PSP Power Steering Failure lack of Support from MINI UK

[SonicBoom 2010]

Can anyone offer me sound advice,

Having owned a Mini one 2004 Reg for 2 years power steering pump failed whilst driving around a roundabout, bit scary.
Car has only done 28k (practically a baby), but the extended warranty expired a few months ago, which I got as a TLC package from BMW Mini Dealership as I bought it second hand.

I then did some homework, after finding that my manual doesn't even locate the PSP. I even found a BBC Watchdog report on this issue from 2009.
Thinking that customer services might be sympathetic due to knowing about this problem and following that the BBC Report said BMW wanted to know from every customer who had had a similar problem, I was dismayed with how they dealt with my call.
After having the Customer services rep talk over me as I was explaining what happened, and having to interject 3 times that he needed to listen to me before replying.
I was told that as the warranty was over that BMW would offer no goodwill, be it in part or full. After about 10 further minutes of me explaining that this is obviously a design fault as they changed the pump design from 2007 on and that I had viewed the Watchdog report, I further only received scripted verse on not being able to help and that in not so many words these things happen and they are aware of the problem. I have to admit in the end I hung up as he would not speak to me as a BMW owner and was reading his set script.
This will cost me anywhere from about £550 to £800 to repair and I'm soul destroyed that I feel like I was sold a dud with no help being offered from BMW.

Anyone have any helpful advise?

[MINIAC]

Lots of threads on this subject ...

First Generation Faults & Fixes forum titles for power steering pump showing threads

[mab01uk]

Interesting to compare your call with this one:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...ml#post3769701

I have also posted lots of info here:
Power Steering Pump replacement - Forums

[MechanicalMouseOrgan]

Same here, I was told that if I paid for a diagnostic, my local BMW dealer would approach BMW and have an answer in 48 hours whether I would be considered for a gesture of good will. A week later not 48 hours! and £50.00 lighter I was told a firm "NO" due to the age and mileage (2002 Cooper S with 39k). IF age was an issue I argued that they shouldnt of even took my money for a diagnostic, I have had several discussions and emails etc but have not got anywhere, apart from my local dealer, all BMW staff were rude arrogant and unhelpful, even a bit sarcastic. I was getting quotes well over £800 to replace the pump so I took my unit off and sent it to ECU Testing Automotive ECU suppliers who rebuilt my unit for £160 + VAT and sent it back to me with a two year warranty in 2 days!!, just refitted it and it works a dream, not a difficult job if you take your time, bit awkward rather than difficult.

[mab01uk]

Well done for fixing diy. Proves there is no need to pay anyone £800 to fix the MINI PS pump..........any independent garage should be able to fit a 2-year warranty pump for around £200 parts + 2 hours labour.

[DrNorman]

I got labour costs paid for by mini UK when my PSP went 2 years ago

Mine is a 2002 cooper and had about 40K on it

The dealership said they didnt think i would get anything but would write on my behalf and a few weeks later the cheque arrived!

[steve-dobes@supanet.]

The same thing happened to my wife yesterday. Luckly she was 2 miles from her mums and managed to get to her drive. I spoke to the 'DEDICATED UK CUSTOMER SERVICES' and was told that it is up to the dealer to decide what to do. I booked it in for Thursday and one of the service engineers told me he had never heard of this. I suppose they think we are think.
Totaly unacceptable.
You will see below what it has affected.
175,000 Mini One, Mini Cooper and Cooper S cars sold between 2001 & 2005.
9,000 Convertables and 32,000 Mini Hatch cars sold 2006.
7,800 Mini Convertables sold in 2007.

