Mini Clubman power steering issue

That sounds eerily familiar! I had almost identical symptoms on my Clubman vibrating steering wheel, that disconcerting spongy feel, and the power steering seemed to be giving up the ghost intermittently. For me, it turned out to be related to the electric steering system. Have you had the error codes read? Was anything specific flagged regarding the steering rack or the electric steering pump?

Yes, the error memory did store a fault. The workshop suspects a defective cable or plug connection to the power steering component. Does that align with your experience? Was it a straightforward fix, or did they have to delve deeper into the steering system?

A defective cable connection aligns perfectly. In my case, the initial diagnosis also pointed towards a potential steering rack issue, which had me quite worried about the cost. However, after thorough inspection, it turned out to be a corroded connector causing intermittent power loss to the electric steering pump. Given that you're already suspecting a similar issue, I'd strongly advise getting those connections checked thoroughly before considering more drastic (and expensive) solutions like replacing the entire steering rack. A faulty connection can manifest in all sorts of bizarre ways. Get it to a workshop.

Thanks so much for your input. It was indeed a defective cable connection, as suspected. The workshop charged me 95€ to fix it. Much appreciated!