Seems I am the newest member of the club...05 Cooper S, 70,000 miles.

The week after MTTS, my crank pulley broke. Got that fixed and then noticed a new noise as I was driving home from the shop. Took the car back in only to find out I have a leaky power steering pump, need new strut mounts and control arm bushings, and my low speed fan is out.

My steering hasn't gone out yet, but another shop has verified that the ps pump is making the soon-to-die noise. I know these are all common failures, but did they all have to happen the same month the car was paid off!! It is bad enough the poor thing ended up with 6 inches of flood water in the floor board the same week she was paid off. I am beginning to wonder if I ran over a gypsy and have been cursed.


So anyway...is Bimmer Specialist the best deal on ps pumps? I have looked at bba and really like that lifetime warranty, but unfortunately I cannot go 1-2 weeks without a car.

 

Mine is in the stuck-on position now also. I just bought the car 2 months ago... Argh.
It still drives fine but it stays on even when the car is turned off. Pain in the butt to disconnect the battery also, because you have to crawl in through the front to get to the battery and can't keep anything in your boot either...
There goes my new wheel rims budget.

 

It appears that NHTSA has finally opened an investigation:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/nhtsa-pr...-failures.html

 

I wouldn't feel safe with a continuously running PS pump that is documented to overheat and catch on fire (check the sticky at the top in the "Stock Problems/Issues" sub-forum).

 

I replaced the pump last weekend. my power steering pump fan was fine... and disconnected the battery for the few days I drove the car before replacing the pump.

Probably the fire issues were due to pumps running for long periods without adequate ventilation.

 

I think the best we can hope for is that MINI decides to extend the warranty on the EHPS pump for these model years. The fact is that the design for all of the 1st Gen pumps leaves the electrical components internal to the pump casing (yes, I said "internal" ) susceptible to premature heat and brush dust failure. The hydraulic side of the pump is quite robust and the pump's performance is superb when operating normally.

There is ZERO chance that any abnormally high occurrence of '04-'05 engine bay fires will be linked to EHPS pump failures as part of this investigation. If you've done your homework, you know that there was a much more evident smoking gun linking the '02 - '04 pumps to engine bay fires -- and the resulting investigation a couple of years ago by the NHTSB failed to find enough evidence to hold MINI accountable. I still laugh and shake my head when I read the line in that report about the potential for the pump electronics to experience a "non-propagating smoldering condition..."

 

Doesn't look good for BMW to have dismissed this problem for so long. There could be a big penalty for ignoring public safety. Does it take an MBA to figure out $$Recall + $$Penalty > $$Recall?

 

I think everyone that has even remotely experienced this problem should file a report with the NHTSA.

 

If I remember what I read correctly, the 2006 MCS was not mentioned. Was there a fix on the 2006 MCS?

 

I'm sorry, but I need to make a comment.

I work at a MINI dealership, and I've driven many 02-06 MINI's where the power steering pump has failed, or fails intermittently while driving, and at no point was I ever in fear of my life, in danger to myself or others, or a moving hazard.

Was it annoying? Of course. Inconvenient? Definitely.

Unsafe? No, not at all. In fact, at higher speeds (when this supposed "loss of steering assistance" would actually be "dangerous") I actually prefer the increased effort and feedback from the road.

To make matters worse, if you service your car regularly (at a qualified mechanic or, dare I say, a MINI dealer?) your power steering fan would be checked with every oil change, freed up if seized, or recommended for replacement if unable to operate. This fan - albeit poorly placed, is the largest reason for the pump overheating and failing. But, if it's overlooked, it can easily and often be seized, causing the pump to cook.

I'm sure this will still result in a recall, though I have no clue what they'll require as a repair - the design/placement of the fan that cools the aforementioned pump isn't something that can be changed - so aside from replacing the parts (which will still fail by design eventually) there isn't much MINI can do.

Good luck everyone - in the meantime, I'll enjoy my '03 and its functional pump. With 75k on it. Driven daily, year round, in the northeast.

