So we joined the Mini family about a week ago when we tracked down a 2004 R50 in very good condition with only 53,000 miles. Even during the test drive I noticed the power steering whine but I just assumed it was a Mini thing. It steered fine and I didn't see any leaks under the car. Now that I've had some time to drive the car and read the forums I'm starting to worry that the PSP is actually trying to die. Again, no failure YET but the whine of the PSP is pretty noticeable from both inside and outside of the car, especially at low speeds under load. My question is did gen 1 minis come off the lot with PSP noise or are they SUPPOSED to be whisper quiet? I'd rather not wait for an engine bay fire from a failed pump so what are some of the warning signs that the PSP is close to giving up the ghost? I'm going to be annoyed if I have to drop $1200 on a new pump install less than a month after getting the car

 

You're probably just like me and anticipate the worst out of ever creek and rattle your car makes.

The good news is my 05 and the few first gens I've been around all whine, and it is loud, I don't like it, but whatever.
If you didn't know there's a recent recall on the PS pump if it dies within 10 years (I think 10) or 200,000 KM, mini will fix it. I'm in Ontario and got the letter a few months ago.

 

Oh no kidding? I'm assuming it actually has to fail though and not just whine like a banshee? lol If it's ten years that means I get another year and a half before I have to worry about it though. I doubt I'll cover 47k miles in that time so the mileage limit isn't an issue. Is there a way to tell if your car is part of the recall online or do you just have to call the dealership?

 

He wasn't kidding; however the PS recall is only for Canada. MINI USA has yet to issue a recall on USA MINIs.

My 02 MCS pump whined for 10 years before it failed. No leakage, no damage to cooling fan, no crud in cooling fan. It just failed.

 

Yea I ended up calling Mini of Portland and the tech told me the same thing about the Canada only recall AND the noisy pump. He just said that's how they sound on 1st gen's. I can live with a failed pump, parts break it's the nature of the beast. It's just the horror stories I've read about the pumps continuing to run after the car turns off and the electrical connections catching fire Pump = easy to replace. Flaming car, not so much

 

Mine sounds like a Tie Fighter. Always has and I am now at 89K.

 

Tie-Fighter...I like that. I have a bright, glittering gold Tie-Fighter...I think I'll have some Tie-Wing vinyl cut to put over the doors...brilliant!!!