2004 Mini Cooper - a few questions

[ParanoidAndroid]

Hi chaps,

Just picked up a 2004 Mini Cooper for my daughter as her first car. Looking over it today I have a couple of questions...

1. Seems to have non-runflat tyres on and has the toolkit/jack under the carpet in the boot but doesn't appear to have the space saver spare wheel that I can see. Looking in the manual it talks about a nut in the boot floor which you turn to lower the space saver. That doesn't appear to be there so I assume it would have originally had Run Flats and they have been replaced? What confuses me is why they would have a jack/tool kit in that case? Assume if it's not there you can retro fit the space saver, otherwise she'll be stuffed if she gets a puncture.

2. Steering, appears to be quite heavy. Assume this is normal and the mini was designed to be like that to add to the go-kart like feel? My wife drove it and said to me that she thought it didn't have power steering it was so heavy. I don't think it's quite that bad but compared to more modern cars it's definitely heavy when parking. I can hear the power steering pump whining slightly when manoeuvring so it's doing something. Is this normal?

3. It's got rear parking sensors. These worked fine when we test drove it however now seems that as soon as I engage reverse gear it just emits a continuous beep and you don't get the beep, beep as you get closer to objects. Anyone come across this before?

Think that's it for now, many thanks for any advice.

Cheers
Graham

Edited by ParanoidAndroid on Friday 1st April 12:54

[Maracus]

Our R56 Cooper S has a jack, but came out of the factory with runflats. As far as I can see there is no stowage for a space saver, unless it goes loose in the boot.

As for the parking sensor, one of ours went last month. If you put your ear against each one, with reverse selected, they should tick. No ticking equals knackered sensor. I replaced the off side one with an eBay replacement for £13. I think the R56 S is easy to change compared to early cooper models in that you can reach under and remove.

[AJB]

The nut to release the spare is underneath the polystyrene tool tray-you have to lift that out to see it. It's in the corner of the well holding a black metal cover in place. You can see the spare, if it's got one, just by looking underneath though. There's a plastic tray covering most of it, but you can see the tyre poking out.

Yes the steering is quite heavy at parking speed compared to newer cars (especially those with fully electric power steering which can really ramp up the assistance at very low speeds). The steering feels great on the move though.

As already said, that's what it does when one of the parking sensors fails. As said, put it in reverse with ignition on (but engine off obviously...), and listen for a very quiet clicking. The one which isn't clicking has failed.

[AJB]

Also, yes it's totally normal to hear the power steering pump whine a bit. Those MINIs have a fully hydraulic power steering rack, but use an electric pump to build up hydraulic pressure when needed, rather than an engine driven pump that's always rotating.

And the Cooper S couldn't have a spare, I think, as the central exhaust is in the way. And I think maybe the battery too. On the One and the Cooper a space saver was a cost option.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, very useful. I'll take a look at the sensors this weekend if it's dry, also found this which should allow me to retrofit the spare wheel. I have the plastic cover under the car where the spare wheel would sit but not the spare wheel/lowering rack. Seems I can buy the bits and fit fairly easily.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-brakes/190...

Cheers
Graham

[Griffophenia]

Ive just bought this beast||

Phil

[Griffophenia]

[DM9297]

I've had a few of these as my first car(s) - as an inexperienced driver, I always thought one of the most sensible things was that these had runflats. I think back to a couple of occasions having to change the tyre of my girlfriend's car down a country lane in the dark... at least with runflats, you can drive 100 miles at 50mph without having to worry too much.

[Maracus]

I've just had the Dunlop run flats changed to Michelin Pilot Sport 3s all round this morning.

Surprisingly good offer at Kwik Fit of all places. I thought they would be old stock, but they are 2016 tyres.

Oh, the ride is smoother

[Griffophenia]

Yes Ive just fitted new run flats on my little chilli red

[mon the fish]

Unusual to see Xenons on a Cooper, nice spec