Condor Speed Shop is soon coming out w/ a Power Steering Delete kit for the Gen1 MINI & is gauging interest.
So please post if you want or need one.

Note:
Expected Steering resistance will be BETWEEN a GOOD PUMP & a DEAD PUMP in!

Why get one? A few good reasons below:
- Pump & Fan assembly is known to fail. New pumps are no different. Many have gone thru multiple pumps.

- Countless incidents of fire caused by the faulty pump:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...bay-fires.html

- The PS system, its hoses & tank leaks easily. Eliminate them permanently.

-Kit is REVERSIBLE.
Should you decide to go back to stock, you can put back a working pump in.

-Relatively easy to install. Just remove the 2 hose banjo bolts on the rack, put the kit in place of the hoses.

-Shave some weight if you wanna extract the entire Powersteering system off the car.

-Get a more connected & direct steering feel. It will have greater turning resistance, YES, but NOT like having a DEAD Pump in. Ask e30/36, z3 & Miata guys who've done this.

- Affordable Temporary or Permanent Fix.
Condor is looking to offer the kit around or under $50 depending on interest. A group buy will be coming up very soon! So, please post on this thread if you want one. Don't wait for your pump to fail. You can just get 1 & store it for future use.

Sample UHMW Kit for e30/36 & Z3:


Condor Speed Shop link:
http://www.condorspeedshop.com/produ...lock-plate-e30

Please note that I've no commercial involvement whatsoever w/ Condor. I'm just a concerned Gen1 owner who has been frustrated & saddened by seeing all these threads about this failure. My PS is working fine & I'm expecting a kit promised by Condor once testing is done.
This post is a humble way of THANKING Condor Speed Shop for helping the Gen1 MINI owners get an option for the PS woes.

This kit won't have been developed this easily nor this soon w/o the generosity of fellow member, c0op3r. He not only donated a working 06 rack but also shipped it to Condor for R&D. Gratitude should go to these 2!

Again, post if interested. Thanks!!!!

UPDATE: It's finally out!!!!!
http://www.condorspeedshop.com/colle...teering-delete

A SAFETY NOTE: Before deleting, REMOVE the FL4 100A Power Steering Pump Fuse in the engine bay fuse box. Da_Ghost shared this procedure:
"The FL4 100 amp fuse for the power steering is UNDER the fuse box (for my 2005 at least). You need to disconnect the battery, remove the positive cable on the fuse box and the two bolts holding the box, then flip it over and remove the cover. There's 2 or 3 fuses under there, just make sure it's the correct one you're taking out and they are held by torx screws."

 

I'll give it a try on my track car..post the group buy when it's ready.

 

Yes, that's the plan.

 

I'm down! I have already disconnected my pump and it hasn't been bad except when parallel parking.

 

Parallel parking will be easier w/ this kit than what you have now, Take Off.

 

I'd be in for 1. My pump (2nd one) still operates but it would be good to not have to worry about this thing failing!
Kaveman

 

Being a reversible & affordable mod, this would be an ideal part to just keep handy. One you can instantly plug in upon pump failure.

 

Interesting - When I owned an E30 Condor supported the community tremendously with great parts.

This would be one less headache to deal with now or later

If they ever need help locally, I could possibly help with fitment or anything.

 

I'm interested in having one on hand for the inevitable. That way if it fails, I can disconnect it until I decide to replace it or not.




I've been lurking on the threads about this. Thank you so much for all of your time and efforts everyone!

 

thirdlobe, whereabouts are you? Ft. Lauderdale? They might need a Gen1 for actual testing if you're up to it or if you could help find a willing one.
It was great an e30 enthusiast friend (iwantspeed) pointed me to Condor years back. Never gave the delete much thought until recently when I asked Condor if they could develop 1 for our MINIs. Carlos has been more than willing & helpful. Just left me glad & thankful to these guys: Condor, c0op3r & iwantspeed.

 

Thanks for subscribing. The efforts were born of need, passion & the desire to share solutions to rid our cars of this pesky flaw.

 

Yes, they are in the Pompano Beach area and I am about 10-20mins away from them.

I believe they used to be by a local E30 shop and I visited there a couple of times.

 

Great! An extra hand would surely help. What this needs are actual test results & feedback.

 

Curious to hear how the steering will be with a daily driver.

 

I'd purchase one.

 

I am a curious skeptic myself....but hopeful the pros will far outweigh the cons.

 

Definitely a mod I'd want to do - don't care much about extra effort in tight places, since I don't use the car as a daily driver. I once owned a Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser with 33" tires and no power steering - now that was interesting...

 

YES i a interested, but to just grab it and have it sit on the shelf for now untill mine dies. i have almost 150K on my orginal pump, and who knows when it will gove out. and really dont want to spend $$$$ on a new one. besides im used to driving a car with no power steering it easy even at parking lot speeds now.

 

I'm definitely in.

 

SO, I am assuming that when the pump dies, it obviously provides a blockage in the line and removing that will make it easier to steer. When my pump went out, it was way more than I can see anyone wanting to do more than in an urgent situation, rack or street.

 

Interested in the group buy!

 

I am interested, i'm willing to try it.

 

Yes, removing the pump, most of the fluid & air out will reduce resistance to a bearable degree.

 

At 110K on my '04 MSC I definitely need this at the ready.

 

I am in on this one, group buy would great. Thanks