Hi there all MINI nuts, your help would be appreciated.
Over recent weeks have have notice a "clonk" seeming to come from the steering rack when I have been setting off from rest with left hand lock. I have had this looked at by BMW Liverpool but they could not find anything wrong.
I am not really worried but I do not think that extranious noises shoud be ignored. Has anybody else out there noticed this or am I being paranoid?
Is your noise a "clonk" or more like the plasic clicking? I have noises coming from the steering, but it sounds very similar to the other plasic pieces in my car expanding and contracting. Or is sounds like maybe the steering is clicking on the plasic piece sometimes or something. Does anyone have anything similar? I have read many many posts here about the steering problem, but I am not sure if mine is the same. BTW, I have a Sept. build 2004 car. Thanks!
Thanks for for all the input- following this I have been to MINI Liverpool and confronted them with the information. Much to my surprise they acknowledged that this IS a problem and said that to date they had fitted about 15 replacement steering columns.
They are ordering a new one- "just in case of course" and have booked my car in for 5th January.
It just goes to show that MINI2 forum is well worth-while and puts power to the elbow.
David, you should read my post of 16th November regarding this problem. Williams should not be in business, they are the most unprofessional arrogant people I have ever had the misfurtune to deal with.
I am currently talking to BBC Watchdog about my poor S and the unbelievable attitude I received from BMW GB regarding the catalogue of problems I had with it from day 1.
Steve Doran
I have just read your message-the last thing that I intended to do before I leave for Christmas break!
I have to say that I have not really had any problems with Williams- until now that is- and I will defer
judgement until they either sort out the problem or not.
Nice to hear from a local owner- I will let ou know how I go on.
I thought it was my imagination, maybe just cold power steering fluid, but it feels like you can sense a "bump" in the smoothness while turning, and the it goes away after a short while. Is this really a mechanical issue (re steering rack) or a fluid type issue like the PAS hoses being in the way when cold? And what's real weird is that I just started to notice this "bump.". Got the car in August, no problems, but now that it is cold out this shows up. Any thoughts?
Had my 'S' since november 8th, I have just noticed this 'clunk' and only since its been cold. Maybe there's something else going on rather than a mechanical failure?
I've just noticed this too - last few days (July '03 build Cooper). Only a slight "bump" when turning the wheel slowly, only since it's been cold and it goes away after a mile or so and does not return unless it's been stood for a few hours - I think it's a fluid / grease thing to do with the cold. I'll see how it goes but it's hardly noticeable at the mo and I don't fancy someone changing the rack and everything that goes with that kind of change just in case (tracking, bits of trim loose, rattles.....). If it gets worse I might change my mind!
Can you hear the bump? My '04 has it too, but it is more of a clicking sound. It seems to come and go. Interesting, it seems like if I adjust the steering wheel to another height it will go away for a few days. Then it will eventually come back. I am the only MY04 that I know of with the clicking steering. Any more out there? I am wondering if it is different problem then when was reported here a long time ago, because I thought they redesigned the part that was having the problem.
The "cold 1/4 turn" clonk cannot be heard (from in the car with the engine running anyway)...you are able to sense it through the steering wheel as it is rotated.
I'm with Cooper Man on this, there is no noise I'm aware of and not a click - it's just a feeling through the steering wheel - difficult to describe but its as if there is some slack at some point in the mechanics of the rack but it is not consistent and it's not there when warm. It sounds like people are talking about 2 different things here.
the "cold 1/4 turn clonk" best describes it. I get it backing out of the driveway and then turning onto the street. The sensation is usually gone by the time I get out of the subdivision. It is not a noise so much as a feeling thru the steering that the knuckles or steering gear box encountered an obstruction of some sort and transmitted the vibration back to you as it passed through the problem. Up above they referred to cold PAS hoses being in the way. Sounds simple to fix if its just rerouting rather than replacing an entire steering rack or column.
You should read my post of November 19th regarding the steering column problem. You need to get an independent mechanic who knows what he's talking about to look under the dashboard above the pedals at the spider joint on the bottom of the column. If there is any play in the joint at all, you should take the car off the road and have the column assembly changed for the modified part. Don't believe anything the official dealer network tell you, they will lie and deceive to suit their own ends.
I would strongly recommend that rather than discuss it, with the greatest of respect, get someone who is independent and actually knows how to diagnose the problem to look at the car. My local MOT tester told me after he inspected it, that if I presented my car to him with the steering in its then condition, he would refuse to issue a certificate. This is the day before the Mini dealer inspected it, aknowledged that there was a problem, yet told me to continue driving the car on public roads until the parts arrived (10 days). I refused, told them the car was unsafe, they agreed, gave me a loan car and the parts amazingly arrived within 3 days. Make your own mind up who's kidding who.
Steve Doran
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Early is on time; 
Clunk from steering wheel 
