Few Faults

[Bazthemod]

Ok had the car for 6 months now and some faults have started to appear:

When i turn the steering wheel through centre forward i feel a clunk through the steering wheel as if it is catching on something but there is no obvious click sound.

Also after i have been driving for around half an hour of regular gear changing i start to get a squeek/screech like a chamois on clean body work. It only happens when selecting first and second and the sound appears to be coming from just under the gear lever ... doesnt sound anything like the gearbox...sounds more plasticy.

Is it just case of lifting the gaiter and lubricating? Its just really annoying and makes gear changing feel cheap and nasty!

Your expert knowledge would be appreciated :)

[AndyP & Lenore]

Baz, do you have an R50 Cooper or an R56 Cooper? The steering clunking issue was common on the R50 Cooper.

A.

[AeroJonny]

Sounds like the steering column to me too, mum and i have had 5 between us.

[s12cot]

I have had one steering colum at 36k, now done 54k it feels like it is on its way out again, problem is the car is not under warrenty any longer.....

can any one tell me if this is a costly repair?

[KenL]

I have had one steering colum at 36k, now done 54k it feels like it is on its way out again, problem is the car is not under warrenty any longer.....

can any one tell me if this is a costly repair?

Given this is so common, I would be writing to MINI to ask them to repair it FOC.

The design of the steering column is not good enough. Has anyone who has/had an R50 MINI not had their's replaced?

[Bazthemod]

Im not sure how the r50 codes etc work but its a 2002 Mini One ??

[KenL]

Im not sure how the r50 codes etc work but its a 2002 Mini One ??

That is an R50, the S is R53 - which suffered the same fault.

[Bazthemod]

Im only 3 months out of the Mini Cherished warranty, do you think they will even consider it?

[Gismo]

Im only 3 months out of the Mini Cherished warranty, do you think they will even consider it?
Sadly it's very doubtful, but, you could always ask

[s12cot]

what about cost!!

[duncan]

Has anyone who has/had an R50 MINI not had their's replaced?

Not that I'm aware of, on either my One or my current Cooper.

[KenL]

A quick search on MINI2 showed lots of threads about this issue. Here are some of them.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/141143-clicking-noise-steering-column.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/129445-how-much-new-steering-column.html - :eek: £600 to have it fixed!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/42815-knock-felt-through-steering-wheel.html

[s12cot]

A quick search on MINI2 showed lots of threads about this issue. Here are some of them.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/141143-clicking-noise-steering-column.html

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/129445-how-much-new-steering-column.html - :eek: £600 to have it fixed!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fixes/42815-knock-felt-through-steering-wheel.html


I thinik it will be 600 from BMW but use a good local guy and it could be a fair but less.

Just shows how poor a quality these MINIs really are. Expensive cars for what they are then they are forever having problems....

Yes i know my car has done 54k but that is nothing in a modern car... Me mother inlaw has a audi a4 on a 53plate with 100k on the clock not a single thing has gone wrong with it...

[Bazthemod]

Im on 45.000 miles and the car is 5 years old

Will the steering column eventually fail or will it continue to work forever but just keep knocking?

I take it nobody has had a squeeky gear shifter? :confused: :)

[Smurf]

I'm interested in this too. My first Cooper (a 52 plate) had either 2 or 3 steering fixes...

My current Cooper (an 05 plate) has been absolutely fine until recently, and I've noticed the clunking again.

She'll be 3 years old in March, and has done just over 30,000 miles... am I still in warranty to get this replaced?

Sorry Baz, not noticed any squeaking from the gear shift...

[s12cot]

I'm interested in this too. My first Cooper (a 52 plate) had either 2 or 3 steering fixes...

My current Cooper (an 05 plate) has been absolutely fine until recently, and I've noticed the clunking again.

She'll be 3 years old in March, and has done just over 30,000 miles... am I still in warranty to get this replaced?

Sorry Baz, not noticed any squeaking from the gear shift...


Yes you should still be in warranty.

[korky]

I had a 2002 Cooper with 54K miles that hadn't had the steering column replaced. It did have a wee clunk at the edges, if you see what I mean, so it was probably on its way out. One of many reasons to sell!