Power Steering

[kipperhughes]

Hi all

well recently my power steering has been just switching off when it feels like it so i be driving round a round about and then boom no power steering so there i am half way round round about hanging off my steering wheel tryin to turn my wheel

so took it too the garage today to see what going on and guy told me that my power steering pump is dead and also told me that its a common problem so i was wondering has any one experienced the same problem??

[Nightscape-MINI]

Had this happen on both my one, and then my cooper S, it happened on my s the day after i got it
Common problem, its just the way the pump is designed, the newer pump is supposed to be better, luckily for both cars i had warranty.
It starts with it going on and off, then eventually it will completely stop working!
When it happened on my one it was actually causing electrical faults, all the lights on the dash would go crazy the headlight would flicker then the engine would stall.

[kipperhughes]

ahhhhh luckily my car ant got to that stage yet!! i have to just turn off the car and start it up again and then its fine ..... well for however long it feels lik being fine for lol

but got it booked in for saturday soo hopefully she be back to norm in no time! but im not on warranty so i have to fork out 300 quid for new part plus installation

[MiniPetrolHead]

ahhhhh luckily my car ant got to that stage yet!! i have to just turn off the car and start it up again and then its fine ..... well for however long it feels lik being fine for lol

but got it booked in for saturday soo hopefully she be back to norm in no time! but im not on warranty so i have to fork out 300 quid for new part plus installation

Where are you booked in to danny?

My other mate dan form Hooe is booked in at BJL on the industrial estate for the exedy clutch and minimania crank pulley.

Alex

[BigShow]

ahhhhh luckily my car ant got to that stage yet!! i have to just turn off the car and start it up again and then its fine ..... well for however long it feels lik being fine for lol

but got it booked in for saturday soo hopefully she be back to norm in no time! but im not on warranty so i have to fork out 300 quid for new part plus installation

Might be worth getting a second hand one priced up inc fitting as that could end up being a lot cheaper.

[kipperhughes]

Might be worth getting a second hand one priced up inc fitting as that could end up being a lot cheaper.

yeh im having look round atm but thought for a laff i see what BMW would offer and the cheeky f**ckers wanted 300 for the part plus 20 for postage


Alex ive booked it into watlington garage near battle they fitted my exhaust plus i know the guy wont shaft me lol were BJL never heard of it ?


danny

[BigShow]

yeh im having look round atm but thought for a laff i see what BMW would offer and the cheeky f**ckers wanted 300 for the part plus 20 for postage


Alex ive booked it into watlington garage near battle they fitted my exhaust plus i know the guy wont shaft me lol were BJL never heard of it ?


danny

Well they're £280 from eurocarparts.com so you could always ask if BMW will price match to save a little extra.

[kipperhughes]

yeh but the garage im booked in for got part for 245 so if BMW willing to beat that which i reli doubt lol i just stick with the garage lol

[BigShow]

yeh but the garage im booked in for got part for 245 so if BMW willing to beat that which i reli doubt lol i just stick with the garage lol

Oh nice one, not a silly expensive fix then

[Mab01uk]

If the PS pump fails outside of warranty but at a lowish mileage (say 30,000 miles or less) MINI have often been giving owners "Goodwill" by supplying the parts for free and charging labour at a reduced rate depending how low the cars mileage is.
You need to request your local MINI dealership to do this on your behalf, or contact MINI UK direct, making it clear you are aware this is quite a common failure on the earlier MINI's.

With many early MINI's now out of warranty and TLC more owners are turning to DIY to fix the Electric Hydraulic power steering pump. Signs are:- sudden heavy steering, sometimes intermittent or the motor continuing to run after switching off ignition. (Disconnect battery asap).
BMW seem to charge about £500 to replace the pump but a reconditioned pump with 2 year unlimited mileage warranty is available from BBA-Reman in Kent, who I have always found a very good company to deal with for reconditioned parts.
Exchange reconditioned for around £175 or they can arrange collection, rebuild your own pump and send it back to you. Here is a photo of the pump (which sits low down behind the engine on the front subframe):-
BMW Mini Electric Hydraulic Power Steering Failure

http://www.bba-reman.com/catalogue/D...ledProduct=920

MINI Power Steering Pumps are also available exchange re-conditioned from Euro Car Parts £244 (although BBA-Reman in Kent are cheaper at £175)

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecommerc...ch_Results.asp
Part No. 619120010

For a confident DIY mechanic it is not that difficult to swap and can be done from below on axle stands with standard tools. Disconnect battery. If you have an "S" there is a cooling fan/bracket to remove from the subframe followed by the pump itself,(1 nut, 2 bolts, electrical connection, fluid pipe). Renew the O ring on the high pressure outlet if fitted. Bleeding is straight forward like any other cars power steering. Pour in the fluid slowly to prevent air bubbles up to max. mark. Start engine park with front wheels on 2 glossy magazines (yes really they act as turn tables!) and turn steering slowly from lock to lock. (Don't hold full lock for more than 5 secs or you can damage pump). Stop engine & check level & for leaks, repeat the above several times to purge air, if any air remains causing noise leave overnight & repeat next day. Photos and detailed procedure is in the MINI Haynes Manual on page 10.4 and has been detailed in Modern MINI magazine last year.

The EHPS system on mini's (electro hydraulic power steeering) is a two stage steering system/process.
When NO steering wheel movement is carried out the pump runs at 80% its output.
When any movement of the steering wheel is carried out the hydraulic pressure in the system increases thus the pump runs to its full 100% output.
EG:- 80% output spin speed is 3500 rpm
100% output spin speed is 4500 rpm.