different power steering fluid with SLS?

[danmurphymn]

I searched and didn't find the answer. I recall seeing somewhere that a touring with self leveling suspension uses different power steering fluid. Just wanted to confirm.
What power steering fluid do I need in my 540? Thanks.

[StephenVA]

LOOK ON YOUR P/S RESERVOIR CAP! More than likely you have a ATF unit.

2 13 006Bleeding power steering unit

Warning! Danger of poisoning if oil is ingested/absorbed through the skin! Risk of injury if oil comes into contact with eyes and skin!

Important! Adhere to the utmost cleanliness. Do not allow any dirt to enter the hydraulic system. Using contaminated equipment to add fluid may introduce dirt particles into the fluid reservoir and significantly reduce the service life of the power steering system. Do not use any filler funnels or similar! The fill level may only be checked or adjusted when the engine is stopped! The fluid temperature should be approx. 20 °C here. Ensure that the cap is fully screwed in prior to the fill level check.

Note: To avoid mix-ups when filling with hydraulic fluid, mark the fluid reservoirs or their caps with identification marks. ATF Automatic transmission fluid CHF Pentosin CHF11S

Thoroughly clean fluid reservoir and its immediate surroundings Check and correct fill level Note: The fill level can come to rest above the ”MAX” mark when the engine is at normal operating temperature. This is dictated by the design in that the marking on the dipstick is referred to a fluid temperature of 20 °C. With the engine at normal operating temperature (approx. 50-60 °C fluid temperature) adjust a fill height 10 mm above the ”MAX” mark. Do not under any circumstances draw off the fluid to the ”MAX” mark when the engine is at normal operating temperature. Hydraulic fluid: BMW Service Operating Fluids Start engine Turn steering wheel left and right twice in each case up to full lock; if necessary, top up hydraulic fluid (e.g. if hydraulic system is completely drained) Move steering wheel to straight-ahead position and turn off engine Check and correct fill level with engine stopped Check hydraulic system for leaks

[Plattus1000]

ATF on mine, touring w/sls

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

What’s the power steering fluid have to do with the SLS? Either regular ATF or the CHF11S, my wagon’s got regular springs out back, actually happy about that, screw Airbags, I like the expensive ��, CHF11S in both my E39’s.

[Plattus1000]

No matter what you put in there, it'll leak so as long as it's one or the other and yes, check it out on your car 1st but I too can not see why there would be a difference in a car with bags or springs, having to do with said bags or springs. They're not connected and on opposite ends of the car. I am however, no expert and it'll be good to quash this.

[dannyzabolotny]

It’s ATF on all E39’s... the SLS on the E39 tourings is air-powered, not hydraulic. You must be thinking about the E34 which used a hydraulic SLS setup in the rear along with different fluid, different pump, and different reservoir.

[danmurphymn]

I couldn't understand what the PS fluid had to do with SLS either. But, I thought I read something about it in the past. Obviously some use ATF and some use Pentosin. I'm not sure what causes the difference. But it's a BMW so it wouldn't surprise me if a totally unrelated system was that difference maker...

My PS reservoir cap doesn't look like any in the pictures above. But it looks like I need the Pentosin...

- - - Updated - - -

It’s ATF on all E39’s...

This is why I ask the question! Doesn't this directly contradict StephenVA's post?

[JaxPlanet]

^ Stephen's post wasn't e39 specific. CHF was used in earlier 5-series and, because it is a hydraulic fluid, it was also used for hydraulic brake assist and SLS.

[Coupenut]

I have a 99 touring w/o SLS that takes ATF. Also have a 01 touring w/o SLS which takes CHF. All the information that I've seen indicates that the cars can use either type fluid, but they cannot be mixed.

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

[StephenVA]

Mine all have ATF in them! There was a posting on the M5 board years ago that some of the 98's has CHF in them out of the factory. My 98 528 uses ATF so who knows what came in the early M5s. By the way not to start an "Oil flame", I actually use Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF with no issues going on 8 years and multiple cars.

Info Required: Those who have cars with CHF, is the cap marked or any other color besides black?

Note this image from the ECS website:

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Nope, my caps have no markings on them, the fluids were that greenish fluid that CHF is, on both cars, so I have been using CHF with no issues.

[StephenVA]

Green = CHF
Red (Rosa) is ATF
I guess I should have posted that originally and not created confusion. Oh well another oil flame string replies coming up!

[Coupenut]

How about this, the cap says CHF, but the car has ATF in the system.

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

[dannyzabolotny]

How about this, the cap says CHF, but the car has ATF in the system.

Sounds like somebody swapped the cap... as far as I know, no E39 uses CHF.

[StephenVA]

This debate was all over the M5 board many years ago as some cars had the plastic ID ring around their P/S cap neck showing CHS-11 was inside. The label was in English so there are a few out there with the Green stuff. The only rule I can think of is that if your car came with XX stay with XX. Unless you flush out everything before swapping over.

