Advice please on steering Mini Cooper S 53 plate

[greengirl]

Hi,

I'm a piston head newbie and have just purchased a Mini Cooper S 53 plate from a dealer. It's just been serviced and Mot'd successfully with no advisories which is great. However now I've had a chance to drive it ( my husband test drove it and brought it home) I've noticed that the steering is really heavy especially at slow speed, requiring significant effort making it really hard to turn and park (hubby agrees its hard for him too).
So were we were wondering if they are normally heavy and hard to drive and just takes getting use from a more modern car or if its more likely to be a fault, we suspect the latter but having never driven a mini of that age (53 plate) we have nothing to compare it to.

• I have seen on this and other forums that a lot of minis of this age had steering pump failures

Would really appreciate any comments on how it should feel to drive if the power steering is working normally.

Many Thanks

[Challo]

greengirl said:

Hi,

I'm a piston head newbie and have just purchased a Mini Cooper S 53 plate from a dealer. It's just been serviced and Mot'd successfully with no advisories which is great. However now I've had a chance to drive it ( my husband test drove it and brought it home) I've noticed that the steering is really heavy especially at slow speed, requiring significant effort making it really hard to turn and park (hubby agrees its hard for him too).
So were we were wondering if they are normally heavy and hard to drive and just takes getting use from a more modern car or if its more likely to be a fault, we suspect the latter but having never driven a mini of that age (53 plate) we have nothing to compare it to.

• I have seen on this and other forums that a lot of minis of this age had steering pump failures

Would really appreciate any comments on how it should feel to drive if the power steering is working normally.

Many Thanks

I haven’t driven one for a few years, but I remember my steering was heavy compared to standard cars. Have you checked the fluid and see if it needs topping up?

[Alxxx]

The steering is slightly heavier than most other small cars, which i personally prefer.

What were you driving before this?

[Dickie-D]

greengirl, I have experienced power steering pump failure in my 03 Mini Cooper S and also drove it for about a year with no power steering before replacing the pump.

The Cooper S of that era with a properly functioning steering pump should definitely not have "really heavy" steering, so it does sound like pump failure. As the others have said, the steering should be heavier than other cars of a similar size, but I would never describe it as being heavy. It should have a nicely judged weight to it while driving, but should be relatively easy to turn with just one hand at parking speeds and while stationary.

When my car's steering pump was starting to fail, the symptom was that during cornering the steering effort required would change from normal to really heavy in an instant, and sometimes back to normal again, all during the space of one corner. This is obviously impossible to predict, very unnerving, difficult to compensate for and quite dangerous.

After it completely failed, the steering weight could fairly be described as damn heavy, requiring serious muscle at parking speeds, and being noticeably heavier than a 1980s car designed with no power steering.

My original steering pump made a distinctive high-pitched whining noise when the steering wheel was turned, so I was going to suggest you start the engine and turn the wheel back and forth while stationary, while your husband stands outside the car to listen for the whining noise. However, I've just done the same with my car and the replacement pump is much quieter and more difficult to hear above the ambient noise, so a better test may be to see if you or your husband can turn the wheel easily with just one hand while the car is stationary (with the engine running of course). If you can't then the pump has failed.

It cost £531 to replace in 2011 at my local independent garage in north London, including VAT and labour. The replacement has been completely trouble-free and I think the part was updated to fix what was an inherent design flaw in the original.

[greengirl]

Challo said:

I haven’t driven one for a few years, but I remember my steering was heavy compared to standard cars. Have you checked the fluid and see if it needs topping up?

Thanks Challo - Ah no | haven't checked the fluid ...I'm a bit clueless to be honest - I'm going too take it to the dealer to check it over as there is another issue as well. Its so frustrating as I honestly don't think I'd be able to park it in a proper car park space, takes full effort to get round a slow corner. Need to be a body builder to park it ;-)
Thanks!

[greengirl]

Alxxx said:

The steering is slightly heavier than most other small cars, which i personally prefer.

