Where Exactly Is The Power Steering Reservoir - BMW Forum

jshearer · 03-16-2005, 08:47 PM

I am getting a groan from my car when I turn the wheel. My guess is that the power steering is low on fluid. I have gone and looked under the hood but cannot find the reservoir to add more fluid. Can anyone tell me or show me(pics) where it is.

tomctx · 03-16-2005, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jshearer@Mar 16 2005, 10:47 PM
I am getting a groan from my car when I turn the wheel. My guess is that the power steering is low on fluid. I have gone and looked under the hood but cannot find the reservoir to add more fluid. Can anyone tell me or show me(pics) where it is.

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It's not the easiest thing to see. On the bottom of your air box is a sensor with two hoses emanating from it. If you follow them to the back of the engine, they run right beside the power steering reservoir. It's between the engine and the air filter box down semi-deep.

culkj · 03-17-2005, 08:32 AM

Remeber to top it off with Dextron Automatic transmission fluid, not power steering fluid!!

jshearer · 03-17-2005, 09:03 AM

Yeah I got that thanks. I have the Bentley manual but it just tells you to fill it up it doesn't give you any location or have any pics to see what it looks like.

streetdreams · 03-17-2005, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by culkj@Mar 17 2005, 08:32 AM
Remeber to top it off with Dextron Automatic transmission fluid, not power steering fluid!!

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So what if I accidently put power steering fluid in there?

ghead

streetdreams · 03-19-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by streetdreams+Mar 17 2005, 01:14 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(streetdreams @ Mar 17 2005, 01:14 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-culkj@Mar 17 2005, 08:32 AM
Remeber to top it off with Dextron Automatic transmission fluid, not power steering fluid!!

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So what if I accidently put power steering fluid in there?

ghead

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[/b][/quote]

bump?

jshearer · 03-19-2005, 02:11 PM

From what I have heard BMW use both, some use ATF and some use reg power steering fluid. Look at the top of your cap and it should tell you. Of course I still have not gone out to look for mine, so I don;t know where it is.

Anyone else that can answer streetdreams question?

Furious · 03-19-2005, 02:22 PM

here is where mine is.

jshearer · 03-19-2005, 02:31 PM

Awesome, that is perfect and what I really wanted. I thought that was it, kinda hard to see with stock airbox in still.

docrobot · 03-21-2005, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jshearer@Mar 19 2005, 01:31 PM
Awesome, that is perfect and what I really wanted. I thought that was it, kinda hard to see with stock airbox in still.

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Were you low on fluid? Did Dextron III fix the noise?

My '92 325i is groaning on slow turns (thought it was a PS belt, silly me) above 60 degrees F...

jshearer · 03-31-2005, 01:08 PM

Going to update in case anyone does a search with the same problem. I filled it up with ATF(what mine used) and it fixed the problem. Kinda. I have two leaks in my hoses right where the metal part meets the rubber. From what I have heard if you have a leak this is most liekly the case. So now I have to get this fixed sometime. I don;t think it will be anytime real soon though i will just keep checking it and filling it as needed until i get a bit more money.

4evrwyntr · 03-31-2005, 02:42 PM

Also note that your car will make a low grinding noise if you turn the wheel and put weight on a bad ball joint - like if you turn left then the groan will be from the right wheel (front), if you turn right then from the left wheel (front). Although I guess if you found a leak, that's your problem.

tomctx · 03-31-2005, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jshearer@Mar 31 2005, 03:08 PM
Going to update in case anyone does a search with the same problem. I filled it up with ATF(what mine used) and it fixed the problem. Kinda. I have two leaks in my hoses right where the metal part meets the rubber. From what I have heard if you have a leak this is most liekly the case. So now I have to get this fixed sometime. I don;t think it will be anytime real soon though i will just keep checking it and filling it as needed until i get a bit more money.

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I've had to do the same thing. Are the leaking hoses next to the pump? Or are they leaking on the rack? Thought I'd ask before I crawl under the car.

fredo328 · 03-31-2005, 06:46 PM

If the leak is coming from around where the hose is attaching then you may just need to replace the clamps. The stock clamps are machine applied at the factory, they have no play and you cannot tighten them and over time the hose will shrink, the clamp will not. Replace them with the screw tightening type of clamps. Do some searches and you will see that some the owners also replace the hoses when they do this. I just replaced the clamps but I'll need to do the hoses eventually.

jshearer · 03-31-2005, 10:41 PM

I saw a leak but could not find exactly where it was coming from. I was taking my car in for an oil change and such anyways and had the guys look at it to see if they could find the leak, the did. They want $317 for labor and parts to fix them, but said that they were not major yet. I am going to try and look more later, but for now I just spent over $2000 on parts for the car so have no money.