Handling Problems on BMW MINI One
Discussion
A friend of mine bought a nearly-new second hand MINI One from a BMW dealer back in July last year and has been experiencing handling problems from almost late December onwards.
The car was first registered in Feb '03 so is only about 18 months old.
Basically the car is pulling fairly hard to the left. Also, when driving the car and turning left, you get a periodic 'clunking' sensation through the steering wheel. She claims to have never curbed it, or banged the steering in any way.
The car has been back to the dealers several times, the tracking has been checked time and again and yet the problem remains.
Has anyone had any experience or know of any similar problems with any of the newer mini's? Any ideas what the problem may be?
The dealers are getting a bit funny about sorting the problem now, even though the car is still covered by both the second hand warranty and the manufacturer's warranty, and are talking about my friend coughing up the cost, which she's obviously not too chuffed about.
Any help and advice greatly appreciated.
The car was first registered in Feb '03 so is only about 18 months old.
Basically the car is pulling fairly hard to the left. Also, when driving the car and turning left, you get a periodic 'clunking' sensation through the steering wheel. She claims to have never curbed it, or banged the steering in any way.
The car has been back to the dealers several times, the tracking has been checked time and again and yet the problem remains.
Has anyone had any experience or know of any similar problems with any of the newer mini's? Any ideas what the problem may be?
The dealers are getting a bit funny about sorting the problem now, even though the car is still covered by both the second hand warranty and the manufacturer's warranty, and are talking about my friend coughing up the cost, which she's obviously not too chuffed about.
Any help and advice greatly appreciated.
Get it to the dealers right NOW.
I honestly am not messing you about.
I had the clunking on the steering wheel whilst manouvreing 3 weeks later the power steering completely failed on the M4 at 95mph.
I turned right, car went left.
Its a known fault in a crap steering system. Have a look on www.mini2.com and you will find a survey where 30% of MINI owners have had steering components replaced.
Not good.
Dealers NOW.
>> Edited by plotloss on Tuesday 20th July 15:55
I honestly am not messing you about.
I had the clunking on the steering wheel whilst manouvreing 3 weeks later the power steering completely failed on the M4 at 95mph.
I turned right, car went left.
Its a known fault in a crap steering system. Have a look on www.mini2.com and you will find a survey where 30% of MINI owners have had steering components replaced.
Not good.
Dealers NOW.
>> Edited by plotloss on Tuesday 20th July 15:55
BMW minis run EHPAS or Electro-Hydraulic Power Assisted Steering, its a sagem system and not the best, sounds like a drill motor at full load!
Anyway, could be a sensor problem, there's usually a steering angle or steering rate sensor in the steering wheel (not familiar with this particular system.)
If its an optical sensor could be dirt in the sensor.
if its magnetic (hall based), could be broken magnet.
Could be the unit itself, the ECU will have a diagnostic system have they checked the fault codes?
Have you gone for a drive with a diagnostic reader and measured the steering angle rate? (May show up the sensor problem)
Have they monitored motor velocity? (i.e. wild oscillations, the knocking possibly)
The steering rack may have a required centre position and if the steering wheel had been removed and not put back in the correct position, then the tracking adjusted, valves in the rack may trying to apply steering force when traveling in a straight line.
If you can supply more information I may be able to offer a more accurate suggestion.
Anyway, could be a sensor problem, there's usually a steering angle or steering rate sensor in the steering wheel (not familiar with this particular system.)
If its an optical sensor could be dirt in the sensor.
if its magnetic (hall based), could be broken magnet.
Could be the unit itself, the ECU will have a diagnostic system have they checked the fault codes?
Have you gone for a drive with a diagnostic reader and measured the steering angle rate? (May show up the sensor problem)
Have they monitored motor velocity? (i.e. wild oscillations, the knocking possibly)
The steering rack may have a required centre position and if the steering wheel had been removed and not put back in the correct position, then the tracking adjusted, valves in the rack may trying to apply steering force when traveling in a straight line.
If you can supply more information I may be able to offer a more accurate suggestion.
annodomini2 said:
BMW minis run EHPAS or Electro-Hydraulic Power Assisted Steering, its a sagem system and not the best, sounds like a drill motor at full load!
Anyway, could be a sensor problem, there's usually a steering angle or steering rate sensor in the steering wheel (not familiar with this particular system.)
If its an optical sensor could be dirt in the sensor.
if its magnetic (hall based), could be broken magnet.
Could be the unit itself, the ECU will have a diagnostic system have they checked the fault codes?
Have you gone for a drive with a diagnostic reader and measured the steering angle rate? (May show up the sensor problem)
Have they monitored motor velocity? (i.e. wild oscillations, the knocking possibly)
The steering rack may have a required centre position and if the steering wheel had been removed and not put back in the correct position, then the tracking adjusted, valves in the rack may trying to apply steering force when traveling in a straight line.
If you can supply more information I may be able to offer a more accurate suggestion.
Worrying comments plotloss!
My friend tells me that they've never run a diagnostic on the car as far as she's aware.
Everytime she's taken it in the most they've done is taken it for a spin round the block, with her in the passenger seat, hardly what you'd call a thorough examination of the problem! It took until the last visit for them to even acknowledge that the handling didn't feel right and accept that something other than the tracking may be the problem. Thanks for all the comments/info guys (well, most of them anyway
). The car's going back for the fifth time on thursday, so armed with your info we can ask some more probing questions.
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