I think I have steering issues... E.g. I can't really turn my steering wheel at a stand still without a little hint of smoke coming from the engine area. I get around this by not steering too much if my car isn't moving.

I opened my hood and see some sort of leakage around the front radiator. Anyone know what this is and how I can fix it?

 

Nothing of your steering is in the frontal area of your car. Looks like you hit something and it got thrown up into your engine bay. As for your steering, check the fluid level first, and see if your lines are seeping (wetness on the lines, I just did a line replacement on a 04 MCS at my work) Everything is by the back side of the engine towards the driver side.

 

Looks like you have a crack in the radiator at the seam. Looks like you have a Justa Cooper ( NON S ). What year is it?

For certain years there is a recall from MINI on the pump and fan if it fails, I don't know what year you have : https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...50k-miles.html

For the power steering pump , its electrical pump and see here :

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...fan-issue.html


Here is the power steering lines parts and DIy:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hose-pics.html




Here is fro the steering column itself:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...to-center.html




Also check the steering column , when they get hard to return to center or steer and its not the P/S pump check the electrical connection and that the pump is making its normal "whine" noise , rack or fan ( that's located on the bottom on the engine center ). Also check the power steering level. Takes CHF 11s fluid only.


Thanks and hope that helps.

 

Sounds like a leak on the high pressure hose. If it's squirting ps fluid on to the exhaust you'll get the white smoke. I'd look closely at the curved solid metal line that attaches to the pump. Mine was rubbing against a bracket until it wore a hole through it. MINI replaced it under warranty as they installed the new high psi line a year and a half earlier.