Hi All,

I am getting ready to find a MINI to purchase and I know that the power steering pump is a weak point on the car. I've been thinking of replacing the power steering fan (straight away) and also saw this post about a duct -- it seems to me you could easily enough just drill holes in the bottom of the stock plastic piece to improve airflow -- is that correct?

Has anyone done this mod?

http://www.billswebspace.com/MiniR53PSPFanDuctDIY.htm

 

My 2005 MCS already had the updated belly pan with the slots and screws for the duct. The fan, however, had the grill and did not have the clip-nuts. I ordered the duct, and the clip-nuts, and bolted it right in without any issues (after removing the grill on the fan). Be aware that the duct is quite pricey, as I believe that it is an item that has limited availability based on the age of the vehicle.

 

Wow -- you weren't joking about the ducting being expensive -- Seems to me someone MUST have developed a HOME DEPOT edition by now? Anyone?

 

If i remember right the duct was about 85$, with all the parts needed, oem......
A new ps fan is about $150....ps pump 600$....so if you just save the ps fan or extrnd the life of either, you come out ahead....
most of the aftermarket shields are just that...made to stop plastic bags from jamming the fan....a non issue after 2005 when all new fans, including replacents came with a plastic grill.
i got my oem duct from moss mini....was about a 15 install, plus jacking time.....easy job. Posted a few threads about it....google search with the site serch should get you the info....the build in site serch is pretty date limited to try to prevent posting on outdated threads.....

 

Ps....the duct uses the same fan....it ensures airflow by protecting the fan and ducts air from the lip area of the bumper....so cutting holes will not help....and the duct can only be an inch or so thick, and it bends arouund the oil pan (must unclip it to drain the oil).

 

Hey Zippy, do you happen to know a part number? I did some searching around moss mini and wasn't able to find it. I am pretty sure I want to install this. Thanks

 

uhm, yeah, and how many years ago was this? I don't mean any disrespect, but when I did my search a couple of months ago, the prices I got were no longer in that range. This was consistent with many out of production parts such as the stupid reading lamp pushbuttons that break and fall off ($3.05 list price back then, now going for $15.09 discounted, EA! ).

Anyways, this was /is what I found for the "air channel" (power steering fan duct), p/n: 51757201453: list price=$181.32 / ECS Tuning=$170.67 / minipartsmass=$154.12. Clip-nuts for the fan = p/n: 07146981767.

Good luck and let us know what you end up paying for the air duct.

 

The duct was installed starting in 2005 on cabrio's ....possiblely only the s with the auto tranny....so when you use realoem or penskeparts too look it up, go by those newer cars in looking up the parts diagrams....I know it fits the s, but not so sure of the just-a-cooper. The part as a add on was never a big seller....was even rare when the cars were in production....but if you lnow a place parting out a cabrio....most of the plastic parts are junked...but the part, and the gen1 cooper was in use as late as the 2008 cabrio...it was the last of the gen1 cars (2 years past the end of hardtops, mini said it took extra engineering to create a cabrio...so the old version soldered on for an extra 2 years). So it might be at worst, a 4 year out of production part...so a few warrenty cars still around in the form of last gen1 cars....parts should be around. But like i said, the plastc skirts, bases, wheel wells, end up junked at junkyards...so a few bucks from a person parting out a cabrio should get you tge 2 parts a regular s needs, as shown in the above diy. Good luck!!

 

At $154, it is still cheaper than having to swapout a ps fan....if the duct just keeps the fan grit free from the extra bends and extends the life of the pump, still a winner longterm imo.
Parts costs for ALL imported parts have been climbing....thanks to the weakening us $$ in relation to other world currencies....we have gotten a temporary boost from the greek/euro fiasco, but with ptinting presses running in dc, be preared to buy even more $$ parts. When the euro was ¢85-90 to 1 us $1, we had some deals..but now since we are $1 to 1 with even canada, and $1 to 1.30 to the euro....go figure.

 

Wow, when I looked at doing this mod a few years ago, the duct (51757201453) was only $36.22. Something more in line to being just a plastic tube. RealOEM.com still lists it as such, though I guess their price list database hasn't been updated in a while.