMW.... the only thing is my car has already been in for clutch and flywheel under warranty last month and the engine mount under warranty this month ....they'll be well and truly sick of me!

.... there wasn't a sound today at all- does this usually come and go? I only have 30k miles- is this problem mileage related at all?

rgn · Sep 27th, 2007, 01:07 PM

Don't know if it comes and goes as ours was doing it when we bought it, so was always doing it.

The prevoius owner said he had not noticed it, so I guess it had been doing it for sometime.

Our has donr 41K miles

i woundn't worry about dealer being sick of you. They love warranty work if BMW agree to pay as they charge loads of money for warranty work

MickCooperS · Sep 28th, 2007, 07:46 AM

hmmm I'll drop in over next few days so and see if I can get someone to listen to it (thats if it happens again!!)...cheers for the replies!!

MINIdriver85 · May 11th, 2008, 10:08 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rgn (original)

I think WD40 will do the trick, but it may dry out quicker than grease, but worth a go if you don't have spray grease.

So the spray grease should be better than the wd40? Because I already have some spray grease,a nd if it's better then I can avoid buying the wd40 for this thing.

mab01uk · May 11th, 2008, 01:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIdriver85 (original)

So the spray grease should be better than the wd40? Because I already have some spray grease,a nd if it's better then I can avoid buying the wd40 for this thing.

Spray grease worked fine on mine, will probably stay in the ball bearing race longer than WD40 which is more a thin liquid (like oil). Its much easier to get the grease in the bearing if the aerosol can has a thin plastic tube nozzle extension though.

MINIdriver85 · May 12th, 2008, 01:27 PM

Tried greasing it today...it didn't work much...

cooperSMark · May 12th, 2008, 01:32 PM

Spray grease is definitely better than WD40. WD40 would act as a degreaser in this instance and would flush out what little grease may actually be left on the bearing. My sisters 51 plate Mini One had really creaky steering and i sprayed the bearings with spray grease, the anti-fling stuff i use on my bike chain, and it's been fine since. That's about 3-4 months ago now. WD40 would help in the short term but you'd be better off using 3in1 or something thicker really.

MINIdriver85 · May 12th, 2008, 03:58 PM

Mmh, I'll try again with my dad's bike chain spray, although it seems to em more of an oil than a grease...would a silicone spray be useful? I have a CRC can of it at home, as well as the normal CRC 6-66...does anyone know them and know if they work well in this situation?

Sep 26th, 2007, 08:24 AM	#1
MickCooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 170 Offline	Steering Creak hey, just noticed a noise this morning when i steer....i drove into an empty carpark and drove moving steering wheel one turn to the left and the one turn back to the right as i drove along and it sounds like a creak? Any ideas? Cheers

Sep 26th, 2007, 02:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
rgn MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 30 Offline	There are 2 trox screws that hold the plastic cover on (t5 I think). I also removed the rubber gromet from around the ignition key. The plastic cover can then be removed. If you look down the col towards the pedels you will see the bearing. I just gave this a spray with the white grease that I use for hidges etc and it's been fine. Attached is a diagram of the col with the bearing arrowed. Attached Thumbnails

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Sep 26th, 2007, 12:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
rgn MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 30 Offline	I've had this, and it was the steering col bearings, I think they have changed the design on later models. I just removed the lower steering col cover and applied some spay grease to the bearings and it's been OK since.

Sep 26th, 2007, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
S1.6 BJD MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 90 Offline	had the creak, changed column under warranty, so if you can, do that. Since then I had a knocking through the column, changed again under goodwill, now fixed. Think they changed design inbetween,You should get a good column now if it is changed.

Sep 26th, 2007, 01:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
MickCooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 170 Offline	Cheers for the help.....hmmmm just out of warranty one month! Quote: Originally Posted by rgn (original) I just removed the lower steering col cover and applied some spay grease to the bearings and it's been OK since. how do go about doing this rgn ???

Sep 26th, 2007, 02:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
MickCooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 170 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by rgn (original) There are 2 trox screws that hold the plastic cover on (t5 I think). I also removed the rubber gromet from around the ignition key. The plastic cover can then be removed. If you look down the col towards the pedels you will see the bearing. I just gave this a spray with the white grease that I use for hidges etc and it's been fine. Attached is a diagram of the col with the bearing arrowed. Thanks!! I might try that! ....would WD40 do the trick?

