[mo-powah-babyyyy]

Hi all,

Theres a bit of gunk building around my power steering reservoir, looks like its over spilling from that little hole but i could be wrong, the level seems to be ok, steering is ok maybe a little hard.

Could it be my power steering pump that done? or the reservoir tank has a crack?

Anyone been troubled by this??

[Brian86]

Every BMW for the about the last... oh 40 years or so... has had this problem to some degree.

If the pump isn't starving/whining, just let is squirt out until it finds it's level.

Could change the fluid and bottle (bottle has filter incorporated into it)... Might help, might not.

[mo-powah-babyyyy]

Originally Posted by Brian86

Every BMW for the about the last... oh 40 years or so... has had this problem to some degree.

If the pump isn't starving/whining, just let is squirt out until it finds it's level.

Could change the fluid and bottle (bottle has filter incorporated into it)... Might help, might not.

Really? Ha, ok cool, guess ill keep an eye out on it, its a little mess that thing.

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by mo-powah-babyyyy

Really? Ha, ok cool, guess ill keep an eye out on it, its a little mess that thing.

On my E46 I pressed a barb into the vent hole with my vice. The vent hole is what normally leaks in my experience. I then ran an overflow line to the ground. You can also put a new oring on the overflow but I find that they will still sweat and make a mess. I have also seen a setup that uses a small overflow bottle on it. It must be vented to work properly so don't plug it!

I upgraded my E90 to the "active steering" version of the reservoir which seems to have less of an issue. There are some threads on how to do this (I think on m3post). The active steering reservoir does use a larger inlet/outlet so I had to put aluminum reducers in the lines which were a splice of the normal and active steering style lines to both change size and lengthen them a bit..

One of the clamps for the reducer is clearly visible in this picture and the other is right under the vac line (also running my relocation bracket to get it out of the way in prep for running a Mr.5 or Dinan style cold air intake):



With the N52 running hoses should be even easier without all of the intercooler pipes there in the way.

-Rich

[Wolf 335]

Replace the O-ring on the cap.

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Replace the O-ring on the cap.

It might help some if it is really leaking at the cap. They still leak out the vent hole so changing the o-ring has never really "fixed" the issue on my cars.

Without an overflow line the cap will always get some gunk on it and need to be cleaned off.

-Rich

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

It might help some if it is really leaking at the cap. They still leak out the vent hole so changing the o-ring has never really "fixed" the issue on my cars.

Without an overflow line the cap will always get some gunk on it and need to be cleaned off.

-Rich

This is correct, however looking at the rate at which his is leaking, i'd say a new o-ring would drastically help.

I seen some guys put a wrist sweatband over the cap to absorb the wenting vapours.

Your method of venting to atmospere is pretty damn good!

[rbryantaz]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

This is correct, however looking at the rate at which his is leaking, i'd say a new o-ring would drastically help.

I seen some guys put a wrist sweatband over the cap to absorb the wenting vapours.

Your method of venting to atmospere is pretty damn good!

Fair enough, given how it is caked on I bet that wasn't all from between oil changes.

This is a nice kit to actually catch the liquid rather than just sending it to the ground:



https://www.facebook.com/RDAutomotiv...1557978581064/

I also saw a much smaller bottle in a thread somewhere....

(edit) Here it is:


https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=53

which appears to be:

Originally Posted by kaiv

Parts:

* Rear brake fluid reservoir from the BMW F650GS PN# 34 21 7 706 055
* 2 feet of vaccum line (Napa)
* 90° fitting is a 5/32" elbow connector PN#9873 (Napa)
* 1 M6 bolt (+ M6 washer)

Total cost: less than $40.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=68


Note lots of generic motorcycle brake expansion tanks are available for $8 or so at various online retailers or there are nice aluminum ones for about twice that cost... Capacity can be small given that it is just for small overflows unless racing where you might want a much better tank. Just make sure it is vented somewhere (which brake expansion tanks should be).

I have not had any mess yet with the updated tank from the active steering car. If I do get a mess turner has a nice aluminum double baffled reservoir that I might consider. I also have M3 steering with servotronic using a customized power steering pump though so my setup is very non standard now.

-Rich

[mo-powah-babyyyy]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

On my E46 I pressed a barb into the vent hole with my vice. The vent hole is what normally leaks in my experience. I then ran an overflow line to the ground. You can also put a new oring on the overflow but I find that they will still sweat and make a mess. I have also seen a setup that uses a small overflow bottle on it. It must be vented to work properly so don't plug it!

I upgraded my E90 to the "active steering" version of the reservoir which seems to have less of an issue. There are some threads on how to do this (I think on m3post). The active steering reservoir does use a larger inlet/outlet so I had to put aluminum reducers in the lines which were a splice of the normal and active steering style lines to both change size and lengthen them a bit..

One of the clamps for the reducer is clearly visible in this picture and the other is right under the vac line (also running my relocation bracket to get it out of the way in prep for running a Mr.5 or Dinan style cold air intake):



With the N52 running hoses should be even easier without all of the intercooler pipes there in the way.

-Rich

Damn that nice set up!! Think im gonna drain it out, give it a good clean and monitor where the leak starts from and go from there. The driving doesnt seem to be bad at all, just a little mind blowing how much has come out.

[mo-powah-babyyyy]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Replace the O-ring on the cap.

My good man! on the case with that one! Think ill do that.

[mo-powah-babyyyy]

Originally Posted by rbryantaz

Fair enough, given how it is caked on I bet that wasn't all from between oil changes.

This is a nice kit to actually catch the liquid rather than just sending it to the ground:



https://www.facebook.com/RDAutomotiv...1557978581064/

I also saw a much smaller bottle in a thread somewhere....

(edit) Here it is:


https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=53

which appears to be:



https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=68


Note lots of generic motorcycle brake expansion tanks are available for $8 or so at various online retailers or there are nice aluminum ones for about twice that cost... Capacity can be small given that it is just for small overflows unless racing where you might want a much better tank. Just make sure it is vented somewhere (which brake expansion tanks should be).

I have not had any mess yet with the updated tank from the active steering car. If I do get a mess turner has a nice aluminum double baffled reservoir that I might consider. I also have M3 steering with servotronic using a customized power steering pump though so my setup is very non standard now.

-Rich

Ah nice! you guys are really helping out!! Thats a nice mod actually, seems relatively easy to do as well!! Ill do this mod! N52 has plenty of space as well!! ThaNKS!!