 

I appreciate your input, but I disagree. I am more than a competent driver and thats enough said. My MINI pump went out going 55MPH or so on a freeway overpass left hand "long turn" (133 toll road in So Cal) and the pump went out and almost ran me into the side embankment. YES, I was driving with one hand and yes wasn't expecting this to occur, but c'mon it sucked! My fan on the pump works GREAT and I've tested it over and over, so it's definitely not that. The MINI had 90 plus on the clock and all runs well except for the pump which seems to go out when its 90 plus outside. The point of my post is that MINI had failed to recognize a well know problem with the OEM equipment and should own up to the problem and fix it.

 

The point is safety depends on how much steering force is being applied when the failure occurs. Any change in steering force while pushing the G forces around a turn can be catastrophic if driving casually. I once almost rapped a Ford Expedition into a freeway barrier because the variable boost power steering went to full boost (parking lot power) while rounding a turn at 70 mph.

Granted a power steering loss is more likely to result in loss of control at low speed but the driver comming at you may be doing 60mph!

 

Thank you for you input but in the future you might want to steer away from saying that you have driven many 02-06 MINI's where the power steering pump has failed, or fails intermittently while driving. One would believe that with the use of the word MANY that it happens a lot, which when you have a high failure rate of a key system it is never okay.

 

Actually that may not be far from reality. One semi-objective measure is the poll that has existed in the MINI2 1st Gen Faults and Fixes forum since way back in January 2004. There are over 1,600 votes in the poll -- a small sample of the total number of 1st Gen MINIs on the road to be sure, but at least as statistically significant as most of the political polls commissioned by our news media. Among this sample, 54% of the respondents report experiencing an EHPS failure, and 9% report the pleasure of dealing with two or more failures (not necessarily in the same vehicle). Moreover you can only vote once, so folks who have had a failure since voting can't go back and indicate such; likewise, any second or subsequent failure still only appears as one in the numbers.

Even if these statistics are only in the general ballpark and you account for a greater number of "complainers" participating in the forum, the take-away is that there is indeed an abnormally high failure rate of a key system.


Edit - IRT a subsequent post I'm not inferring any poll results reliability -- but even if the numbers are skewed by a full 100%, they're still quite revealing

 

Actually, I think gokaht is saying that he's driven many MINIs with the pump problem, and his use of "many" doesn't imply that "many" MINIs have this problem.

But I strongly disagree with gokaht that this is not unsafe. While gokaht (and others) may like the feel of unassisted steering, power steering is a feature that all MINI drivers (and most modern-automobile drivers) expect to be available at all times. It is not a feature that can be switched on or off. It goes without saying that a driver makes steering inputs based on his/her experience with power steering, and when the PSP fails, the driver will be forced to make corrections to the steering input -- some which may be sufficient under the circumstances, but some which may not, and could lead to accidents.

I hope gokaht is right that this will lead to a recall because it IS unsafe. I have had 2 PSP fans fail and 1 PSP fail on my 02 R53, and all were fixed under warranty. I've never lost power steering but I want to minimize that chance as much as possible. Maybe the fan is the defect -- there are aftermarket fans that claim to be better designed than OEM to minimize the possibility of seizing or failure, and maybe MINI's solution will be something like that.

Finally, mini2.com's poll, while interesting, is not entirely reliable. Only MINI has the records of the number of PSPs and fans that have failed and been replaced by dealers, which I think would be the most relevant data. The only way such data can be obtained is (1) by NHTSA, or (2) by a class action lawsuit against MINI/BMW. At this time, NHTSA probably is the best hope for addressing this issue (I have not heard of a class action lawsuit yet). Therefore, it is IMPERATIVE that every MINI owner who had this issue report it to NHTSA ASAP.

Safe Motoring!

 

I would have to agree that having the power steering going out is unsafe. Mine went out while on city roads on a fairly straight road so I was able to maneuver without much difficulty. My wife on the other hand was driving her SUV on a freeway onramp when her steering went out. She had to pull over and stopped the car abruptly. Had there been cars close to her she may have caused an accident. Now that my PS isn't working on my MCS, my wife won't drive it - she's unable to turn the wheels enough at low speeds. Nonetheless PS is a "feature" of modern cars. This feature shouldn't fail though with such low use (mine went out with 44k on the odometer) The cost for dealer parts/labor is way too costly. I for now am waiting to see if a recall is made....

 

What exactly is the "power steering pump soon-to-die noise"?

