IMPORTANT. Have you had a power steering pump failure? Please vote YES or NO!!!

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by alban52jm

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Hi Everyone - first time I've ever done this so not sure of the etiquette...!

I'm trying to find out more info about this steering pump problem. Collected my second Mini One on the 1st September and by lunchtime on the 4th (with 334 miles on the clock) it was loaded onto a breakdown trailer because the steering pump had burnt out complete with very nasty acrid burning smell that lingered under the bonnet for hours.

I see from a lot of your messages that you are Cooper owners but I want to find out if this is also a common problem with the One - do they use the same pump on all versions? I'm not mechanically minded enough to know these things...!

Anyway, I'm trying to gather some ammunition for my continuing "discussions" with BMW so any help would be very much appreciated. You can e-mail me on alban52jm@aol.com

Many thanks

It's my belief that all except the MINI One D use the same steering mechanism.
I maybe wrong though.

It awful that you should have this sort of severe problem so soon. Take no flannel from them, and demand a replacement vehicle under the Sale of Goods Act 2002: but do it immediately and do NOT accept the old one back until they agree that, otherwise you jepordise your stance.

Enough said.

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hilndgreen

23,500 Mi. Down tubes for sunroof not installed at factory, replaced DVD ROM, brakes and rotors, cruse controll (while in motion), power steering pump (while in motion), leaky rear passenger window, new electric actuator for passenger window (in door), carpet in the boot (water infiltration degraded the backing). This isn't even covering the problems with the 3/4 ton truck that rear ended me!
Bumper clad, bumper, shock absorbers, transverse member for the latch, deck lid, and body work to Right Rear wing!

The steering pump was because of "the fan under the motor was stuck." 2nd time that fan has been replaced.

Pure unadulterated flannel by BMW no doubt.

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo

Hardly any bother from my MINI.

Very happy.

Tigger.

EXCELLENT NEWS! I wish my two had been the same.

Oh well. Some people ae just born lucky. Not so their cars though

[RVW]

As I have voted in this thread in February stating I have had no steering problems, thought it would be the right place to alter that.
Started the car this morning and noticed a funny gurgling noise. Thought it was coming from the water system so I turned off and checked water level>all ok.

Thought no more of it as the car had been stood for two weeks + as I have been on my Hols.
Steering felt a little heavy but as I have been driving a 206 for two weeks>again thought no more of it.

Came home after a sprited blast, parked in the drive and went in for a bite to eat.
Came out a little later to give her a wash prior going to Gaydon tommorrow (Sunday)
when I noticed a wet patch underneath on the lefthand side. So I reversed the car and checked to see what it was. Horror it was hydaulic oil from the power steering. Sure enough checked the resovoir EMPTY Bang goes my day out at Gaydon not risking driving there and back
Got too wait till Monday to contact dealer so they can diagnose the problem.

Will update when problem identified / fixed.
All I can say at the moment is

PS

Car is Jan 03 24000 miles JCWS

[Shorty]

Quote: Originally Posted by RVW

As I have voted in this thread in February stating I have had no steering problems, thought it would be the right place to alter that.
Started the car this morning and noticed a funny gurgling noise. Thought it was coming from the water system so I turned off and checked water level>all ok.

Thought no more of it as the car had been stood for two weeks + as I have been on my Hols.
Steering felt a little heavy but as I have been driving a 206 for two weeks>again thought no more of it.

Came home after a sprited blast, parked in the drive and went in for a bite to eat.
Came out a little later to give her a wash prior going to Gaydon tommorrow (Sunday)
when I noticed a wet patch underneath on the lefthand side. So I reversed the car and checked to see what it was. Horror it was hydaulic oil from the power steering. Sure enough checked the resovoir EMPTY Bang goes my day out at Gaydon not risking driving there and back
Got too wait till Monday to contact dealer so they can diagnose the problem.

Will update when problem identified / fixed.
All I can say at the moment is

PS

Car is Jan 03 24000 miles JCWS

Sounds exactly the same as mine......

So I'm sure it'll be a new steering rack for you too

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by RVW

As I have voted in this thread in February stating I have had no steering problems, thought it would be the right place to alter that.
Started the car this morning and noticed a funny gurgling noise. Thought it was coming from the water system so I turned off and checked water level>all ok.

