Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: 2 Power steering questions...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    PAC
    Posts
    452
    My Cars
    '95 E36 M3

    2 Power steering questions...

    Car: '95 M3

    So I replaced all the hoses/lines and reservoir for the PS. Connected everything back and was curious how to get all of the old fluid out before I add new fluid? Is there a drain screw somewhere or do I remove one of the banjo bolts? Or do I refill, drain, then fill again to get the old stuff out?

    Second Q, I see people recommending redline atf, mobil 1 atf, some say chf (which btw is $55/can at my local napa store), and others saying any atf should work just flush at least once a year. One thread had someone switch from valvoline atf to castrol atf. What would you recommend today in 2021? Napa has febi, eneos, royal purple, valvoline, and chf (might have more but I was at a smaller store). I haven't made it out to some of the other stores but will if I have to.

    Thanks for the help!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Peoria, AZ
    Posts
    7,696
    My Cars
    03 zhp, 97 e36m3, 04 zhp
    I've always disconnected lines at the pump and turned a pump by hand a few revolutions to get old fluid out.
    I use Valvoline synthetic atf in my obd2 cars, I don't know if obd1 had a different pump or not.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,180
    My Cars
    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Q1: no drain, most of us just drain from the banjo bolt.

    Q2: haha - you'll get every recommendation under the sun, so good luck parsing that! I figure good quality is good enough - this isn't worth chasing to the nth degree. Icurrently have Mobile 1 full synthetic ATF - it's good and widely available. My car is a DD so I prefer using stuff that is commonly available if possible.

    Of course, Blackstone will tell you the same thing about engine oil, but that's a discussion that's gone far past the nth degree many times.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    PAC
    Posts
    452
    My Cars
    '95 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by Mless5 View Post
    I've always disconnected lines at the pump and turned a pump by hand a few revolutions to get old fluid out.
    I use Valvoline synthetic atf in my obd2 cars, I don't know if obd1 had a different pump or not.
    Thanks, I picked up Valvoline but haven't put any fluid in yet as I want to check out the other shops to see what they offer. Hopefully it works on obd1 as well.

    Quote Originally Posted by blckstrm View Post
    Q1: no drain, most of us just drain from the banjo bolt.

    Q2: haha - you'll get every recommendation under the sun, so good luck parsing that! I figure good quality is good enough - this isn't worth chasing to the nth degree. Icurrently have Mobile 1 full synthetic ATF - it's good and widely available. My car is a DD so I prefer using stuff that is commonly available if possible.

    Of course, Blackstone will tell you the same thing about engine oil, but that's a discussion that's gone far past the nth degree many times.
    Roger that. I did a search and almost everyone recommends what they're using. I guess the key is to keep it clean so maybe a yearly flush is good preventative maintenance.

    Thanks guys!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, ON, Canada
    Posts
    4,937
    My Cars
    e90 M3,X5,e46 racer
    Mobil 1 ATF in the race cars works fine, so should work great in a street car
    Check out the 8legs Racing page: https://www.facebook.com/8legsRacing/


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Tracy, CA
    Posts
    932
    My Cars
    e46 325XI, e36 M3
    as long as the fluid is formulated to be within Dexron III or equivalent it is fine. on a side note, take care of that Power Steering pump on the 95's. They are NLA (even remanufactured) because ZF sold their P/S division a while ago. When mine crapped out, I literally bought the last remanufactured one in BMW's stock and that was 3 years ago.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    KC
    Posts
    387
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 1998 M3 coupes
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwstephen View Post
    as long as the fluid is formulated to be within Dexron III or equivalent it is fine. on a side note, take care of that Power Steering pump on the 95's. They are NLA (even remanufactured) because ZF sold their P/S division a while ago. When mine crapped out, I literally bought the last remanufactured one in BMW's stock and that was 3 years ago.
    I just replaced all my power steering hoses and reservoir as it was leaking horribly and whining when I purchased the car. I was hoping the sound would get better with new fluid and it did slightly, but it still has that subtle whine. I think it will need to be replaced in the near future. The fluid I ended up using was Pentosin CHF-11S.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Tracy, CA
    Posts
    932
    My Cars
    e46 325XI, e36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by E85STI View Post
    I just replaced all my power steering hoses and reservoir as it was leaking horribly and whining when I purchased the car. I was hoping the sound would get better with new fluid and it did slightly, but it still has that subtle whine. I think it will need to be replaced in the near future. The fluid I ended up using was Pentosin CHF-11S.
    if its a subtle whine, I would say it is salvageable. Needs a seal rebuild which they still do sell. Brett (Braymond) has a good write up on this. I would flush the CHF-11s with traditional ATF as our systems were never designed for that fluid. Only latter bimmers like the the e90s

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    KC
    Posts
    387
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 1998 M3 coupes
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwstephen View Post
    if its a subtle whine, I would say it is salvageable. Needs a seal rebuild which they still do sell. Brett (Braymond) has a good write up on this. I would flush the CHF-11s with traditional ATF as our systems were never designed for that fluid. Only latter bimmers like the the e90s
    I will search for and check out his writeup. Thanks for the info! I would rather try a rebuild first. And I will flush that fluid and try the ATF.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Tracy, CA
    Posts
    932
    My Cars
    e46 325XI, e36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by E85STI View Post
    I will search for and check out his writeup. Thanks for the info! I would rather try a rebuild first. And I will flush that fluid and try the ATF.

