[beci]

hi all a bit new to this i have bought my self a 2001 mini one and i am having problems can anyone help a damsil in distress ......ok when i unlock my car with the key fob button all is ok then i start it everything is fine BUT the power steering does not work all the time so its so heavy to steer but sometimes not very often its ok plzzzzzzzz help ....beci x

[mab01uk]

You have a power steering pump failure, can be expensive but first go to the last few pages of the power steering thread (link below) and you will see you have a very good chance of getting at least part of the repair bill paid as goodwill from BMW despite the age and mileage of your MINI as this is a known fault. (Take particular note of the actions to take as posted by ARCrawford our resident "PowerSteeringPumpActivist" who has helped several members win goodwill payments from MINI/BMW)
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...yes-no-22.html

If you continue to drive the car it will fail completely and more damage can then be caused to the steering rack and pump wiring harness meaning more expense. If you hear the pump continue to run after switching off the engine at any time disconnect the battery asap and get your MINI recovered to a garage.

[lola9755]

Ive had the same problem , my mini caught fire, I've have contacted BMW mini...... and they have requested some information. and then they will refer to the appropiate manager Ive just paid repair bill yesterday of £705, I've lost my confidence in driving my cherished mini!!!... not sure whether to get "rid"!!
tricia

[beci]

how much will a new power steering pump set me back ?..............beci

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by beci (original)

how much will a new power steering pump set me back ?..............beci

Hi Beci,

Sorry to hear you're having problems. But, fear not - as mab01uk says, MINI2.com members are here to help!

Here's a quick link to my guide for making your claim (see the large block of quoted text at the end of the post)

Initially, BMW will quote somewhere in the region of £600-£700 for rectifying the problem. If your MINI has relatively low miles for its age, then this is a common problem on the MINI and BMW recognise that there was a design flaw incorporated into this component - by arguing the component has 'failed prematurely', hopefully you can escape with a significantly reduced bill.

The absolute best possible outcome you can hope for is 100% parts (free replacement power steering pump) and paying 50% of the labour - so ideally, your bill should be anywhere from £40-£100, although £70-£80 seems normal. This also comes with a 2-year warranty for that specific component and the work done upon it.

This is all dependent on mileage, so if you don't have a low-mileage MINI, then the best deal you might be able to get might not be exactly as described above. If you cannot arrange a satisfactory deal through your BMW dealership and it looks as though they are unwilling to compromise, then alternative suppliers (such as MiniManiaUK - MINI2.com sponsors, click on their name to view power steering pump-related products) are less expensive and every bit as good (many say better) than the BMW dealers themselves.

Good luck and let me know if there's anything else you need.

All the best,
Andrew.

[OLY]

Anyone know if this will work in the USA?

It really does seem like 50K miles is "Premature Failure".

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by OLY (original)

Anyone know if this will work in the USA?

It really does seem like 50K miles is "Premature Failure".

I don't know - you could have a look in the Power Steering Pump thread and see if anyone from the US has put up any posts about it.

Here's a quick link to my most recent updated advice:

The Up-to-date Power Steering Pump Advice Post

I'd probably use the same approach in the US as in the UK anyway. So let us know how it goes. Good luck!

All the best,
Andrew.

[CooperSTime]

Power Steering Problwm Also.


Evening

Just got home form work about 30mins ago and as i was parking up the steering became very heavy almost impossiable to turn, so i turned the car on and off and it was fine. Upon leavin the car and whilst walking back i could hear a noise coming form the engine by so i popped the bonnet and there was a loud noise coming form the position the Power Steering fluid goes. I went back out about 20mins ago and the noise was still there loud as could be, so iv disconnested the battery just incase. The question am asking and im dreading the answer but do you think thats my PSP about to pack it in if it hasnt already.

Cheers

Chris

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by CooperSTime (original)

Power Steering Problwm Also.


Evening

Just got home form work about 30mins ago and as i was parking up the steering became very heavy almost impossiable to turn, so i turned the car on and off and it was fine. Upon leavin the car and whilst walking back i could hear a noise coming form the engine by so i popped the bonnet and there was a loud noise coming form the position the Power Steering fluid goes. I went back out about 20mins ago and the noise was still there loud as could be, so iv disconnested the battery just incase. The question am asking and im dreading the answer but do you think thats my PSP about to pack it in if it hasnt already.

