[juanse90]

I'm 16 and I worked extremely hard to pay for my 2007 E90 328i, it has less then 80,000km/50,000 miles. I am paying for all of it and I want to learn how to do repairs myself. Getting to the point I believe if I am not wrong that my power steer hoses are leaking or either my coolant. I woke up backed up and saw a 3 drops of yellow/green substance. Someone please help me identify it

[StradaRedlands]

What you're showing there is leaking power steering fluid. Pretty good bet it's all original. You'll want to replace the reservoir (with integrated filter) and pull out as much old fluid as possible.
Here's a kit with reservoir and fluid:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...zf-32416851218
Plenty of videos showing the process, it's not hard and good maintenance.

[juanse90]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

What you're showing there is leaking power steering fluid. Pretty good bet it's all original. You'll want to replace the reservoir (with integrated filter) and pull out as much old fluid as possible.
Here's a kit with reservoir and fluid:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...zf-32416851218
Plenty of videos showing the process, it's not hard and good maintenance.

Will I have to replace the hoses aswell? and what does integrated filter mean?

[jsunma]

3 drops? I'd leave it alone. 50K miles? Well, I replaced mine eventually at 200K miles. Everything's fine.

But eventually, you'll want to do this:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec..._Replacing.htm

The reservoir can be purchased from FCP, etc. (aftermarket will be lots cheaper). You'll probably spend more on the clamps and clamp tool than the reservoir. And you'll spill a lot more than 3 drops during the replacement procedure.

You shouldn't need to replace the hoses.

[juanse90]

Originally Posted by jsunma

3 drops? I'd leave it alone. 50K miles? Well, I replaced mine eventually at 200K miles. Everything's fine.

But eventually, you'll want to do this:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tec..._Replacing.htm

The reservoir can be purchased from FCP, etc. (aftermarket will be lots cheaper). You'll probably spend more on the clamps and clamp tool than the reservoir. And you'll spill a lot more than 3 drops during the replacement procedure.

You shouldn't need to replace the hoses.

I see what your saying but if that keeps happening every day I assume its better to just change it now.

[StradaRedlands]

It's pretty messy. The fluid is kind of gummy and dirt sticks to it. It's what's all over the outside of the reservoir. There is a filter built into it that you can't replace separately, so you get the benefit of changing at the same time. You shouldn't need to replace hoses, but getting the lower one off is really hard IMO. I had to cut it off.

[lookalikehuuh]

You might want to replace just the cap (or clean the vent hold in the cap) for the power steering reservoir, What I have seen in the past is that when the steering fluid gets hot after lots of driving, especially on curvy roads is that the power steering fluid begings to slightly boil over. There is a vent built into the cap that actually gets clogged with dirt/debris over time and restricts the flow of gasses out. Eventually what ends of happening is the vent become so clogged that liquid actually makes its way up naturally and you end up with a super dirty power steering reservoir like you have now.

I find that cleaning out that cap with a pick/pipe cleaner once a year or so has stopped the PS fluid from boiling over and spilling out constantly.

[juanse90]

I think I will end up just replacing the whole reservoir and getting brand new fluid as its not been done and its original. The other reason is because it seems to be spilling from the hoses, can I just tighten those?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by juanse90

I think I will end up just replacing the whole reservoir and getting brand new fluid as its not been done and its original. The other reason is because it seems to be spilling from the hoses, can I just tighten those?

If it were my car, I'd drain/remove the PS fluid. Unmount the reservoir and check the condition of the hoses and retighten connections. It looks like they are loose. Replace the pinch clamps with worm-clamps. Clean the gunk off the reservoir. Remount the reservoir, get a new o-ring for the cap, and drain the rest of the system. The hydraulic oil is Pentosin CHF-11, which when fresh, is green colored. Refill and bleed the system with fresh fluid. IMO, there is no need to replace the reservoir. Yup, there is a filter in it, mainly to keep out large debris, the reservoir is a lifetime part. BMW calls for no periodic maintenance of the PS system.

BTW, my E90's PS reservoir is original at 425,000 miles. I replaced the fluid once at 150,00 miles and decided it was too much trouble to do it again considering BMW does not recommend a service interval for it.

[jsunma]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Replace the pinch clamps with worm-clamps.

+1 to that. Those pinch clamps are a pain. The angle on that lower hose in particular is awful for releasing/reattaching the pinch clamp. After I cut off the lower hose, I replaced the clamp with a worm clamp and it's been fine since.

(I do understand why a pinch clamp is supposedly better for a pressure application like this, but really, I've not noticed a leak or any other issue on my car.)

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jsunma

+1 to that. Those pinch clamps are a pain. The angle on that lower hose in particular is awful for releasing/reattaching the pinch clamp. After I cut off the lower hose, I replaced the clamp with a worm clamp and it's been fine since.

(I do understand why a pinch clamp is supposedly better for a pressure application like this, but really, I've not noticed a leak or any other issue on my car.)

It's not, such clamps are used only to ease and speed up manufacturing.

[ChuckW]

The o-ring on the reservoir cap does not last long and leaks. It's such a common issue, they sell the replacement part alone.
p/n 32410141428 or 32411128333