Alright, quick question. When you all say $800 for the ps pump, are we talking just for the part, or parts and labor? $800 sounds a little ridiculous just for a part. $800 for parts and labor sounds about right. I only want to know because I can do the work myself, and Lilith's steering hasn't impressed me a lot as of lately.

 

MINIUSA won't do anything - they responded to my question about MINIUK.
I don't think I'm going to do it myself....I hate getting under a jacked up car. I think I've found a place in Corona that handles MINIs and will try to work out a deal for them to take it out so I can mail it to Circuit Solutions Inc in Idaho to reman it, then have it put back in when I get it back. Seems total cost will be around $425 - $450 for reman'ing of my PS pump and labor. Best price scenario I can find. I can drive it for the 4 or 5 days without power steering.

 

MINI dealers are charging $788 for the PS pump part. You're right, it IS ridiculous.

 

My power steering motor went out last week. After reading up on power steering issues on here I expected it to be the pump. The dealer said

$946.00 for parts and labor
$ 35.00 for fluid

It ended up being the motor, and for some reason was covered by "goodwill warranty" (their words) although my warranty expired 15xxx miles ago. IDK. It was strange, but that was what they said for the pump

 

^what were your symptoms when you brought it in? thanks.

 

The cost was $860.00~ including 2 hours of labor.

The pump was about $600.00 from Mini...I get a 15 - 20% discount.

The problem for me was the car was dead and had to be towed to mini...if I wanted to fix it myself, I would have had to pay to have it towed back - an hour.

RE what are the symptoms...not reall easy to pin point, but high speed instability, poor return to center...basically no resistance or increase in steering effort as cornering forces build - a very bad thing!

When this was fixed, the steering was transformed...and nothing else was altered.

 

I still can't believe that a pump could cost that much. Is BMW trying to make back their money from over-engineering the R53? Or are they just trying to lose loyal customers? Very disturbing.

 

Above and beyond the cost? I now have a new found hatred for electronic power steering...since it appears to influence so much. When mechanical components fail they usually do so in a manner that make them easy to see and feel...electronic failures are illusive at best.

 

I understand where you are coming from. What's funny is my wife had a Chevy Equinox not too long ago and they have electric steering. But guess what? It didn't take any fluid, so I always believed it to be just electric. It never had any problems either. Now, her 2007 Mazda 6 has electric steering, and the owner's manual specifically says "Do not hold the steering in the completely turned position for more than 5 seconds." That really holds my confidence level at high standards. Yes, new electric gizmos on cars are nice at times, but to me are more of a pain in the long run. I have a feeling when I get back, I will have an experience like you MEB. I plan on changing my stock bypass valve with a Detroit Tuned one and adding a sprint booster. I have such a bad delay at takeoff, I want to see if the Sprint Booster might remedy the stupid "electric throttle", and perhaps give me a different perspective of the car.

On another note, Mini Mania sells refurb. PS pumps for........a little over $800. Might as well go to MINI then.

 

Something to be aware of - I found it while researching my options incase my pump bites the dust. - $399 + shipping - brande new ZF pump.

http://www.germanautoparts.com/Mini/...2/4526/7684236

 

That looks like the real deal...and at about $200.00 less than the $600 I paid which was with a discount. Nice!

Fatherdeth, I don't remember from where I learned this, but I was told by someone in my past to avoid full lock in either direction because this would damage steering components - hydraulic components to more accurate.

 

Same here - in the 70s with American power steering. You could hear the pump working and the belt squealing. nasty!

You'd think with modern cars and all their electronic do-dads, that some kind of over pressure protection circuit would kick in. I guess not.

Alan

 

Here is a source for a reman pump I have bookmarked. I found it in one of the threads recently. I did not see it in this thread.
REMAN PSP

 

WolfGTI and Steve B, thank you for the sources. That really puts an ease on me. I'm away from my car at the moment, and while sitting here, I've been thinking whether this car is worth keeping or not. With sources like these, I definitely will keep her.

 

Yeah, I figure it really does a number on the motor, plus all that pressure from the fluid build up couldn't be good either.

 

I'm in this power steering pump dilemma too. My steering was getting on again off again and all said "pump". Them someone asked about fluid. DUH!
It was low...topped it off. Had about 1 to 2 weeks where it kind of worked, but not 100%. Now for the past month it seems to work fine. I couldn't see any obvious leeks. Fluid level staying great. Heard there is a seal that could go and let fluid out into the rack bellows. Doesn't feel like there is fluid in there. (does it feel obvious when fluid is in there?) I'll have to try the AC on deal to see if the pump cooling fan is working.
I bought a reman pump (thanks Way), but now I don't know if I need it.
I'm sitting at 119000 miles on the o.d. Kind of hate to take it in to have the pump replaced "just because" and find out the steering rack is going.
Can't really afford to replace 1 thing let alone 2. Has anyone had a problem with the steering rack?

 

What is the proper PS fluid to use?

 

Pentosin CHF 11S.

 

 

Thought this might be beneficial for the thread:

 

The Pumps aren't bad. It's well under an hour to replace it. Pumps are $400ish + $50 core. Not a bad job at all.
The issue I see the most is the O-ring on the pump it's self leaks. To my knowledge that o-ring is Unavailable. Need to do more research on getting one or I'm going to start having them made. About ever 3rd car I see the pump is leaking at that o-ring.

 

Can the o-ring be spotted from under the car?

 

You can see where it is, but you can't see the o-ring it's self. It's under the "cover".

We've had minor success with loosening it, taking the o-ring out, cleaning it and putting it back on.

 

Ok so it seals the "cover". So I should be able to see if there is any leakage.
My steering went out in Nov. Turned out fluid was low in res. Topped it off and about 3 days later..no trouble. Been fine for 2 months and no fluid has been needed to be added so far. Thinking small leak. It took 5 yrs for the fluid to go below the cold mark.

 

this whole power steering problem is weird,cause on my car im low on fluid and can see that its leaked out but when i turn the car off i can hear the ps going dont know if its the fan or what the car just ben parked for weeks.