Cheers

Chris

Yes you almost certainly (99%) have a power steering pump failure and you have done the right thing by disconnecting the battery which would otherwise go flat or in worst case the pump motor may catch fire...................
Follow all the other posts on this and ask for goodwill from your dealer. Good luck.

[v13kyl]

I have had exactly the same problem and my colleague has had the same problem.
My power steering has been failing for about 2 months now.
I took the car to Williams Mini where i bought the car from as it was still in warrenty.
Mini told me that they could not find a fault with the powered steering - they charged me for checking it and not finding a fault.
I told mini to keep the car for a week as the problem was intermittant - however they assured me that they had done full checks and there was no fault - however i knew different. This was dangerous - i was close to an accident on the motorway when this first happend.
I had been on holiday - got back yesterday to get in my car and the problem happened again this time nearly causing me a serious accident again!
I managed to get the car to Mini so they could see exactly what it was like so they could not send me away again telling me there was no fault.
The technician came put and said that they would need to give me a curtosy car as this was dangerous.
Mini then produced me with a bill for nearly £600 for a new steering pump - that cost is with out the labour costs as my warrenty has only just ran out.
Mini still have my car as they say they are trying to get a good will gesture,
It is not good will at all. This should have been sorted when i first took the car in.
This is a dangerous fault and someone will have a serious accident if this is not sorted soon.
Mini have not returned my calls as promised.
I am calling VOSA & Watchdog tomorrow,
I will also be going to the papers if this is not sorted.
I will keep you posted.

It seems to be a common fault on the minis which bmw are not owning upto.
I will go as far as i can with this - i hope you all do the same.
Good luck everyone .

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by v13kyl (original)

I have had exactly the same problem and my colleague has had the same problem.
My power steering has been failing for about 2 months now.
I took the car to Williams Mini where i bought the car from as it was still in warranty.
Mini told me that they could not find a fault with the powered steering - they charged me for checking it and not finding a fault.
I told mini to keep the car for a week as the problem was intermittent - however they assured me that they had done full checks and there was no fault - however i knew different. This was dangerous - i was close to an accident on the motorway when this first happened.
I had been on holiday - got back yesterday to get in my car and the problem happened again this time nearly causing me a serious accident again!
I managed to get the car to Mini so they could see exactly what it was like so they could not send me away again telling me there was no fault.
The technician came put and said that they would need to give me a courtesy car as this was dangerous.
Mini then produced me with a bill for nearly £600 for a new steering pump - that cost is with out the labour costs as my warranty has only just ran out.
Mini still have my car as they say they are trying to get a good will gesture,
It is not good will at all. This should have been sorted when i first took the car in.
This is a dangerous fault and someone will have a serious accident if this is not sorted soon.
Mini have not returned my calls as promised.
I am calling VOSA & Watchdog tomorrow,
I will also be going to the papers if this is not sorted.
I will keep you posted.

It seems to be a common fault on the minis which bmw are not owning upto.
I will go as far as i can with this - i hope you all do the same.
Good luck everyone .

Dear v13kyl,

You absolutely should not have had to pay a diagnostic charge whilst the car was still in warranty. I would take issue with this in writing. As for the £600 bill for the replacement of the pump just out of warranty, here is a guide that may help you:

The Up-to-date Power Steering Pump Advice Post

I would also argue the point that you alerted the dealership to these problems whilst the car was still in warranty and therefore, you expect this to be fully covered as a warranty claim. The power steering pump failure is a very common fault and is an issue that BMW and their dealership network is very much aware of. Given that information, their failure to correctly diagnose and repair the fault under warranty when first reported by you is completely unacceptable.

Issuing your expectations in writing shows the dealership that you are serious and makes them respond to you seriously rather than fobbing you off. Don't be rude or totally inflexible, but certainly be firm and make your expectations of them for resolving this matter clear.

All the best,
Andrew.

[mab01uk]

I wonder if it is official BMW dealer policy to fob people off by pretending this is an unusual problem because they know the vast majority of the I million MINI owners out there don't research or visit MINI2 and so just pay up without protest.............................

I think most car manufacturers are the same, only recently it took an exposure on BBC Watchdog to shame Ford into replacing all early Focus instrument panels which have been failing in large numbers. They initially refused until the programme revealed it was a well known manufacturing fault but Ford Dealers had continued to charge owners the full replacement costs telling customers it was a very rare and unusual fault........................