Thought no more of it as the car had been stood for two weeks + as I have been on my Hols.
Steering felt a little heavy but as I have been driving a 206 for two weeks>again thought no more of it.

Came home after a sprited blast, parked in the drive and went in for a bite to eat.
Came out a little later to give her a wash prior going to Gaydon tommorrow (Sunday)
when I noticed a wet patch underneath on the lefthand side. So I reversed the car and checked to see what it was. Horror it was hydaulic oil from the power steering. Sure enough checked the resovoir EMPTY Bang goes my day out at Gaydon not risking driving there and back
Got too wait till Monday to contact dealer so they can diagnose the problem.

Will update when problem identified / fixed.
All I can say at the moment is

PS

Car is Jan 03 24000 miles JCWS

Hi RVW,

Can you PM Paul Mullett please regarding changing your vote?
I can't do it from here as it seems like there's no options to do so.

I might PM him too, as I feel that is a little loop-hole on these poll-threads.

Sorry to hear regarding the car. It's a real shame
Hope the hydraulic fluid hasn't damaged your home drive. Sounds a little like a claim for damages maybe winging it's to BWM if it is the case!!!

Fingers crossed that that isnt' the case.

[RVW]

BMW tech came today. Verified I need a new rack also noted that the Supercharger and water pump belt was making a sueeking noise and that would require attention as well. Funny that cos it was done about six weeks ago, i.e. new tensioner and belt, and now it has returned.
Should be done in the next couple of days

No damage to drive, well no more than my old van does

Paul has been PM`d

[profyaffle]

My steering got progresively noisier over the last couple of days so before I went to work this afternoon I thought I'd check the steering fluid.... low and behold the reservoir was empty...the fluid had either been stolen ;o) or leaked out... anyway I rang my garage and explained the problem and he said to call Mini assist and I said I didn't have time as I was due at work... anyway to cut a long boring story short.. I popped into the dealership (Sandals in Wakefield, very efficient) and they checked it out.. filled it up and informed me I had a leak on a pipe into the steering rack.. keep an eye on it and call Mini assist if happens again... *fingers crossed* it won't happen again... and I got to work on time!!!
BTW I had voted to say I hadn't had a new steering pump.... I hope I don't need to change that!

[minimc]

Pump was getting REALLY noisy. ...Found out that the fan had crapped out and that the pump was dying. ...Not sure which came first, but I voted yes - 1 pump failure.

[prawns_4_dawn]

I was parked in a shop carpark and got tannoyed because my Mini Cooper was smoking but it stopped. I moved it a short distance in the car park but quickly realised that there was a problem with the power steering, on parking for the 2nd time, I now had a small fire in my engine. Thankfully it went out before the Fire Brigage arrived!

The garage diagnosed a problem with the power steering, it took 4 days to get all the relevant parts fitted and working. I got it back yesterday. The garage is very helpful to be fair, but they did say that they'd never heard of this problem before, but now I realise its quite a common problem!

I've got a 51 Cooper and I've had a LOT of problems with it... has anyone been in touch with BMW Mini Customer Services and got any response at all? I'd be interested to hear.

Dawn

[doctorx]

I think my steering is developing a fault right now. When the car starts from cold the power steering feels a little intermittent. Our street is very tight for parking so I often have to give it full lock to get in and out . I was wondering whether frequent full-lock parallel parking was causing wear on the system – so it’ s interesting to hear that some more people are having problems too. Anyway - it's going into the dealer to have some other stuff done soon so I'll ask them to check it out.

03 MCS JCW210

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by doctorx

I think my steering is developing a fault right now. When the car starts from cold the power steering feels a little intermittent. Our street is very tight for parking so I often have to give it full lock to get in and out . I was wondering whether frequent full-lock parallel parking was causing wear on the system – so it’ s interesting to hear that some more people are having problems too. Anyway - it's going into the dealer to have some other stuff done soon so I'll ask them to check it out.

03 MCS JCW210

Get it sorted.

[junglemonkey]

I posted here about my power steering but got like 1 reply.