Mine buzzes lightly, and increases in pitch if I turn the wheel. I only notice it in the garage, or if I pull up to a wall with the windows open.

 

I wish I could find a clear answer in this extensive thread but I'm just not sure. Our '06 MCS (about 80K miles) is exhibiting a significant increase in the whine when load is applied to steering (i.e. wheel is turned). It's always whined to some degree but it seems to be getting much more high pitched and starts with the slightest touch of the steering wheel and sort of winds down over a couple of seconds after letting off the wheel. We've experienced no loss of PS while driving thus far. The only indication is a considerable escalation of the whine. Fluid checks out fine.

Is the pump dying and if so, should it be replaced preemptively? I'm concerned about when and where the PS will decide to start shutting down or being intermittant.

Thanks.

 

looks like my power steering pump has been diagnosed as leaking and in need of replacement. my symptoms sound different though: I hear a terrible metal grinding noise when I turn the steering wheel hard left or hard right. It'll cost close to $800 to replace the pump at my local mini dealer. but I drive around with a 3-year old in the car, so that sounded like all I could really do, and it is a safety thing. any alternate suggestions for a Non DIY'er?

 

Nitro, what you describe is exactly how the pump should sound when operating normally. IMHO you have nothing to be concerned about.


MiniQ, these pumps are in a constant state of degradation/wear especially for higher mileage vehicles. 80K miles is a lot for one of these pumps. The only thing that sounds like it might be abnormal is if there is, indeed, an increase in the amount of noise. My guess is that the motor windings are starting to fill up with brush dust causing the motor to work harder to provide its services. Your pump sounds like a perfect candidate for being disassembled, cleaned, and reinstalled. It is a do-able DIY if you're comfortable working around the car's components. A third-party shop can probably do this for you too. The dealer will not (they'll either tell you that nothing is wrong or will sell you a new pump at their extortionary prices).

I recommend cleaning your pump motor -- then check and see if that mitigates the issue.


Sounds like your pump is on its last legs. I would not be driving it around waiting for total failure, particularly hauling the youngin' around.

You can buy a new pump from several different vendors and the cost will be in the neighborhood of $400. Better off getting one that you know is new (Way Motor Works sells new pumps) rather than a refurbished one. Finally, find a local shop you trust to do the work for you. No need to pay the premium repair prices at the dealership.

 

go non-dealer?! labor will be 70% what the dealer charges...the part will be maybe 70% for a new OEM one....so about a 30% savings from a mini centric shop.
A leaking pump may mean it is just a hose....pump my be fine...since the electronics are good, and the motor is good, this may be a good car for a rebuilt one...where they rebuilt YOUR pump (about 200+shipping+install)...but it means 3 or more days of downtime...compared to 3 hours for new one....
When the pumps are rebuilt...the hydrolic parts...are replaced...others parts are mostly cleaned....new brushes installed in the motor...so it will let you get a few more years for lower cost...
But I warn you..it could be the rack that is grinding/leaking...so get a second opinion before you get it fixed. In the meantime...keep the fluid level full with the proper fluid!!

 

Yep sounds like the normal dead pump. Make sure you get NEW pump not a rebuilt.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-pow...ring-pump.html

 

Let's say the power steering pump needs to be replaced and the fan is also the same age, would it be best to replace both at the asme time since you're already working on them down below.

Or vice versa, the fan is going out and the pump seems fine. Understand that everyone's economics are different and what needs to be spend wisely, but why make extra work for yourself if you're a DYI'er by having to go back to fix whatever it was (fan or pump).

 

Only replace what is broken. If the fan is working fine don't worry about it.

 

The PS fan is about a 15 minute job max (drive a car on ramps...remove 2 bolts, and a plug....remove old fan's screws, mount new fan to the shroud ((if you are paying an extra $20-30 you get a new one, pre-mounted)) ...slide under the car, plug in one connector, re-bolt 2 bolts, slide out, move car off ramps). ....if it spins freely...reuse it...if the bearing are bad....replace it....just check it at every oil-change!!
Simple prevention. Blowing it out with compressed air at oil changes, maybe a drop of lube might help it too....That fan at almost $200 is not cheap...but if you spend big bucks on a new PS pump....a new fan is cheap insurance, and is needed more often than not....