Sep 26th, 2007, 02:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
rgn MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 30 Offline	I think WD40 will do the trick, but it may dry out quicker than grease, but worth a go if you don't have spray grease.

Sep 26th, 2007, 03:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
MickCooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 170 Offline	Cheers!!! Will try get my hands on some spray grease and give it a go!! Thanks for your help!!

Sep 26th, 2007, 03:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
rgn MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 30 Offline	I hope it works as well for you. Most motorfactors stock spay grease.

Sep 26th, 2007, 04:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
S1.6 BJD MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 90 Offline	MINI know about the problem, well documented on here if you do a search, so if you ask your dealer they will approach mini for a goodwill claim. I have done this two or three times now. they may try to ask you to pay the labour £140,or half the labour and supply the part (£240) , but if you stick to your guns they should pay the labour aswell, as it is a known issue. and you are only just out of warranty- so act quickly

Sep 26th, 2007, 08:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
oldnell MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Gloucester Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 992 Offline	Rgn, how long ago did you spray the grease? I've read others who've done this come back a few months later saying that it was only a temporary fix. Oli

Sep 27th, 2007, 10:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
rgn MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 30 Offline	Olnell, it's only been about 3 weeks! I think it may well come back, but as the Mini is well out of warranty I don't mine re doing every few months rather the fit a new col! MickCooperS I think you should see if they will bo repair under warranty before trying to fic the problem

Sep 27th, 2007, 12:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
MickCooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 170 Offline	Cheers for the advice lads! I might mention it to BMW.... the only thing is my car has already been in for clutch and flywheel under warranty last month and the engine mount under warranty this month ....they'll be well and truly sick of me! .... there wasn't a sound today at all- does this usually come and go? I only have 30k miles- is this problem mileage related at all?

Sep 27th, 2007, 01:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
rgn MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 30 Offline	Don't know if it comes and goes as ours was doing it when we bought it, so was always doing it. The prevoius owner said he had not noticed it, so I guess it had been doing it for sometime. Our has donr 41K miles i woundn't worry about dealer being sick of you. They love warranty work if BMW agree to pay as they charge loads of money for warranty work

Sep 28th, 2007, 07:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
MickCooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 170 Offline	hmmm I'll drop in over next few days so and see if I can get someone to listen to it (thats if it happens again!!)...cheers for the replies!!

May 11th, 2008, 10:08 AM	#16 (permalink)
MINIdriver85 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 01:02 AM Posts: 245 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by rgn (original) I think WD40 will do the trick, but it may dry out quicker than grease, but worth a go if you don't have spray grease. So the spray grease should be better than the wd40? Because I already have some spray grease,a nd if it's better then I can avoid buying the wd40 for this thing.

May 11th, 2008, 01:09 PM	#17 (permalink)
mab01uk MINI2 Senior Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 690 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by MINIdriver85 (original) So the spray grease should be better than the wd40? Because I already have some spray grease,a nd if it's better then I can avoid buying the wd40 for this thing. Spray grease worked fine on mine, will probably stay in the ball bearing race longer than WD40 which is more a thin liquid (like oil). Its much easier to get the grease in the bearing if the aerosol can has a thin plastic tube nozzle extension though.

May 12th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
MINIdriver85 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 01:02 AM Posts: 245 Offline	Tried greasing it today...it didn't work much...

May 12th, 2008, 01:32 PM	#19 (permalink)
cooperSMark MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cheshire Local Time: 12:02 AM Posts: 131 Offline	Spray grease is definitely better than WD40. WD40 would act as a degreaser in this instance and would flush out what little grease may actually be left on the bearing. My sisters 51 plate Mini One had really creaky steering and i sprayed the bearings with spray grease, the anti-fling stuff i use on my bike chain, and it's been fine since. That's about 3-4 months ago now. WD40 would help in the short term but you'd be better off using 3in1 or something thicker really.

May 12th, 2008, 03:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
MINIdriver85 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Local Time: 01:02 AM Posts: 245 Offline	Mmh, I'll try again with my dad's bike chain spray, although it seems to em more of an oil than a grease...would a silicone spray be useful? I have a CRC can of it at home, as well as the normal CRC 6-66...does anyone know them and know if they work well in this situation?

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