Power steering failed, Mini emergency services get called out, he says it's a slack wire and fiddles around at the passengers foot well and all is fine again.

Next morning, power steering fails again, Mini emergency services are called out yet again. They decide to take it into the garage where I have to fight for hours to get a hired car (I really need my car to get to school and go out etc) because the DVLA ****ed up. Eventually get one (a 1.8L Diesel Sport BMW Ones Series ) and within in an hour they called back, wanting the hire car back.

Diagnosis: WRONG TYRE PRESSURES! I know I'm 17 and I know I'm a girl but I do know that's total ********.

So the next day the power steering fails - Twice! And the garage take it in again and replace the pump. The guy who was called out told them it was that and they just didn't do anything about it. We were treated like total **** in that dealer.

I wouldn't be so ****ed off if my handbrake wasn't ****ed, I didn't have condensation in my rear and side lenses, the moulding wasn't coming off in the back right, I didn't have to hear annoying rattling constantly when I drive and my reverse gear wasn't being a *****. Not impressed, I love my Mini but it's not even a year old!

[RVW]

Quote: Originally Posted by junglemonkey

I posted here about my power steering but got like 1 reply.

Power steering failed, Mini emergency services get called out, he says it's a slack wire and fiddles around at the passengers foot well and all is fine again.

Next morning, power steering fails again, Mini emergency services are called out yet again. They decide to take it into the garage where I have to fight for hours to get a hired car (I really need my car to get to school and go out etc) because the DVLA ****ed up. Eventually get one (a 1.8L Diesel Sport BMW Ones Series ) and within in an hour they called back, wanting the hire car back.

Diagnosis: WRONG TYRE PRESSURES! I know I'm 17 and I know I'm a girl but I do know that's total ********.

So the next day the power steering fails - Twice! And the garage take it in again and replace the pump. The guy who was called out told them it was that and they just didn't do anything about it. We were treated like total **** in that dealer.

I wouldn't be so ****ed off if my handbrake wasn't ****ed, I didn't have condensation in my rear and side lenses, the moulding wasn't coming off in the back right, I didn't have to hear annoying rattling constantly when I drive and my reverse gear wasn't being a *****. Not impressed, I love my Mini but it's not even a year old!

Sorry to read about your problems. Your best bet is to document every thing that has happened and send it to customer services at MINI. You should get a response from them

[waynef]

Quote: Originally Posted by junglemonkey

I posted here about my power steering but got like 1 reply.

Power steering failed, Mini emergency services get called out, he says it's a slack wire and fiddles around at the passengers foot well and all is fine again.

Next morning, power steering fails again, Mini emergency services are called out yet again. They decide to take it into the garage where I have to fight for hours to get a hired car (I really need my car to get to school and go out etc) because the DVLA ****ed up. Eventually get one (a 1.8L Diesel Sport BMW Ones Series ) and within in an hour they called back, wanting the hire car back.

Diagnosis: WRONG TYRE PRESSURES! I know I'm 17 and I know I'm a girl but I do know that's total ********.

So the next day the power steering fails - Twice! And the garage take it in again and replace the pump. The guy who was called out told them it was that and they just didn't do anything about it. We were treated like total **** in that dealer.

I wouldn't be so ****ed off if my handbrake wasn't ****ed, I didn't have condensation in my rear and side lenses, the moulding wasn't coming off in the back right, I didn't have to hear annoying rattling constantly when I drive and my reverse gear wasn't being a *****. Not impressed, I love my Mini but it's not even a year old!

Hi. Sorry to hear that. A ruddy shame if you ask me that not only the car is a bag of ****, but also that you have been treated like a fool. There may well have been problems that encompassed tyre pressures, but certainly that shouldn't have stopped the steering working.

May I ask that you contact VOSA immediately and tell them that this is yet another occasion of drivers being messed around and lied too: as I definitely was. Details of the VOSA contact numbers are on the first post on page one of this thread.

It's a shame that it should come to this really, but how would you feel if it went when you were driving and you hit something or someone? Personally, I hope that never happens. Seems like the same can't be said for BMW/MINI still.

Take it easy.