My 2006 R53 6sp w/62k miles makes a whine that I obviously thought was related to the PS. However, my mini tech checked it out and he does not believe it is related to my PS pump, fan, or lines. He actually thinks it might be related to the differential fluid (I have JCW w/LSD) and he wants to change out the fluid. Yet, as the YT video demonstrates, the noise is evident even stationary in neutral when I turn the wheel, so I question the LSD.

 

Seriously? How can he tell you that noise is the differential? You're stopped!

Don't let them change the trans fluid..

That's a PS whine. Make sure you have the right fluid in there as well as proper level.

Unfortunately you're not covered by the PS pump warranty like the earlier cars are, so if it is in fact a problem you're gonna be on the hook for a new pump when the time comes.

 

That is pretty funny the tech thinks it's the differential. You need a better mechanic if they think the transmission makes noise when you turn the steering wheel.

The whining sounds normal to me. The electric pumps sometimes make noise so there's probably nothing wrong with it.

But like Nkfry said, can't hurt to check the fluid.

 

Thanks

The tech comes highly recommended and I've worked with him previously with some other side work. The noise is evident as well during slow/moderate tight turns, say for example you are turning around in a parking lot. But during everyday driving you don't really hear or feel anything. The noise is most evident as described in the video

 

It's the ps pump. It's making a normal noise. It might get worse or die completely some day but they all sound like that occasionally.

The transmission is doing nothing if the car isn't moving, and it certainly doesn't sound like an electric pump if there is something wrong with it.

Change the transmission fluid if you want to, it's not going to hurt anything. It just won't change the noise your power steering pump makes.

 

Has it always been that loud, or did it suddenly get louder?

The ps pump is resiliently mounted to minimize noise and vibration transmitted to the frame. It's possible a rock or something popped up there and creating a "sound short" allowing pump noise to be transmitted to the frame and sound much louder.

 

I only got the car a few weeks ago.

Driving it today, the steering is a bit whiny during slow to moderate turns (turning into a parking lot, turning into my driveway, garage)--it seems to occur more often when turning left.
My tech has test driven the car and checked over the PS pump, fan, and lines and didn't see anything obvious. I did search here for differential fluid and some folks have complained about a similar noise. I need to search for the Thread.

 

Go to a drive-thru - as you're up against the wall, roll down the window and turn the wheek - you'll clearly hear the "note/pitch" change as the pump works. I wouldn't sweat it until it fails.

 

Seriously, just go buy a good cat-back sport exhaust system so you won't hear the power steering pump.

 

 

Me and my dad's power steering pumps have always been "whiney". It's a noise I quickly grew to associate with MINIs. I like the noise. Doing the power steering recall got rid of it almost entirely on both our MINIs.

 

...and you hear it more in the garage...normal...