Mine was Rydale Central BMW MINI in Birmingham.
Their management treated me like a ****: it's just a shame that they didn't on the same decent training courses as their good service stuff.
UPDATE: Tommy2 has now been in 3 times for mid-shaft bearing problems. Replacement shaft was problematic from fitting. Dealer replaced steering rack (but not shaft), which did not fix the problem, so third visit was to replace the shaft and bearing (again).
Problem appears to be fixed (a different part number was fitted), but car has to go back in again on Thursday because they didn't align the steering properly (wheel is approx 10 degrees out when travelling in a straight line).
My S went into the dealers today and the problem was described exactly by the service guy after I had told him that I had a steering rack problem, no second guessing on his part........... the car is 7 months and 4700 miles old.
New rack and pump has been ordered, and possibly back in a day or 2, maybe they are getting good at this swap out!!
A common issue around this is returning to the car after a 2 week layoff (as in mine), I wonder if there is a particular cause/effect?
I'd love to know how much this would cost when you are out of warranty!!! I may think again about my declaration of this one being a 'keeper'.
Are there any specific 'maintainance' tips surrounding this problem other than checking on the fluid regularly? I've become used to only checking the oil occasionally and topping up the washer bottles in cars!!!
I don't think there's anything you can do "maintenance" wise. Maybe check the connector for corrosion once in a while. My '02 pump was replaced about a year and a half ago (I think), no problems so far. I was told that the harness was redesigned, which was replaced along with the pump for "corroded connectors". More than likely, the harness connectors were updated. But if the problem is continuing, may be just a bad pump design. I'm out of warranty now at 59,000 miles, so I hope nothing happens.
...and that is the conclusion that I came too as well. I just knew with my luck that MCS's would hit the headlines with this "common" fault and I'd be left with an expensive albatross. Gladly so far I am wrong.
Wow just been reading on the problems MC/S owners have had with their power steering and it scares the hell out of me. I should be in Cardiff with my GF for valentines but am instead here investigating this problem. To cut a long story short my p/steering went just before setting off on our journey this evening. Did a U turn, all was fine then waited for misses to leave the house then loaded the car.
Commenced our journey and steering was heavier than normal (like my first car the 89 AX), drove for 2 miles and it progressively got worse. Decided to drive into a petrol station near by and called mini assist. Engineer checked fluid and belt all was fine and concluded that it's a pump issue.
Car now going into garage 2morrow. Glad in a way that this happened in London, would hate to think what would have happened on the motorway doing over 70 on a bendy stretch.
The dealers were great and fixed the car in a couple of days. When I picked it up the cost was £750 Plus VAT, and the bits were at cost as it was a warranty job, so I guess it would come in at around £1200 when it is out of warranty.OUCH!!!!!!
Wonder if you'd be covered on an extended warranty?
Any UK vehicle less than 3yrs old is covered by manufactures warranty and consequently any repairs of this nature should be done FREE= no money changes hands I would send details and a copy of your invoice to MINI UK a complain vigorously.
The work was done FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY, no complaints, sorry for sending a hare running there!!!.
The costs outlined are what it would cost when the car is out of the warranty and you have to pick the tab up yourself.
I was curious and quizzed the service guy out of interest, if as so many of us seem to quite like these little fellas, and decide to run them beyond the 3 years and this turns into one of their 'little foibles' that has to be lived with, just how hard would it hit our pockets.
If the pump, (I am tending to think it may well be this that is the weak link in the system), proves to be a problem long term, I wonder if a 3rd party upgrade may appear to assist the long termers, if the issue isn't completely erradicated by BMW. I couldn't extract out of the service guy whether the bits are straight replacements, or an on demand/as required retrofit upgrade.
LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-faults-fixes/49527-important-have-you-had-power-steering-pump-failure-please-vote-yes-no.html
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