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by mab01uk (original)

I wonder if it is official BMW dealer policy to fob people off by pretending this is an unusual problem because they know the vast majority of the I million MINI owners out there don't research or visit MINI2 and so just pay up without protest.............................

I think most car manufacturers are the same, only recently it took an exposure on BBC Watchdog to shame Ford into replacing all early Focus instrument panels which have been failing in large numbers. They initially refused until the programme revealed it was a well known manufacturing fault but Ford Dealers had continued to charge owners the full replacement costs telling customers it was a very rare and unusual fault........................

Hmmm, you've got a point there.

[OLY]

Still having intermittent power steering problem.

When It first occured, my Mini was JUST out of warranty - just over 50,000 miles.

Posted here & then called Mini of Mountain View (California).

Service adviser was unsympathetic: "we'll fix it for $1,500."

I'm sorry, folks, something as key to safety as power steering failing that soon is, basically a "Deal Breaker", or less politely, a "Rip OFF", dare I say.

But wait - there's more - in over a month since adding some special, expensive, hydraulic fluid even though the level was within the marks, it has worked perfectly.

Then one day - didn't work at all. Next day(s) - works perfectly.

Question: could this be just a poor electrical connection? Does NOT sound like a pump failure - that would deteriorate, not keep being intermittant.

Did I mention I'm retired after repairing electro-mechanical equipment for 40 years? I have SOME idea how things work, but of course, the dealer just wants to replace the whole system - for almost 1/10th the price of the car. Of course, no electrical diagrams seem to be available.

Edit: Looking at this post, I notice an ad just below for a Honda Power Steering Pump for $24.98 !!

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by OLY (original)

But wait - there's more - in over a month since adding some special, expensive, hydraulic fluid even though the level was within the marks, it has worked perfectly.

Then one day - didn't work at all. Next day(s) - works perfectly.

Question: could this be just a poor electrical connection? Does NOT sound like a pump failure - that would deteriorate, not keep being intermittant.

Did I mention I'm retired after repairing electro-mechanical equipment for 40 years? I have SOME idea how things work, but of course, the dealer just wants to replace the whole system - for almost 1/10th the price of the car. Of course, no electrical diagrams seem to be available.

OLY,

Sorry to hear you're still having problems. When the power steering is not working, do you still hear the characteristic whine from your MINI? If not, then it is most likely that it is the power steering pump that has failed.

When mine first started to become a problem, it was intermittent in a similar manner to your description. It would also sometimes cut in and out during a single journey.

I would recommend contacting your dealer via written letter - as this is recorded interaction. It's much easier to fob someone off on the phone than it is to fob someone off who is serious and persistent enough to write them a letter. Even if they call you back rather than writing you a letter in return, I think you'll be surprised at how different the response can be.

I give a few short tips in the link I posted earlier on the angle to take in the letter:

Quote: Originally Posted by NeuroBeaker (original)

I don't know - you could have a look in the Power Steering Pump thread and see if anyone from the US has put up any posts about it.

Here's a quick link to my most recent updated advice:

The Up-to-date Power Steering Pump Advice Post

I'd probably use the same approach in the US as in the UK anyway. So let us know how it goes. Good luck!

All the best,
Andrew.

Hopefully, it'll give you some joy and help the dealer to take your concerns more seriously.

All the best,
Andrew.

[OLY]

Actually, it doesn't seem to have the characteristic whine whether working or not working sure is tempting to see if I can get someone else to fix it - perhaps with some better brand of Power Steering pump.

The dealer is quite a distance away, and doesn't have very good reviews - Mini of Concord is twice as far away, but has much better reviews.


What a bummer this all is - I doubt I'll ever feel as confident of the car again - my early '60's Mini was not expected to be as reliable ( and wasn't).

[aussie11]

My pump went on the London to Brighton run last year, cost me £499 to have a new one

[dmanmulder]

OLY,

I'm from the US and had the same problem. You should be able to at least have your dealer cover the cost of the pump, but you may have to pay about $200 for labor.

Note: the pump alone is $750 and only available from a MINI dealer.

Look at my thread... where I seem to be getting bashed for be angry at MINI over this issue.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...g-problem.html

[xxxemma6xxx]

HI all i'm new to this so here goes......... i'v just bought a mini one and the power steering has a loud noise when turning it, i would of thought it would have a slight noise but it's really loud as in people look at you like what the hell's that noise when im parking! Grassicks MINI checked it over and said the noise is correct....is this true? x