Mini Power Steering Problems

Snowshoe Sam

Hi,

I have been looking at buying a 2002/2003 MINI One, but have now heard/read about a possible power steering failure problem with first generation Minis (up to late 2006).

I am wondering just how widespread this problem is. Any Mini owners have any experience of power steering issues?

Also, have been advised that suspension may not be the best for Irish roads. As I won't be doing just "city driving", am I mad to even consider a Mini? :rolleyes:

All opinions welcome!

Owen

The Power Steering pump doesn't go on every MINI, but it does go on around 4/5% of them. They're expensive if you get them replaced by BMW, but if you get it done by a specialist it's only around 250-300 including parts and labour. But I've yet to have one go on me.

Suspension is fine for Irish roads, it's the wheels and tires that dictate ride comfort. Anything with a 15 inch wheel will be comfy, and if you go to 16"s make sure they're non run flat tires - that way you'll still have a nice enjoyable drive. 16" would be the maximum wheel size I'd go to on a pre-2007 MINI, after 2007 17" is the max for comfort.

Snowshoe Sam

Thanks for your (very quick!) reply Paint Doctor.

Was worried as I've heard a couple of stories of the PAS going without warning and drivers being left in sticky situations unable to turn the wheel at all on roundabouts and such

I did notice a whining noise from the power steering pump, esp when reversing but have been told this is normal.

If I could pick your brains with a couple of other MINI q's.....

I looked at a 2003 MINI One with 95K mls on it. Would it still be ok with this mileage?

I also noticed a "clunking" noise when locking the steering wheel to pull away....could this be just the bushings or is it more likely the whole steering rack needs replacing?

Once again, thanks for the help!

Owen

Snowshoe Sam wrote: »

I did notice a whining noise from the power steering pump, esp when reversing but have been told this is normal.

Yup, they sound like a scalextric all the time.

Snowshoe Sam wrote: »

I looked at a 2003 MINI One with 95K mls on it. Would it still be ok with this mileage?

The engine is pretty much indestructable. I've seen one driven without an oil change for 40k, and it was still fine. It's mechanically a very simple engine, and even though the One is a 90Bhp engine, it remaps to 135Bhp, which is more than a standard Cooper.

Snowshoe Sam wrote: »

I also noticed a "clunking" noise when locking the steering wheel to pull away....could this be just the bushings or is it more likely the whole steering rack needs replacing?

Most likely the rack needs replacing. If there's any clunking, I'd be inclined to walk away, plenty more fish in the sea.

What's your budget?

langdang

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Suspension is fine for Irish roads, it's the wheels and tires that dictate ride comfort. Anything with a 15 inch wheel will be comfy,

+1 on that.

If you go to look at one, just bear in mind that it's normal for the power steering to be louder than most cars. Like a loud lazy cat being woken up is the best description I've heard...

Slide the seats backwards and forwards, I've problems with the connectors for the airbags under one seat. If an airbag warning symbol appears on the dash then bargain them down, it will drive you bonkers if that light has to be reset by a garage every time you let someone in the back seat.

If the exhaust is loud or rattley, look at the back box (the box that that the final bit of the exhaust pipe comes out of), there is a steel band that goes all around the box to hold it up. These can rust through and let the exhaust rattle around a bit. The bracket is cheap to fix, if the problem is anything else it will be more expensive.

That's all I've seen on the cars I test drove and over a year of owning a 02 Cooper. Almost every make of car has a few things!

Depending on the car, some of the extra features can be cheaply enabled by a garage with the right equipment, I have had automatic locking at 10mph enabled, speed sensitive wipers.
Mini Ones can be easily upgraded to Cooper power (and easily reverted too). They're both practically the same power up to about 4000rpm anyway from looking at the graphs on superchips.co.uk

Snowshoe Sam

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Most likely the rack needs replacing. If there's any clunking, I'd be inclined to walk away, plenty more fish in the sea.

What's your budget?

Hmmmm, think you could be right.....


Budget is only between about €6000-6500. Think perhaps I should start looking more at 02s.

Owen

There's a 04 on donedeal for 8k. You could probably meet him half way on price, he looks desparate to get rid of it :
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/991514

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The gearboxes are a bit on the softside apparently I have two friends that have had gearboxes replaced in their minis. Cracking little cars though! I love the sound of the supercharger in the Cooper S

The early ones had the R65 gearbox as used by Rover mated to the K series engine (not the 1.8s though). When BMW ditched Rover they kept the gearbox factory. The R65 is known for failing but not at low miles, I wouldn't let it put me off buying a car if there was no transmission whine, if it was whining I wouldn't touch it.

langdang

Looks like it may have a glovebox too (not fitted as standard to earlier minis).
What's the red dot on the indicator stalk, paintdoc?

Owen

That's the alarm.

Snowshoe Sam

Thanks to all for advice and suggestions.....

Will bear it all in mind & keep looking for the perfect MINI