What I do not understand is when the car is serviced at the dealership, all they have to do is replace the power steering. Why wait until there is a problem or even death.
Steve

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by steve-dobes@supanet. (original)

What I do not understand is when the car is serviced at the dealership, all they have to do is replace the power steering. Why wait until there is a problem or even death.
Steve

Because it simply isn't common enough to be considered an issue. Pumps eventually fail. I had a PS pump fail on my Escort and the car became a rolling brick. I checked the forums and there were a ton of people complaining about it but there was never a recall. I got mad about it but when I thought about it the 100 + folks that were complaining was a very small sample compared to the 100,000 + cars that were sold with the same pump. People come here to complain so the complaints you see is a rather small sample...

To do what you said would cost the company millions of dollars (not business smart) and replacing pumps on cars that are 8+ years old and work fine makes no sense, especially on a car that is out of warranty. Doing business like that would put a company out of business very fast. Replacing them when they fail makes more sense but only if it is in warranty. Just because a car has low milage means nothing as you have no clue on how the car was treated and the manufacturer is only responsible within the bounds of the warranty. I don't blame MINI for charging for a car that is 8 years old... Low milage means that the pump has been sitting idle and could seize due to the lack of use. I have 70K on my MINI now and the pump is running fine. Will it die? Who knows but when it does I won't be beating on MINIs door to get it fixed because my warranty is up and it is my responsibility.

I have had my power steering fail (grounding strap failed) on my MINI and it was still drivable to the point that I could get it off the road so I don't see a fatal accident happening (although I suppose it could).

[XRV848]

I agree with DaFlake that it doesn't make good business sense to replace parts when the car is out of warranty. There have, however, been many cases where MINI have offered good-will payments towards the replacement. The failure does differ from most other cars in that the electro-hydraulic pump is significantly more expensive (around $800 here in Canada) than the mechanical pumps on other cars. I think that if there was less sticker shock associated with the replacement then there would be more acceptance that the failure is just normal wear.
As to the danger resulting from a failure, my pump failed earlier this year and I disconnected it (it was draining the battery with the car turned off) and drove for several months with no power steering until I had time to replace it. It does give your arms a good work out at slow speeds, but is no worse than my old Civic that had no power steering. The time when it does seem dangerous is when the failure is intermittent and the pump stops working in the middle of a turn (as happened to me). It really does seem that the steering has locked and there are circumstances where I can see that it could cause problems.

[CherryCooper]

Hey i own a 2002 mini cooper which i have only owned for 4 months. last night my power steering pump decided to fail and now my mini is sitting up the drive way as its to difficult to control for me.

i seen the ad on the internet last night from watch dog and called the number given today....who were no use at all!!! i called Phoenix garage in Kirkcaldy today also and spoke to a really friendly woman who passed my details on to the warranty engineer in the garage and they are currently in the process of contacting BMW/Mini to see what can be done...ie if they will contribute to the costs of the repairs....fingers crossed!

Obviously if they do not pay up i will have to get this done privately. does anyone know exactly were the pump is located as i plan to have m boyfriend do this if it costs too much at a garage. any pics or websites etc would be appreicated alot!

thanks again

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by CherryCooper (original)

Hey i own a 2002 mini cooper which i have only owned for 4 months. last night my power steering pump decided to fail and now my mini is sitting up the drive way as its to difficult to control for me.

i seen the ad on the internet last night from watch dog and called the number given today....who were no use at all!!! i called Phoenix garage in Kirkcaldy today also and spoke to a really friendly woman who passed my details on to the warranty engineer in the garage and they are currently in the process of contacting BMW/Mini to see what can be done...ie if they will contribute to the costs of the repairs....fingers crossed!

Obviously if they do not pay up i will have to get this done privately. does anyone know exactly were the pump is located as i plan to have m boyfriend do this if it costs too much at a garage. any pics or websites etc would be appreicated alot!

thanks again

Lots of info on what and how to fix it here:
Power Steering Pump replacement - Forums

I doubt you can expect much of a contribution if any from MINI/BMW on a 2002 Mini.

[Weedahoe]

I know shortly after we bought a Mini for my wife the PS pump died. I knew nothing about these cars and electric pumps but know lots more now. I will be buying my own pump here soon and changing it out myself.