There is not much up on their website for insight and or deep technical info and yes their catalog shows CHF-11 for our cars. Weird. http://www.pentosin.net

CHF 11S (synthetic oil based) Size: 1 liter (1.06 quarts), Part# 1405116 5 liters (1.32 US gallons), Part #1405216 20 liters (5.28 US gallons), Part #1405208 Color: Dark Green CLICK HERE FOR CHF 11s SPEC SHEET Audi (1990-2005); Spec. TL 52 146.00 BMW (1990 on; check owners manual) Chrysler Crossfire Dodge Sprinter (all years) Jaguar (1990 on) Land Rover (all years) Mercedes-Benz (staggered models starting 1990 - check vehicle owners manual); Spec. 345.0 MINI (all years) Porsche (1990-2005) Rolls Royce Saab (1990-2005) Volkswagen (1990-2005) Spec. TL 52 146.00 Volvo (03/1998-2002)

[blarf]

What’s the power steering fluid have to do with the SLS? Either regular ATF or the CHF11S, my wagon’s got regular springs out back, actually happy about that, screw Airbags, I like the expensive ��, CHF11S in both my E39’s.

E34 uses the power steering fluid for the SLS. AFAIK the new power steering caps (from BMW) all say use CHF and they now sell a sticker that says "USE ATF" -- this is the opposite of the older caps. I've been running Mercon 5 in one E46 and Dex in my other E46 with no complaints. Mercon 5 is not Dex compatible, but it is synthetic and more stable in temperature extremes. A bit thinner too so slightly less assist.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Uh huh..... So...., what’s all that got to do with E39’s?
Anyway, I have not had any problems, using CHF11S in my 530, which I sold a short while ago, I use it in the 540 and the 528, also in my ‘03 Mini Cooper S. Here’s a cool thing about CHF11S and leaky BMW hoses, CHF does not stain the driveway as bad as ATF does. You can actually leave it alone, and the weather washes it away.

[jp5Touring]

I couldn't understand what the PS fluid had to do with SLS either. But, I thought I read something about it in the past. Obviously some use ATF and some use Pentosin. I'm not sure what causes the difference. But it's a BMW so it wouldn't surprise me if a totally unrelated system was that difference maker...

My PS reservoir cap doesn't look like any in the pictures above. But it looks like I need the Pentosin...

- - - Updated - - -



This is why I ask the question! Doesn't this directly contradict StephenVA's post?

Pentosin also makes ATF.

[simmsled]

One or the other can be used. But they DO NOT MIX.

[danmurphymn]

Sorry, I don't mean to be the OP who posts then never replies. My shoulder went out on me so I've been buckeled over in pain for a few days... No time to deal with PS fluid!

Anyways, here's what I have. Looks like ATF, but it looks pretty junky.
20180509_184402.jpg20180509_184500.jpg

I may just top it up for now, then flush it out once I get a bit more time to do deeper maintenance.

[StephenVA]

Yep, nasty ATF. Suck out what you can with a turkey baster and refill with Mobil 1 syn ATF. You have the ZF version of the reservoir. Most leak, the hoses leak, the cap seal leaks so everyone replaces them all at the same time.

[StephenVA]

Video
https://www.bavauto.com/diy_videos

[dohalloran]

So um, what happens if you mix them ? I topped up with the CHF stuff. Sure enough, the cap says ATF.

[danmurphymn]

Yep, nasty ATF. Suck out what you can with a turkey baster and refill with Mobil 1 syn ATF. You have the ZF version of the reservoir. Most leak, the hoses leak, the cap seal leaks so everyone replaces them all at the same time.

Buy the Reservoir, two hoses that attach to it, the squeeze clamps, and the O ring to the cooler. Easy job. Removing the lines and Reservoir will remove 65% of the ATF. There is a posting on the DIY section on how to flush the system. You can do it with nothing more than turning the wheel a few times with the engine off as you DO NOT want to run the pump dry at all costs. You application has a rack and pinion so the flush is simple. Just pull off the return line to the pump and add ATF to the cooler side. Messy so get a BIG pan under the car BEFORE you start.

No.	Description	Supp.	Qty	From	Up To	Part Number	Price		Notes
01	OIL CARRIER	CHF 11.S	1			32416851217
	only in conjunction with
--	Label, oil container-power steering pump	ATF	1			71246798132
02	Cover	CHF 11.S	1			32416851332
	only in conjunction with
--	Label, oil container-power steering pump	ATF	1			71246798132

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0723

Clear and comprehensive answer. Many many thank you's sir...

[StephenVA]

No.	Description	Supp.	Qty	From	Up To	Part Number	Price
01	SUCTION HOSE		1			32411095514	$41.83
02	Hose clamp	D=20,9-24,1	1			32111131345	$2.12
03	Hollow bolt	M18X32	1			32411117183	$7.53
04	Gasket ring	A18X24-CUSN	2			32411093598	$0.71
05	PRESSURE HOSE ASSY		1			32411093926	$229.83
06	Hollow bolt	M14X1,5X26	2		02/2012	32416783886	$2.11
06	Hollow bolt	M14X1,5X26	2			32416852469
07	Gasket ring	A14X20-CUSN	4			32411093596	$0.31
08	Return pipe		1			32411094205	$108.07
10	Gasket ring	A16X22-CUSN	2			32411093597	$0.27
11	O-ring	10,82X1,78/FPM	2			17211742636	$0.80
12	COOLING COIL		1			17111141819	$107.30
13	Hex bolt with washer	M8X30-Z3	1			07119915085	$0.62
14	Hose clamp	D=16,6-20MM	1			16121180242	$1.08
15	Return pipe		1			32411095515	$41.26