Just wondering if anyone else had a "clicking" sound coming from their steering wheel on a 2004 model. It doesn't occur on during every turn, and if you adjust the wheel, it can dissapear for a short time. This seems to be different from previous steering wheel problems as you can't "feel" the click in the accelerator like previous owners have posted. I've also seen the past steering wheel problem described as "banging".

I've seen 1 other 2004 owner post the same problem on MINI2, but wanted to see if anyone here at NAM has experienced this or had this problem checked out by service.

rd, I have a sept build '04 and have had no problems other than an occasional stumble or yo yo. I have 3,600 miles and no rattles or any noise of any kind, Tim

I have the 2004 steering wheel click. I am probably the one you saw on MINI2. Let me know if you find out anything more.

Is this just a single "click" or more like a fast "click, click, click, click". I had the latter on my 03 MC and it turned out that they need to replace my rack and pinion. Crazy stuff for a brand new car.

It's just a single click. It's odd, but reading into the problems that the 02-03's had, it sounds totally different. I'll definitely have it looked at during my first service.

It could be my post you saw on mini2.......
Mine only occurs during the first few miles of the journey. As I turn the steering wheel, I could feel distinct "tap" or "knock" on the steering wheel. The location of the "tap" is inconsistent. Nothing is felt in the pedals. It knocks multiple times as I turn from lock to lock.

Does this sound like what you are experiencing?

My build date is 9/4, so I have one of the earliest 04s.

Very similar, but doesn't stop after the first few miles. Sometimes, it never even starts. It is interesting that we have a close build date though. Mine was completed in October of 03.

I have the same issue and mine is a 3/02 build - go figure.

I had it on my 9/02 build (2003 model). It was only when the steering was under load. So it would click when turning at slow speeds like pulling in and out of a driveway or parking etc...It turned out to be the steering rack going bad. It was replaced under warranty. It progressively got worse over about a six month period before it had to be replaced.

I have it too. Mine is just off center in turning both directions. Much more pronounced when turning at very slow speeds.

Have you all had this since delivery or did it appear? I do not have it on a 04 MC.

I think I noticed it pretty early on. Mine is very similar to how BuckeyeMCS explained it. It's definitely not a multiple click. I'm still inclined to wait until my first service is scheduled. Hopefully my dealer with have a loaner program by then.

I have a similar "problem" (it's not really a problem though, is it?) on my May 2003-build MINI Cooper. It only happens when I first start the car in the morning or after sitting in the parking lot at work all day. And only at low speeds. Then, it disappears.

It can be described as a distinct "detent" feeling in the wheel, as it turns, it "hits" a certain spot where I can feel...how can I describe it accurately? It's like "feeling" a click, but not hearing a click... does that make sense?

To get out of the parking lot at work, I have to back out and then turn the wheel all the way to "lock" ... during the wheel turning, there are 1 or 2 times when I can feel this "detent" point... I guess if I knew how a typical rack and pinion works, I could ascertain if this has something to do with the mechanics of the device -- like how it's put together...maybe two parts of the system are coming loose and/or binding?

What's odd though, is the fact that the "detent" dissappears after warm-up....drive just a few miles and it's gone. I can stop the car, park, get back in a few minutes later, and cannot mimic the "problem." It's only when the car has been sitting overnight or at least many hours... I have 8,000 on the odometer...I'll have the dealer check it at 10K service but I doubt they'll do anything since they won't be able to replicate the problem or feel what I'm feeling...I just know it.

Hmmmmm.....

-MB

I have a nov03 build 04MCS. My problem sounds just like Boognish's. It's there when the car's been sitting for a while and I back out of a parking spot. I think it's always been there, but didn't think much of it. It goes away after it's warmed up. I thought I read most people only notice it in cold weather. I've only owned mine so far in cold weather :???: .

It doesn't annoy me enough to have it fixed, yet. On MINI2 I saw many people had their column or rack replaced only to have the problem return. Does anyone know if this is actually a problem (other than annoying)? If my steering will go out after X thousand miles, I am concerned, but if it will just do this in cold weather and has no long-term effects, I'll live with it for now.

11 '02 build '03 mc. I have the same click. When cold. After warm it seems to dissapear.

I too have this on a Nov03 build 04 MC. It feels like a click in the steering wheel, but seems to go away after a few miles. I first just thought it was the bitter cold. Now I am feeling it even though it has not been as cold. If it's a normal thing, I'm fine with it. If someting is going bad, I want to get it fixed...

I had the clicks. I adjusted my steering wheel down and now they seem to be gone. Hmmm. Makes me think that it is hitting something at certain wheel positions.

-mczinn

I have this problem, too. Car built Dec '03 (delivered Jan 2 '04). Just like boognish describes. I've got 2500 miles on the car now, and I've had it into the dealer twice now for this and both times they have been unable to repeat the problem and just give it back to me. I'm going to ignore it for a while, and if it gets worse, take it in a complain harder.

>>Makes me think that it is hitting something at certain wheel positions.

Sounds like it. I think the problem is not specific to 2004, but rather a random occurrence. Most likely the problem is caused by obstruction of some sort, resulting in rubbing during turning of the steering wheel.

Anyone got an update on their steering wheel "click" or "knock"?
Mine is getting worse.... Started at about 1000 miles, and I have about 3000 miles now.

I have just started to notice the off-center click or detent on our '02 MINI with 20K miles. I have had this on another car. The car had a ZF steering rack that was prone to this problem. It seemed to be aggravated by contamination in the power steering fluid, and could be helped by flushing and refilling the fluid. As the fluid warms up, the problem is less noticable.

I'm becoming a MINI-chondriac. Every time I read a thread that has a few owners describing the same problem, I've either got it or I'm afraid I'm gonna catch it.

I have the faint little knock/tap in the steering wheel that I notice when I back out of the driveway in the morning. I only notice it after I turn the wheel more than a half-turn. It's not bad, it's just "there" if you know what I mean. This just started last fall, after 16 months of owning the car. I used to think that whatever defects were lurking inside a new car would show themselves within the first year. But after my P.O.S. '95 3.5L Intrepid I think it might be true that if things keep going wrong after the first couple of years it might be time to bail.

Anyone's "clunk" getting worse?
 

I have an October '04 build 2005 MINI Cooper (non-S) and at about 8K miles, I've started noticing the same thing - no audible clunk, just a feeling that the steering is "loose" when cold. After the engine warms up (maybe 5 minutes), everything is "tight" and perfect.

I'm not sure if this is going to get worse, or how I can get my MINI dealer to see this problem, since it will probably have to involve letting it sit overnight before they will be able to see it.

So I'm curious - since this thread has aged some:

Have your problems gotten worse? Or is this just a "characteristic" of our MINIs that we can safely ignore?

nothing like reviving an old thread lol

Checked out the thread on mini2.com
 

Actually, I just found a really long, 15-page(!) thread on mini2.com that goes for over 2 years! It's the saga of a whole bunch of people trying to get their steering "clunk" fixed. It appears that the problem is that there is a steering "spindle" part that tends to wear out over about 1 year or so, and can cause a small amount of play in the steering. Dealers have learned to replace this part, as well as the lower steering column, and this tends to tighten up the feel for a while. But every thread participant, after declaring success for 1 year, returns and says the "clunk" returned eventually.

Apparently, this is something that all mini owners will just have to live with. :sad:

This is the thread:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42815