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Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.
I had a 2004 R50 that had the power steering fan/pump replaced under the extended warranty under my ownership, after the symptoms started popping up. So I'm very familiar with the issue, as a driver.
My 2005 R52 just started having the exact same issues. I drove it an hour+ to the dealer after being assured by their call center team that it would be replaced under the same warranty, only to find out that its VIN excludes it from the warranty. However, its build date falls within the warranty, so the dealer's advice was to get it diag'ed, and then call Mini corporate and ask what they could do for me, since it's within the build date range, just didn't qualify by VIN.
So I paid the $140 diag fee only for them to call and tell me that it was in fact NOT the pump/fan, and simply that I was low on fluid, and that the main line is leaking. Advice? Just check it regularly, and replace the line at some point. I was very skeptical, but drove down and picked it up. Unfortunately, because it is a very intermittent issue, it of course worked both when they test drove it, and after they topped up the fluid.
It was fine for two days, and then the power steering cut out again. The second it did, I drove five minutes to an auto parts store, bought a can of fluid, and popped the hood, expecting that my leak was way worse than expected....the reservoir was full up.
I'd say it works about 75% of the time, starting up. I can't ever get it to work by turning it on and off again...I have to sit for a day or two and then when I turn it back on, the PS is back. Less frequently, it will cut out mid-drive.
I'm not a mechanic by any means, but these symptoms do not scream "low fluid" or "air bubbles in the line" to me.....they scream "failing PS that should be covered under warranty." But correct me if I'm wrong?
Should I keep fighting this out with the dealer/Mini? It's complicated by the fact that my dealer is an hour+ away and I have a normal 8-5 job I'm expected to be at. Or just figure I'm screwed in terms of getting it covered under warranty, and just have my mechanic replace the pump?
I would just ignore it until it really goes, but unfortunately it becomes very difficult for my 100-something pound self to drive when it cuts out, as most of my commute is winding backroads, not straight highway cruising!
If it was me, I'd just find a local indy repair shop with a good reputation and get it fixed. I wouldn't be driving 100 miles to have Mini charge me $140 diagnostic fee. Time is money.
Did you ever call/email the corporate office? it sounds like classic early signs of PS pump failure, but I can't remember if the R50's had different pumps than the R53's.
You might also try replacing the fan or checking the fan to see if it's getting gritty/seized. I think I got the same brand fan off ebay for $100 and it's literally 2 13mm (1/2 inch) nuts and one squeeze electrical connection to remove, 3 or 4 screws to swap out the fan, and then put the fan back on the car.
I think you've got a good shot at getting it covered by MINI but hard to say for sure
also I don't know if the recall works the same as the extended warranty but I had already replaced my pump and fan when they announced the extended warranty so I mailed in my receipts and they mailed me a check as reimbursement. So you could go ahead and fix it, then hopefully be reimbursed.
If it was me, I'd just find a local indy repair shop with a good reputation and get it fixed. I wouldn't be driving 100 miles to have Mini charge me $140 diagnostic fee. Time is money.
I have a good mechanic already, but it's not a cheap repair. (Even for a Mini!)
Originally Posted by Racingguy04
Did you ever call/email the corporate office? it sounds like classic early signs of PS pump failure, but I can't remember if the R50's had different pumps than the R53's.
I haven't yet, this all happened within the last three or four business days.
Last edited by MiniGirl23; Nov 24, 2015 at 06:37 AM.
Does sound like the PS is going out intermittently. The power steering pumps are not cheap so if it were me I'd work your way up the chain and see what person ends up being able to help you in this situation. Or you can go to an indy shop and see what they have to say, but either way the cost of the part will be pretty pricey. Be sure to check the fan and its condition as well. In some cases, the fan can lock up, preventing the cooling of the power steering pump, which in turn causes the pump to overheat and fail. In some instances, the plastic protective grille on the outside of the fan can be knocked off. In this case, even something as simple as a plastic bag on the road can get sucked up into the fan. If this happens, it can bend the shaft and render the fan inoperative.
I have an '06 S, with no power steering at all. Clearly this is the very common issue happening here... but my build date is 11/05. Has anyone had any experience/luck with Mini honoring the extended warranty for models slightly beyond the date range? Or was there ever an additional round of extension for cars that are literally using the same parts and having the same failure? I love the car, but good lord I'm going to dislocate a shoulder driving like this .
If it were just a hundred bucks or two, I wouldn't even bother and would just do the repair... but it's a pretty significant cost.
The power steering warranty was 2002- feb 2005 correct, then they updated the pump. See recall below.
You might be able to get them to do a goodwill, but you would have to call and ask them since you are an 06'.
Check to see if its the pump, fan, or the wire itself first. Also do you have low P/S fluid ? If the lines leak and there is low or no fluid you will loose Power steering, might just be the lines. Check the reservoir and cap with level.
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