What were you driving before this?

Thanks - Oh thats good to know - I was expecting it to be heavier than what I'm driving now - a 4 year old Ford Kuga (which feels light as a feather and odd now after taking wrestling with the mini), but this takes both hands and maximum effort. since driving it again after my initial post I'm fairly sure there is an issue with the power assisted steering.

Thanks

[greengirl]

Dickie-D said:

greengirl, I have experienced power steering pump failure in my 03 Mini Cooper S and also drove it for about a year with no power steering before replacing the pump.

The Cooper S of that era with a properly functioning steering pump should definitely not have "really heavy" steering, so it does sound like pump failure. As the others have said, the steering should be heavier than other cars of a similar size, but I would never describe it as being heavy. It should have a nicely judged weight to it while driving, but should be relatively easy to turn with just one hand at parking speeds and while stationary.

When my car's steering pump was starting to fail, the symptom was that during cornering the steering effort required would change from normal to really heavy in an instant, and sometimes back to normal again, all during the space of one corner. This is obviously impossible to predict, very unnerving, difficult to compensate for and quite dangerous.

After it completely failed, the steering weight could fairly be described as damn heavy, requiring serious muscle at parking speeds, and being noticeably heavier than a 1980s car designed with no power steering.

My original steering pump made a distinctive high-pitched whining noise when the steering wheel was turned, so I was going to suggest you start the engine and turn the wheel back and forth while stationary, while your husband stands outside the car to listen for the whining noise. However, I've just done the same with my car and the replacement pump is much quieter and more difficult to hear above the ambient noise, so a better test may be to see if you or your husband can turn the wheel easily with just one hand while the car is stationary (with the engine running of course). If you can't then the pump has failed.

It cost £531 to replace in 2011 at my local independent garage in north London, including VAT and labour. The replacement has been completely trouble-free and I think the part was updated to fix what was an inherent design flaw in the original.

Thank you so much for your detailed reply -

Must have been quite frightening to drive when yours started to fail. From what you say it I'm pretty sure it has failed. It does require 'serious muscle' at slow and parking speeds and my husband (and he's pretty strong) found it a huge effort with both hands. There is no way you could turn it with one hand. He also commented that it felt worse to him than a car with no power steering at all! So I'm glad you mentioned that too.

Thanks for the suggestions as well.

I feel much more confident, that there definitely is a problem and excited at the thought of getting it resolved. Just need to get it fixed so I can start enjoying my lovely new 'old' car!

Thanks again!

[TTmonkey]

Green girl... that era Mini has an electric steering pump. The connections for this pump are down low on the engine and suffer corrosion due to road filth being thrown up onto them.

take the car to a local friendly independent who will be able to help diagnose this issue without just giving you a £500 bill. Might simply be able to clean the electric connection to the pump, or at least test it.


The mini has slightly more steering effort required than a regular car, but if it feels like a work out then the pump isn't working for sure.

And yes, there should be a significant whining noise from the pump when its on full lock, its a Mini feature, so should be there. When the pump is working you WILL hear it when you are turning the wheel over to full lock. Its a significant noise. If its not there its a very good indication of a failure of some sort. Hopefully just the electrical connection.

[greengirl]

TTmonkey said:

Green girl... that era Mini has an electric steering pump. The connections for this pump are down low on the engine and suffer corrosion due to road filth being thrown up onto them.

take the car to a local friendly independent who will be able to help diagnose this issue without just giving you a £500 bill. Might simply be able to clean the electric connection to the pump, or at least test it.


The mini has slightly more steering effort required than a regular car, but if it feels like a work out then the pump isn't working for sure.

And yes, there should be a significant whining noise from the pump when its on full lock, its a Mini feature, so should be there. When the pump is working you WILL hear it when you are turning the wheel over to full lock. Its a significant noise. If its not there its a very good indication of a failure of some sort. Hopefully just the electrical connection.

