Help - E34 540I pwr steering fluid leak?

[glfingbug]

Hi, as title states need help diagnosing fluid leak :confused . Recently noticed fluid stains on driveway below driver side headlight. Went to check under headlight and the whole area is saturated. Checked the pwr steering pump and it looks OK. Traced pwr steering hose from fill bottle down to a cylindrical device under the brake vacuum device. Can't really see the pwr steering connection due to the brake vacuum device. :mad Ran my hands to the connection and felt wet with fluid. Is this cylindrical device necessary :confused . I think it's there for the self leveling suspension (even though I don't have this option). Is there anyway to check the connection without removing the power brake vacuum? Can I bypass the cylindrical device? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. glfingbug

[thejlevie]

The odds are that you've got a lead in the hose near to where it connects to the gadget under the brakes. Try cleaning, as best you can, the area where the leak can be felt. The start the car and turn the wheels from lock to lock a few times. Then check for fresh fluid in the area of the leak. That may help determine where the leak is without having to disassemble anything.

[glfingbug]

Thanks for the advice but it's very hard to get into the area to clean or see anything :mad due to all the parts there including the parts for the brakes. It doesn't make sense for the pwr steering hose to go to this canister since it doesn't seem to serve any purpose (since I don't have the self leveling suspension). I really would like to by-pass this canister all together if possible???

[thejlevie]

Bypassing the canister might, or might not be feasible. But if it is the hose that's leaking it wouldn't be of much help. In that case replacing the hose (and probably all of the other high pressure hoses) would be the way to go.

I don't know what purpose that cannister serves. And without knowing why it's there I'd be real hesitant to take it out of the circuit.