2006 MINI Cooper S: whining or grinding noise

5 of the 186 complaints about the 2006 MINI Cooper S describe whining or grinding noise.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 4 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Whining or grinding noise by model year

2006
5
2005
4
2004
3
2003
4
2002
1

What owners say

Filed Sep 8, 2018 · Steering · 103,500 miles · IL

Power steering pump failing, creating a loud whine when running (moving, and stationary).

Filed Feb 7, 2018 · Steering · IL

My electric power steering pump is failing. It whines when you turn the wheel and sometimes it does not work at all. Very scary to lose control of the car. There was an open recall thru 2005, but bmw says they wont help us 2006 owners.

Filed Oct 23, 2015 · Steering · 82,400 miles · CA

Signs of the power steering pump failure. Whining noise randomly got louder. Fluids topped up, no leaks. There is a recall from bmw that covers 2002-2005 models. This pump only has 82,400 miles on it.

Filed Jun 22, 2012 · Steering · 38,500 miles · NY

I purchased this vehicle about a month ago in a private sale. A few weeks ago, the mini developed a strong power steering whine. This is not the electrical buzzing noise typical of these models but a noise heard above the engine at all speeds or in neutral regardless of whether you turn the wheel. Several days ago, the steering began to stiffen up especially when parking. Yesterday, it failed entirely and this was while driving! Now, I'm a 6' 180 lb male and was able to react and wrestle it safely but I'm thankful that my 5' 100lb wife was not behind the wheel. Make no mistake this is a safety issue that the manufacturer refuses to address!! Just research the problem and you will see hundreds (probably thousands) of complaints across the globe about the same thing and it appears to be primarily 2001-2007 models. Other countries have mandated a recall but not the safety conscious u.s. Which surprises me greatly. When other major manufacturers have listed recalls for things like seat belt anchors "that could crack" or air bag switches "that could corrode" why the heck isn't a mini cooper recall done for power steering systems "that are failing"? If you value your family's safety, do yourself a favor and steer (no pun intended) clear of this vehicle. I will be dumping this t urd as soon as possible. My family is too important to waste on a fad car.

Filed Mar 24, 2011 · Steering · 76,620 miles · ME

On saturday afternoon, 12 march 2011, a loud, high-pitched humming or whining, serious-sounding noise developed while I was driving, the loudness (and/or the pitch) of the noise would change when I turned the steering wheel. I checked the power steering fluid level, which was ok. The night of sunday, 13 march, I left the car at atlantic motorcar services of wiscasset, maine 04578, which specializes in mini and other european vehicles. The following morning I described the problem and asked them to check it out. Atlantic found "the power steering pump (epas) is defective". They replaced the epas assembly (part # 32 41 6 778 425) at a cost of $1212.49; and bled, flushed and filled the system (ps service kitbg $99). This resolved the problem.