Where do you get the power steering fluid that is spec. by Mini on the cap??

And why is there nothing in the owner's manual about the power steering?

Cheers
Rob

 

rob, it's not PS fluid per se, but some kind of hydraulic fluid that's uber expensive. whatever U do, DONT put in regular PS fluid. im at work and I dont know the name of what BMW uses for their cars (pentasol?) but if U call yr dealer and ask a service advisor they will tell U. About $35/can I lucked out when my PS rack blew an internal seal, and I was a few days from a service appointment, so they gave me 3/4 can for $0 so I could keep it topped off.

 

The MINI uses Pentosin CHF11S, it's in a green can.

 

Thanks guys I will check the local BMW and Audi dealers to see if they have any. I think I have a leak and want to make sure before going to the dealer which is about 60 miles away

 

If U suspect a leak, like say yr PS fluid level going down, yet U see no fluid on the ground--or yr steering feels rough--there's a good chance that an internal O-ring on the PS rack is leaking or may have blown. The rings are inside a rubber bellows, and the bellows just fill up with fluid then rupture like water balloons. This happened to my 05 S at 14K, yet I was able to drive it around for a week w/o any issues. This electro-hydraulic steering system is a Rover leftover, and is so problematic it was dumped for 07 in favor of an all-electric system.

Be prepared: if a ring did blow out, it's about $1,400 p/l for a new rack and 4 wheel alignment if U have no warranty.

 

So is the rack a dealer only part??

 

Is it normal for the system to go off while driving down the road then turn back on after shuting the car off for 10 mins?

 

As far as I know, yeah. And it's the labor to replace it, not the part, that's so damned pricey.