Servotronic steering box leak

[vgs]

My euro spec M73 850Ci has a leaking steering gearbox (I think the leak is coming from the input shaft).

About once a week I would refill Pentosin to get it back to level, but I decided to try to get this fixed.

My car has been at the shop for three months and my mechanic (independent BMW specialist) has tried to get a rebuilt steering box, yet ECS Tuning has sent a non-servotronic 850i box instead of the servotronic box, twice. Neither my mechanic nor I can seem to find a rebuilt servotronic box, a rebuild kit for my current box, or a kit with just the seals. The BMW dealer in El Paso, TX has tried to help locate parts, but haven't been able to even through BMW Germany. ZF so far hasn't been helpful at all.

I've read Hyper's ZF overhaul thread: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...F-steering-box and even though that steering gearbox is for an 840Ci, I am fairly sure it is the same part number in my 850Ci. If I could source even a partial rebuild kit, I could try to complete it from the list Hyper posted.

According to RealOEM my original part number is 32131138691. The remanufactured equivalent is 32131138868.

Ideally I would want my original steering box rebuilt/resealed because it only has 26k miles.


An option I would consider would be to get a steering box without servotronic and use that while I can source all the parts to rebuild my original box (which seems might take a long time). This way at least I could be back on the road soon. The part I think would work is 32131138699, of which there are a couple on eBay listed as meant for the 840Ci. The servotronic would simply be left unplugged until I get my original box fixed.

Would this even work? Is there additional coding for servotronic that would confuse the car?

[shogun]

I have done many, the last one yesterday on a E32 750. That was my first one in 2008 http://www.7-forum.com/forum/showthr...t=lenkgetriebe
That is the seal kit 32 13 1 134 768 which fits on my E32 750iL with M70, 11/1988 built year.
These are just seals

[adwebinc]

I just picked up a non-serv box on buy auto parts. I’m pretty sure they have the serv box too.

I usually buy everything from FCP and ECS, but this place has some really good E31 accessory selections for reasonable prices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vgs]

I have done many, the last one yesterday on a E32 750. That was my first one in 2008 http://www.7-forum.com/forum/showthr...t=lenkgetriebe
That is the seal kit 32 13 1 134 768 which fits on my E32 750iL with M70, 11/1988 built year.
These are just seals

Thank you, I'll look into that seal kit.

I just picked up a non-serv box on buy auto parts. I’m pretty sure they have the serv box too.

I usually buy everything from FCP and ECS, but this place has some really good E31 accessory selections for reasonable prices.

BuyAutoParts doesn't have the servotronic box in stock.

[SteveCT]

Consider sending your unit to Benchwork, Inc in Scottsdale, for a rebuild of your servotronic unit.
I used them in September, 2017, and they did a great job!

[TedBobo]

Consider sending your unit to Benchwork, Inc in Scottsdale, for a rebuild of your servotronic unit.
I used them in September, 2017, and they did a great job!

Thanks for the info!

[rharris99]

If that doesn’t work for you, you can get a rebuilt servo steering box from BMW South Atlanta for $1700 and if you return the core back to them they will give you $500 back. I did this just over a year ago.

[ChrisFuture8]

Consider sending your unit to Benchwork, Inc in Scottsdale, for a rebuild of your servotronic unit.
I used them in September, 2017, and they did a great job!

SteveCT,

What was the reason for yours getting the rebuild? Was it due to fluid leaking, a lot of play, or other mechanical issues with it? I'm curious because my steering box has a lot of slop side to side and was wondering if the rebuild service provided by Benchwork would fix that issue?

[TedBobo]

SteveCT,

What was the reason for yours getting the rebuild? Was it due to fluid leaking, a lot of play, or other mechanical issues with it? I'm curious because my steering box has a lot of slop side to side and was wondering if the rebuild service provided by Benchwork would fix that issue?

Ditto!

[SteveCT]

I had a bad leak and was going through a lot of Pentosin. Found a used box on eBay which I bought and shipped to Benchwork to have rebuilt, so I wasn't totally out-of-commission with my 840 while rebuild was going on.

I did not have "alot of play" in my old box, just a bad leak; no difference in play with the rebuilt one.

- - - Updated - - -

I had a bad leak and was going through a lot of Pentosin. Found a used box on eBay which I bought and shipped to Benchwork to have rebuilt, so I wasn't totally out-of-commission with my 840 while rebuild was going on.

I did not have "alot of play" in my old box, just a bad leak; no difference in play with the rebuilt one.

- - - Updated - - -

Suggest you give Benchwork a call and see what they have to say about removing/correcting the "slop" in your steering box; friendly approachable guys.