Brilliant - thank you that's really helpful. Yes definitely feels like a workout ;-) and I don't hear any whining noise at all. I've dropped it back off to the dealer to look at, as should be covered by the warranty. Just wondering why it wouldn't have been picked up on either the service or MOT. I should hear back later today. Fingers crossed.

Thanks

[TTmonkey]

greengirl said:

Brilliant - thank you that's really helpful. Yes definitely feels like a workout ;-) and I don't hear any whining noise at all. I've dropped it back off to the dealer to look at, as should be covered by the warranty. Just wondering why it wouldn't have been picked up on either the service or MOT. I should hear back later today. Fingers crossed.

Thanks

let us know what they say. yes, an obvious fault which should have been picked up pre handover.

[greengirl]

TTmonkey said:

let us know what they say. yes, an obvious fault which should have been picked up pre handover.

Will do thanks

[Dickie-D]

For my 2010 MOT, the power steering malfunction was noted as one of the Advisory Items. However, the MOT manual from 2012 indicates that power steering malfunction is a reason for rejection.
Source: http://www.ukmot.com/manual/2.3/Power-Steering#MOT

It will be interesting to see what the dealer says.

[greengirl]

Dickie-D said:

For my 2010 MOT, the power steering malfunction was noted as one of the Advisory Items. However, the MOT manual from 2012 indicates that power steering malfunction is a reason for rejection.
Source: http://www.ukmot.com/manual/2.3/Power-Steering#MOT

It will be interesting to see what the dealer says.

Great thanks - yes that's quite clear, can't fathom why on earth it passed then (MOT was done by Halfords - whom I gather don't have the best reputation when it comes to cars). I'm going to chase the dealer tomorrow.

[greengirl]

So the dealer has confirmed a problem with the pump and has one on order! Hopefully that will do the job and we can get on enjoying the Mini. Very glad its under warranty.

Thanks everyone that took the time to comment and advise :-)

[TTmonkey]

greengirl said:

So the dealer has confirmed a problem with the pump and has one on order! Hopefully that will do the job and we can get on enjoying the Mini. Very glad its under warranty.

Thanks everyone that took the time to comment and advise :-)

Good stuff. Enjoy. lovely little car.

[greengirl]

Wow! What can I say... I picked up the Mini yesterday with the pump replaced, heard that whining noise that a couple of you mentioned (it is unmistakable) and off we drove. It's like a new car! steering is just perfect now :-) easy turning/easy parking not heavy at all.

Thanks all!

[TTmonkey]

greengirl said:

Wow! What can I say... I picked up the Mini yesterday with the pump replaced, heard that whining noise that a couple of you mentioned (it is unmistakable) and off we drove. It's like a new car! steering is just perfect now :-) easy turning/easy parking not heavy at all.

Thanks all!

Great news. Hope you have many many miles of driving fun.

You have to learn to love the whine. It’s a ‘feature’

[Dickie-D]

Good news! I hope you enjoy the car as much as I have enjoyed mine for the last 13 years.

One more thing to remember is that if your car came with 17" wheels and runflat tyres, you might find the bumpy/twitchy ride quality tiresome after a while. If so, that can be improved by swapping the runflat tyres for normal tyres. Or the ride quality can be further improved by switching to lighter 16" wheels with normal tyres. This is a relatively common modification. The following post provides more information:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[greengirl]

Dickie-D said:

Good news! I hope you enjoy the car as much as I have enjoyed mine for the last 13 years.

One more thing to remember is that if your car came with 17" wheels and runflat tyres, you might find the bumpy/twitchy ride quality tiresome after a while. If so, that can be improved by swapping the runflat tyres for normal tyres. Or the ride quality can be further improved by switching to lighter 16" wheels with normal tyres. This is a relatively common modification. The following post provides more information:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Brilliant thanks for this. I'm not entirely sure what wheels and tyres so will investigate, suspect it is run flats as the ride is very bumpy.
Cheers!