BMW MINI - Power Steering Pump - Danger?

willispv

The Power Steering Pump (PSP) on my wifes Mini One had a problem last week. It continued running even when the engine was switched off. It still worked fine - but would not switch off. I called out the AA. They informed me they believed it to be a "known problem". Solution until I could get the car to a garage was to disconnect the battery. The mini is a 2002 model - 3 years outside its warranty.

I took the Mini to a BMW garage (Vines of Crawley). Here, they charged me £73 to plug the Mini into a diagnostic computer to analyse the problem. They informed me the pump is a sealed unit and there were no components that could be replaced to cure the problem - it needed a new PSP. The quote for this was £530. The service dept technician, and the service manager involved insisted there is no information on the BMW Mini database indicating this is a known problem.

I then took to google and investigated. The most useful site is called mini2.com - for Mini fans. In the forum there is a big section on the unofficial "known problem" of PSP failure. Advice from Forum members was to speak with the dealership, mention mini2.com and its ever increasing online poll on the subject, and request the dealership represent you with mini UK and ask for a goodwill gesture. It seemed as if everyone on the forum had received help.

I took this advice, and contacted BMW Vines. Initially I left a message for the service mgr. When he returned my call an hour later, without needing me to restate my request, he said he had spoken to Mini UK and they would pay for 1/2 of the price of the part (about £200). So, without any real effort, I was made an offer. This gave me the feeling that mini UK are very aware of the PSP issue and it is not as unknown as they officially claim. I then had an amicable discussion with the service mgr (a helpful chap called James), explaining that we had always used his dealership, we were good customers, that mini2 is looking for accounts of customer care on this issue etc etc. He agreed to go back to Mini UK again and represent my request for more "goodwill". One day later James contacted me with the news that Mini UK would pay for the part and the labour. That was the complete amount of £530. Obviously I was very pleased.

Between the kind offer, and the work being started, the PSP failed completely. Fortunatley not at a roundabout or during a manouvre. So whilst I believe I had a result in a financial sense, and I am purposely posting this tale as it may assist others,it also raises real safety concerns.

In my own personal opinion, BMW Mini are aware that PSP's are failing on a far too regular basis. Look on mini2.com for a flavour of how many. In which case a recall should perhaps be considered. If this were to happen it would cost the company a small fortune. Incidently, on the min2.com forum, it is not just 6 year old vehicles with failing PSP's. New and within warranty failures also apear to be common. From a safety point of view, a PSP failure means an immense and instant degredation in steering abaility.....to understand how bad, trying turning your steering wheel with the engine off. I am not sure where to take this issue, if anywhere. From a financial point of view I am (only) £73 out of pocket. From a safety point of view, I am concerned this could be the cause of a serious accident.

In closing, I would ask....... have you ever had a power steering failure in your vehicle, whatever the make? I have not in 20 years + driving. To see so many PSP failures for just one model of car must be worth further investigation.

I hope this post is of help to others. I am happy to go into detail with anyone if I can be of more assistance.

hartcjhart

yes manafacturers do not like admitting 'known' faults and well done to you,just for your interest take a look here at known recall faults

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/search.asp

blue_haddock

It's quite a common thing on these - although not quite as bad as the punto power steering failure. You can get a re-con unit for approx £150 plus vat with 2 years warranty.

i_can_c_u

Thank you very much for your very detailed post! I live in Canada, but I will be trying to leverage the information you've given me.

The power steering on my 2004 cooper S quit this weekend past, 300km from my home. I left it there to be serviced and they are asking for $1100 for the pump, $200 for the fan and $250 for the labour (CAD). I bought this car used one year ago and it seems rather silly to pay 1/10th of the purchase on a fan and a pump, two of the most basic mechanical devices created.

Thanks again!

trisontana

This was covered on Watchdog last week:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/02/mini_steering_system_failures.html

mspig

my hubby works for the AA and had two mini power steering failures yesterday, but didn't realise that there was a problem with minis and power steering until watching watchdog last night.

oldagetraveller

On some Vauxhall models, Meriva, Corsa etc. an all electric/electronic system is fitted.
This uses an electric motor geared to the steering column and controlled electronically. There have been numerous, reported in various places, faults about this system which Vauxhall seem to want to ignore. If an owner reports a fault/failure to their dealer then the whole steering column and control box are usually replaced without question under warranty, if still within the period. There are also just out of warranty failures reported which Vauxhall will not entertain without a fight. They deny there is a problem. It's around £900 I think to renew the parts!
I have a Meriva which is still under warranty and have experienced an intermittent fault with the power steering - it's in for service this week and will be reported. Mine has not failed completely yet which most do and quite often without a fault code or warning light showing up which of course is to Vauxhall's advantage!

vikingaero

The more people that report the problem to VOSA the more likely action will be required to be taken.

greeneyez84

I have a 52 plate mini brought from a BMW showroom 3 years ago. I have had a consistent problem with my power steering but BMW could never confirm this as the problem never occured whilst in their hands. Since a service on friday - still confirming there's no problem it failed completely on saturday. Taking back to BMW on monday, the manager confirmed to me that this WAS a common problem and that he had another 2 minis with the same problem on friday alone. Even though my car has driven under 50,000 miles, apparantly, because of the age - they are not willing to take any responsibilty. I paid £288 for an oil change and diagnostics on friday (which had no answer) and now they want another £655.23, total of £943!

I Love my mini cooper and go on the mini run each year.

Is there anything you can suggest!?!?!?!?

paddybok

Same thing with me - PSP failed on a 53 plate Cooper with 26000 miles clocked. Four friends also had same failure. This is a very dangerous failure and its surprising that no-one has been injured and that VOSA have't demanded a recall, especially when you consider the grief that Toyota have just gone thru. Been offered a 50% goodwill payment for the pump only which would cost me about £600 as their pumps cost about twice what others are quoting. Have asked them to reconsider.

vincent76

MY PSP pump failed at the weekend whilst I was driving with my 2 young children in the back . It failed whilst i was driving around a bend only through pure luck I didn't have a nasty accident.

I am horrified and appalled at this . obviously they are well aware of this fault - MINI/BMW should be ashamed to sell these cars with such a fault , I didn't see watchdog but if I had I wouldn't have drove my car.

MINI are offering to pay 50% 'goodwill' i don't even want to drive the car anymore - just want rid. I wouldn't recommend a mini to anyone else. I have loved it BUT something as dangerous as a fault like this is just too dangerous to risk the lives of people.

Paddybok did you get any further with MINI ?