Two problems related to steering noise have been reported for the 2004 Mini Cooper S. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Mini Cooper S based on all problems reported for the 2004 Cooper S.
Power steering is of great concern as it has periods where it seems that the power steering quits working. Also when adjusting the direction as I am backing up into my driveway steering is sort of lazy and it make a high pitch whining noise when I turn the steering wheel.
I purchased my 2004 Mini Cooper S 5 months ago. I was told by the dealer everything worked fine on the car. There was a whining noise in the car, which he told me was normal on min coopers. I was driving from boise, id to olympia, wa in my 2004 Mini Cooper S. Then suddenly, about 200 miles into my trip, while I was over taking a semi truck on a right hand curve. My power steering tightened and I had to hold on really tight. I almost ran into the side wall. After further investigation I found that my power steering had died. It seems that there should be some kind of safe way for the power steering to die. Loosing power steering the way it did, and how hard it is to turn the steering without the pump sounds very scary. I drove down steep hill with sharp curves during the trip and I'm so glad the pump didn't die then. I then drove the rest of the way carefully as possible without the power steering. Now I know that the whining noise was from the power steering since the whining noise went away once the power steering died. It seems that this is a common issue with others as well. Now my car is parked and I'm not sure if I should replace the part or not. I feel BMW should take some initiatives to fix this issue.