a new one? power steering failure

[jasper0507]

Searched the site yesterday to see if there were any similar problems we have experienced with our 18 month old Cooper. Not finding any thought I would post this as the consequences could potentially be serious.
Started last week when my wife returned to her car after shopping. Started the engine but the steering was in her words; locked. She called the local BMW dealer who fortunately is only 0.5 miles away. Of course they get to her and find nothing wrong!! Agree to take it in and check what might be the problem, suspecting perhaps the steering column was not releasing. Had it all day, found nothing. Wife thinks they think 'dizzy blonde' (her words).
Used the car for a further 5 days no problem. Until she returned from shopping again to find the same problem. This time it was out of hours, so she called BMW Assistance, told them she was an unaccompanied woman, to there credit they turned up within half an hour.
In the meantime I arrive. I start the car and guess what? Nothing wrong. Just about to cancel the breakdown when I decide to stop the engine and restart. Just as well because to my wife’s delight the problem reoccurred.
The engine starts and runs OK, but there is no power to the steering, therefore the steering wheel is virtually immovable.
The technician pulls up, diagnosis the problem as the power steering pump not working, says the belt is fine so baffled!! So was I because the power steering pump in electrically driven NOT mechanical. (Something I confirmed on this site)
I then suggested he take it away to the workshop because if BMW couldn't fix it in the workshop what chance did he have on a wet, cold night in Tesco's car park!!
So, the car still sits 2 days later in BMW, they say although again no fault can now be found as the steering is now working we can't have it back because if the fault were to happen while driving........ Enough said.
But, they have loaned my wife a brand-new Cooper and until this we have been delighted with the car and the service from our dealer, unlike some poor souls on this site.

[Paul]

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

[Malin Dixon]

Having the power steering fail while driving isn't that frightening on a small car like a MINI. Without power, it is much lighter at speed (above 10 mph) so it realy isn't too bad.

I once owned a Transit van with no power steering. I could not move the steering when the vehicle wasn't moving. Parking meant getting the vehicle to creep so that the steering could be moved.

I'm not saying that the MINI is OK. It should be fixed but you don't need to get scared into not driving it.

[junglemonkey]

My power steering "failed" this morning. Apparently it was a slack wire!

[jasper0507]

Car returned yesterday. Eventually after not being able to induce the fault BMW decided to fit a new power steering pump, oh well, lets just hope it wasn't just a faulty connection as one of the replies said was the cause of his p/s failure. At least they washed it again before returning it, extra hour with the papers this weekend!!

[junglemonkey]

Quote: Originally Posted by jasper0507

Car returned yesterday. Eventually after not being able to induce the fault BMW decided to fit a new power steering pump, oh well, lets just hope it wasn't just a faulty connection as one of the replies said was the cause of his p/s failure. At least they washed it again before returning it, extra hour with the papers this weekend!!

If you're referring to me...

My p/s failed the next day. Took it into the BMW garage (and got a BMW one series as a replacement, hilarious to see the look on people's faces as a 17 year old in school uniform cruised past) and they didn't find anything wrong so blamed it on the tyre inflations! Come on!

Thing was, by the time the BMW assistance arrived, the power steering was back on so it's working intermittently, and that would suggest my tyres were magically reinflating and deflating at the drop of a hat. And the day before, it was a slack wire?! Hmm, interesting.

Oh, and for future reference, I'm a girl

[jasper0507]

whoops sorry, normal male assumptions (just a typical stereotype male)

ours started as an intermittent fault, BMW returned it once saying couldn't find anything wrong even when the technician arrived on the 2nd breakdown it worked OK, but then fortunately the pump gave up completely, leaving no doubt as to the problem. But by the time it arrived in the workshops the next day it was working OK again. Only with my wifes insistence did they keep it and eventually change the pump. Which for the last 3 weeks has performed OK. But then someone has let their door hit the mini's door in a car park £350 later.... wife not a happy bunny!!