So I get in the mini this morning an no power steering??? No electric noise??? could it be a fuse? (I hope) Or is it the pump, I had it put away for the winter, but the power steering hose went on my 92 400E winter beater! Now I take the Mini out and NO POWER STEERING AHHHHHHHHH BAD WEEK FOR POWER STEERING. If I drive it will I make it worse?? I did have it on a battery tender maybe it poped the fuse

 

The brush/contacts in the P/S electric motor finally wore out?

 

Is it bad to drive the car with no power steering???

 

I price out the pump at $567 today is that good?

 

Yep sounds like a pump, we sell the pump for $550 retail is $705

 

Someone else posted $1,100 installed (and sued MINI... but that's a different story).

 

The NHTSA is investigating the P/S on 02-05 MINI's. Why not 06 MINI's who knows?

If you pay for the repair there is a chance later down the line BMW may have to pay you back. I'd recommend calling the NHTSA & report your problem.

 

steering came back WTF

 

I saw a pump on O'Reilly Autoparts website for a bit less than three hundred dollars! it was refurbished though...

 

Change it yourself, use BBA America. Fast shipping, and costs $350 for a cross shipped item. PM me if you want tips on removing the pump.

 

Go to greasy's I think under $400 installed or maybe under $500, they use a refurb one and give you a 1 year warranty parts and labor.

 

drftobin, did you check the fluid level?

Mine did the same thing - was OK when cold, but troublesome once warmed up. Fluid was low because the pump was leaking. I was able to add fluid and get my steering back, but of course - that didn't fix the leak. Had the pump & hoses replaced, and it's working great now. But it was pricey.

P/S failure is becoming a common thing on these first gen cars.

 

picked up a new, upgraded pump and fan on ebay for $550 not bad I think?

 

Installed new pump and fan today not bad, hardest part was the low pressure hose a PITA off and on! A lift is like a dream after 20+ years of rolling around on the floor, should have went pro a long time ago :]

 

Now be sure to install something to protect the fan.

I have a full skid plate on both of my cars, and on my wife's cooper, there's also the little metal screen over the fan.

Crap gets kicked up from the road and lodged in the fan - then eventually the pump dies from not being cooled by the fan.

 

already got the fan cover, did not seem to matter though, skip plate ???

 

http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...eIndexID=87847

One note - unless they've changed it, it comes with crappy mounting bolts that use an allen key.

On the advice of a friend, these were replaced with true hex head bolts. And be sure to keep these bolts lubed or use anti-seize.