Looks like my Canadian '06 R50 dodges another recall! It's only at 50,000KM (32,000mi?) but no power steering issues so far. I hope it is in fact an improved design.
The US can't do this quick enough, as my 04 MCS PS fan has been getting louder and louder over the past couple years
I hear ya. Could you really be reimbursed for the replacement of the system though? And how would one go about doing that if the system had failed?
I live in Canada but my car is from the States. Can anyone confirm that I will have to wait until an official recall is done in the US before I can get my car done here in Canada?
I am not speaking on any official capacity, but here is what others have experienced when importing US vehicles into Canada that has US warranty still so the same would apply in REVERSE. SOL!!! Sorry, but you have a US car in Canada that would not be covered by a RECALL as it was not sold here NEW. So it was not registered as such. If MINI CANADA said sure we'll do it as good will that is there decision. But if they say OH NO SORRY your can try and fight it but not likely to get anywhere. Same with the RUST issue on the back in the tail lights. There was a discord between what Mini USA and Mini Canada did for this or would cover and if you had a car purchased originally and sold in the other country, nope in your case sorry to say this but it's sort of an orphan as far as Mini is concerned. The Dealership may do small things to HELP you out but it is all registered by the VIN for warranty and so they are not going to do work that MA MINI would not pay for and would need to submit the documentation in order to be re-imbersed. :nonod:
I hope the US follows and adds the 2006 r53. My PS pump leaks a little, whines a lot and sometime hard to turn. I don't feel like dropping $600 to fix a defect either. It's BS, my car is an October 2006 built R53 too and has the same issues.
I hear ya. My '05 R53 (June 2005 build) had power steering failure a few years ago. It magically came back to life after about a month of driving it. Weird, I know. It sprung a leak on me a few weeks ago when it was 5ºF outside and lost all the fluid. Ended up buying new fluid (and not driving it for a few weeks) and put it in and couldn't find a leak anywhere in the system and it holds the fluid fine now. The fan is dead, and has been for some time, along with the low speed fan resistor for the radiator. Gotta find the funds to replace both when I can. I almost bought a new pump a while back, instead opting to buy a "core" to send out to have remanufactured. Luckily I did that when I did because that's when the pump starting working again. I still have the core ready to be sent out. I did notice that when I put the new fluid in that I really don't hear my pump as much as I use to. It use to be pretty loud and now it's very quiet. I sometime wonder about my MINI. It really seems to have a mind of its own! Fluids seem to mysteriously disappear, without rhyme or reason. I still love my MINI more than anything, and we have our differences and fights (fights referring to the items above lol) I just hope to have a US recall finally. I reported it the the NHTSA when it first went out on me. I was on the highway off-ramp doing a 270º loop to head back under the highway, and it just stopped on me mid-turn. I nearly crashed and would have landed in a water basin full of water. It's not safe. I'm glad that there has never been a serious crash from these failures. Well, none have been reported to the NHTSA for that matter. So if anyone out there had a serious crash from the failure. MAKE SURE TO FILE IT WITH THE NHTSA! According to them, "the VOQ complaints allege 5 minor crashes and 3 fires. The crashes are described as 'hit the curb'. The fires are described as 'melted wires'." If you have had a failure, file it as well. The investigation is still open and it will help to have as many reports of failures as possible. Here is the link to the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Complaint page. Fill it out as best as you can so we can get this recall FINALLY underway!!!
power steering pump recall Mini Canada didn't accept to do the repair under guarantee cover for two reasons: it was an intermittent trouble on my car and my R50 Cooper was first buy in USA and later imported to Canada when the owner returns to Quebec after studying to MIT Boston. They want me to pay near 1400$ to do the job.
Count me among those hoping the U.S. jumps on this bandwagon. My R50's power steering went out a couple days ago, haven't diagnosed the problem yet.
I just got a letter from MINI in the mail today. It says it's not a recall. MINI has extended the warranty on the power steering pump and other associated electronics to 12 years or 200,000 kms.
Only a small leak so far fixed by Chad at Detroit Tuned. I too fall under the imported into Canada MINI group. I am right on the border though so I can try either US or Canadian dealership if they both decide to do the same. I am the same distance for either dealership so it works either way.
Apparently mine doesn't have the hydraulic pump as there is no reservoir next to the brake reservoir, must just be electric assist.
You'd better check again. They ALL have the reservoir. Look at this picture below. Next to red coolant reservoir is the small reservoir for the power steering fluid. Has a green ring in the lid.
ok I found it, next to the coolent reservoir. But the pictures I have seen online had it next to the brake fluid reservoir. the reason I questioned it was I saw a cover on a MINI parts site that kept plastic bags and other trash from getting in and covering the fan inlet. Your coolent tank is much larger than mine and is semi transperant, is yours a aftermarket? If so where did you get it? I looked all day yesterday trying to find a coolent fan for the power steering fan but can't realy get down that low on the ground to see it. should there be a cover on it? And will regular power steering fluid be used or do you have to have a special MINI power steering fluid?
The image I used is not my car, it's a random one I picked from a Garage when I was looking for an example to show. It would be helpful if you created a Garage so we at least know what year and model you have when questions are asked. Garages are a good reference, you don't have to say I have a xyz every time, we can just look at the Garage. MINI uses Pentosin 11S for power steering fluid. Unless there is a leak or you flush the system there is really no reason to keep a can on the shelf. Early 1st Gen cars did not have a cover over the fan, later ones did. The coolant tank pictured above is a Forge brand tanks, it's aftermarket and has been painted.