[EnlightenedOne]

I’m likely going to be picking up a 2009 328i with over 100k soon from a family member. The car currently runs fine albeit with the power steering seeming weak. I’ll be moving the car from its current always warm weather home back to Utah where it will undoubtedly experience freezing weather for the first time in its life as soon as I get back.

I’m not sure right now what preventative work has been done, so I’d like to take care of some of the main items right away. I’m thinking the Mickey Mouse flange, the oil filter mount gasket, oil pan gasket, and maybe the water pump. It seems like the oil filter mount gasket requires removing a coolant hose so I guess that’s also a good time to do the Mickey Mouse flange as well…. And I guess the water pump. I’m wondering what other things are good to replace together while I’m doing other things. Would much rather go ahead and spend the money on parts now and not have to take things apart again later.

What are some good “grouped” things to replace on a new to you car?

[Efthreeoh]

You should make an assessment of the car first. The water pump is not axiomatically going to fail near the 100,000 mile mark. Buy a BMW scan tool and Check for codes first before you start throwing parts at it.

Inspect the Oil Filter Housing Gasket (OFHG) to see if is leaking. Inspect the oil pan gasket to see if it is leaking. At 100,000 per BMW's schedule, the spark plugs are scheduled for replacement. The engine airfilter is probably due for replacement. The transmission fluid/oil is due for replacement. The differential oil is due for replacement. The coolant is due for flush and refill. The brake fluid is to be flushed and replaced every 24 months from the date of manufacture (found on the driver's door jamb). The mickey mouse flange is probably compromised at this point based on age and heat cycles, so when the coolant is drained for the flush, replace the flange. IF the OFHG is leaking do it while the coolant is drained and of course change the engine oil if it has not been changed in the past 12 months.

[EnlightenedOne]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

You should make an assessment of the car first. The water pump is not axiomatically going to fail near the 100,000 mile mark. Buy a BMW scan tool and Check for codes first before you start throwing parts at it.

Thanks. Is there a recommended scan tool? Any guesses as to what would cause the power steering to feel weak? The PS reservoir is pretty coated in gunk but it does look like there’s fluid inside at least.

[Grease23]

The effort required to turn the wheels at low speeds is normally much higher than a lot of vehicles. Great feel on the road though.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by EnlightenedOne

Thanks. Is there a recommended scan tool? Any guesses as to what would cause the power steering to feel weak? The PS reservoir is pretty coated in gunk but it does look like there’s fluid inside at least.

The cap needs a new o-ring. The o-ring flattens out over time and leaks. A minute amount comes from the vent in the cap. Heavy amounts on the reservoir are due to a leaking o-ring. Just order a new o-ring and wipe down the reservoir. BMWs have used the same reservoir for 40+ years. Is just a common issue. Not a sign of PS system problems.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Grease23

The effort required to turn the wheels at low speeds is normally much higher than a lot of vehicles. Great feel on the road though.

^ this.

[codeterrorist]

I have Protool by BimmerGeeks. I bought their bluetooth adapter too. But I suggest buying their OBD cable so you can later on use it with a laptop to get more hardcore into flashing and installing BMW software on a laptop.

But for diagnostic, battery registration, and 99% of coding; Protool will do.
Keep in mind that it's an Android app only, not available on iOS.