I want my 06' cooper to last forever (at least 200,000mi) but it's not off to a good start

45,000 mi Power steering pump and pump motor replaced
49,000 mi Thermostat replaced.

Past following the Manufactures maintenance guidelines what can I do?

The Dealership mechanic recommend changing the Power steering fluid every 2 years. He admitted he doesn't have any evidence this will extend the life of the power steering pump but he does it because it's all he can think of to extend the life of the pump.

I welcome any tip (driving or maintenance)

 

Dont drive it. Encase it in amber and let harden.

 

Oil changes every 7500 mile...don't follow the counter in the car.
Good wax, and wash the salt off the body, frame, etc as soon as the temp goes above freezing if you live in the north. Heck, a guy who had a quick lube shop mess up his oil change had 248,000 miles...looks like it might turn out ok for him as it looks like the motor MAY have survived!

 

Replacing bits like the power steering and thermostat when they break is how you make your MINI last forever.

 

Both items are actually favorites to fail... and the infamous passenger side motor mount.

The mechanic is wrong in recommending regular fluid change for the PS pump. It's the electronic component in the pump that gets fried, not the fluid. This is a design flaw. My VW uses the same fluid and I've only changed 50% of it at 90k miles. The PS pump is the traditional driven-by-belt type; it now has 168k miles and runs as new... no leaks, no noise.

Regular maintenance (by the book or better) is the best way to make sure the car runs as it should. As for cost, it's a Euro car... most of us will not have the same experience as a Japanese car. A German friend of mine who worked for BMW in Munich said jokingly, "If it doesn't break, we'll re-engineer it to break... more profit for the manufacturer."

C'est la vie!

 

Just keep up on the maint. Definetly 5k-7500k oil changes will help it last alot longer, and break up the repairs into smaller bits.
I have a customer with over 230k on his car.

 

I don't 100% agree. Yes the electric motor gets fried but in theory changing the fluid to keep the pump properly lubricated. THis reduces the load on the motor. Less stress on the motor means it will last longer. But I doubt this will end up having a big effect in the real world. The best Idea may be to avoid turning the wheels while stopped. I believe this puts the highest load on the pump motor.

 

Perhaps...but since it is not a brush-less electric motor...it is basically a wear item, just like an alternator. The brushes will wear down...and at some point...it will no longer work. I think ensureing that the PS cooling fan is working and not seized will help the motor stay cool, helping to prolong its life. Parts brake...sometimes predictably, sometimes randomly...so far it sounds like you are not doing too bad!! Heck...PS pump was pricey, but I doubt that it will happen again anytime soon unless the fan has failed....I would recommend checking it Every oilchange...sometimes a few moments of preventive matainace can save you much more $$ in the long run.

 

In theory, you're right. But to know the condition of a fluid, one should have it analyzed.... just like used motor oil. From following PS failures on NAM, most are related to the brushes wearing off and/or the circuitry overheated due to fan failure. The mechanical components themselves seem to be fine; they're just metallic gears.

My 2 other cars have seen a 50% refill once, with 295k miles between them. However, they're the traditional driven-by-belt design and only one uses the same fluid as the Mini.

I also only turn the steering while the car is in motion to lessen the load. Also, check the fan each time you're down there for an oil change.