    DIY: E36 M3 Power Steering Pump Rebuild PN 32412227197 / 32412227196 ZF 7681955259 - BMW M3 Forum (mforum.net)

    Rebuilding a BMW E36 Power Steering Pump - Red Eye Garage

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    KC
    Posts
    387
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 1998 M3 coupes

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    PAC
    Posts
    452
    My Cars
    '95 E36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwstephen View Post
    as long as the fluid is formulated to be within Dexron III or equivalent it is fine. on a side note, take care of that Power Steering pump on the 95's. They are NLA (even remanufactured) because ZF sold their P/S division a while ago. When mine crapped out, I literally bought the last remanufactured one in BMW's stock and that was 3 years ago.
    Wow, good to know but not so good to know. What do we do if/when it is unrepairable? I'm sure someone has already gone down this road.

    Quote Originally Posted by E85STI View Post
    I just replaced all my power steering hoses and reservoir as it was leaking horribly and whining when I purchased the car. I was hoping the sound would get better with new fluid and it did slightly, but it still has that subtle whine. I think it will need to be replaced in the near future. The fluid I ended up using was Pentosin CHF-11S.
    Same here, but only the lines were leaking. For comparison, how much did you pay for the chf-11s? It's $55 at my local napa, insane.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    KC
    Posts
    387
    My Cars
    1995 M3 & 1998 M3 coupes
    I think I paid around $20 on FCP Euro for the Pentosin.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Tracy, CA
    Posts
    932
    My Cars
    e46 325XI, e36 M3
    there are still remanufactured one sold by non-brand sellers on ebay or autozone but I wouldn't trust them.

    you can probably still by used ones (p/n 32412227197) but they are coming far and few in between and now go for as much as a remanufactured one used to go for.

    the P/S pump is unique to the s50/s52. So it is not like you can pick one out from a standard m50/m52

    Quote Originally Posted by Veleno View Post
    Wow, good to know but not so good to know. What do we do if/when it is unrepairable? I'm sure someone has already gone down this road.



    Same here, but only the lines were leaking. For comparison, how much did you pay for the chf-11s? It's $55 at my local napa, insane.
    Last edited by bmwstephen; 10-19-2021 at 12:15 PM.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, ON, Canada
    Posts
    4,937
    My Cars
    e90 M3,X5,e46 racer
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwstephen View Post
    the P/S pump is unique to the s50/s52. So it is not like you can pick one out from a standard m50/m52
    Well, you certainly could ... I'm not sure what the differences are, but it must be very minor. Maybe higher RPM handline ability? No idea why the spec a different part number, but for sure they bolt up and work just fine.
    Check out the 8legs Racing page: https://www.facebook.com/8legsRacing/


  16. #16
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Tracy, CA
    Posts
    932
    My Cars
    e46 325XI, e36 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by ScotcH View Post
    Well, you certainly could ... I'm not sure what the differences are, but it must be very minor. Maybe higher RPM handline ability? No idea why the spec a different part number, but for sure they bolt up and work just fine.
    good point.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    5,773
    My Cars
    99 M3

    2 Power steering questions...

    Quote Originally Posted by bmwstephen View Post
    …take care of that Power Steering pump on the 95's. They are NLA (even remanufactured) because ZF sold their P/S division.
    32412227197, was used on all E36M3, 1995 thru 1999. Though there no longer seems to be remanufactured units, much less new units available. As mentioned there is a seal kit available, 32411135880 gasket set vane pump ZF.

    Quote Originally Posted by ScotcH View Post
    Well, you certainly could ... I'm not sure what the differences are, but it must be very minor. Maybe higher RPM handline ability? No idea why the spec a different part number, but for sure they bolt up and work just fine.
    Unfortunately there is a different power steering mounting offset found in the Oil Filter Housings of the 1995 - 1999 M3 S50/S52; 1992 - 1995 E34 and E36 M50 (USA & EURO) and 323/328


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by bluptgm3; 10-20-2021 at 12:42 AM.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, ON, Canada
    Posts
    4,937
    My Cars
    e90 M3,X5,e46 racer
    Quote Originally Posted by bluptgm3 View Post
    Unfortunately there is a different power steering mounting offset found in the Oil Filter Housings of the 1995 - 1999 M3 S50/S52; 1992 - 1995 E34 and E36 M50 (USA & EURO) and 323/328
    The M50 and S50/52 use the same oil filter housing ... so the M50 pump will most certainly work. You're right, to use the M52 pump, you'd need to change the housing.
    Check out the 8legs Racing page: https://www.facebook.com/8legsRacing/


Similar Threads

  1. Power steering questions
    By Fordman50 in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-12-2004, 06:40 PM
  2. power steering question???
    By ///M3 CRAZY in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-28-2003, 01:29 PM
  3. Power Steering Question?
    By Iced_07M3 in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-19-2003, 11:47 AM
  4. Power Steering Question
    By TransHuman in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 09-05-2003, 07:40 PM
  5. Power Steering Question - 95 M3
    By GQ_Style in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-02-2003, 08:49 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •