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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.
Speaking from very recent experience...2006 R50 with 144,000 miles...Mine was leaking and after a lot of hemming and hawing I bit the bullet and bought replacement hoses. Mod Mini has a great how-to video and it was pretty easy. Oh...I also replaced the o-ring on the PS reservoir but it was the hoses. Took a bit of work and a few hours for me to do the work but it isn't too difficult. Getting the PS pump out and back in was the hardest part of the job.
The video shows how to replace the pump...but the hoses are part of it...
MINI Cooper Replace Power Steering Pump howto - Gen 1 2002-2006 R50 R53 R52
Zsm is right...the banjo bolt is a little tricky. I had to take the driver side tire off (front) to access the banjo bolt...just make sure you replace all the parts and all the old parts come off...there are two aluminum gaskets/washers that go on both sides of the banjo fitting. I believe it's a 22mm bolt head for the banjo fitting. I had to use a box wrench to get at it...couldn't get it with a socket.
yes, there is a DIY here with pictures on the last page. Its CHF 11s only for the fluid which is linked. Also about the extended warranty/recall on the pump and the fan for certain years.
You may get lucky...I tried that first but the hoses get stiff and just not pliable enough in some cases and in my case they kept on leaking...these are now 11-year-old hoses no matter how you look at it. Understand completely about the cold though ...we only had about 3 days of winter this year...it was 85 today.