My solution to that rear 13mm… pulled the wheel, then removed the plastic air dam that blocks access to the nut. Once removed, easy access with a gear wrench. Thanks for the great videos!!!
Theres actually a hack for 3.0 owners installing the 4.4 pump and getting better steering feel and response due to the more powerful pressure of the larger pump. I saw an old post from the forums but I'm not sure of it fits right in or it may need a different pully to line up.
I own a 2005 x5 and sometimes when I first started the steering wheel is really hard to turn but if I turn off the car and turn it back on the steering wheel gets back to normal. Any ideas what could be wrong? Thanks
my e53 steering sometimes is hard sometimes is normal when its hard it cause my idle to drop almost to stall. the liquid is at normal level i dont know why its like that, should i replave the pump as well?
How does one drive around without the fan engaged? It's not like there is a switch than can just turn it off. Would love an explanation about this. I have one of these X5's and have started to hear some whiring noise from the belt or the fan...or something else related to the pulley system. Thanks!
Hi, Nice video, crisp and clear...really helpful. I have a cracking noise from the steering wheel, is it the pump or just the fluid? need your help. Thanks
I'm thinking of doing a flush, but instead of taking off any bolts and introducing air into the system, the method requires the removal of the return hose from the reservoir and attaching it a drain bucket. Then, while the front wheels are off the ground, turn steering wheel lock to lock while refilling the reservoir (it has a plug on the return hose opening), then stop when the fluid coming out of the return line is red. I have never seen any e46 video or information on doing it by this method, but I've done it on an Audi and another car, and it worked well. Do you know if it's uncommon or is there some mechanical reason on the E46 that people don't do it?
+BucketList We're talking semantics here. When you remove the fluid from a power steering system, it is replaced by air. Think about it. If it wasn't replaced by air, it would be replaced by a vacuum, and that isn't possible. So whether you crack a line at the power steering pump at the bottom of the car and drain it or redirect the return hose somehow, you're going to be introducing air. Now, the difference in method is just a matter of how your system is setup. On a Honda V6, for instance, you would do it differently because the pump is on the top of the engine and it's a little easier to redirect the return line. On an E46, it's far far easier to remove the input line to the pump down below and drain it out. Just drain, run the car (and hence the pump) to get all remaining fluid out, then refill, run & turn it lock to lock, shut it off, let the bubbles settle, refill, repeat until no more bubbles. It's very easy.
Hay what do you use for power steering fluid. On my 2005 x5 4.4i PS cap it said ATF. And the oil is red. Does not say on manual what grade of ATF. did some research on net and ask bmw dealer got various answers. What did you use and what did your research say. thanks.
Al contrario Gracias a ti por compartir el cómo poder remplazar la bomba de la dirección de la BMW es de mucha ayuda el saber por donde empezar a desarmar nuevamente Gracias 🙏🏼 por tu valiosa ayuda
You have to drive these cars like you stole them!!! If you don't do highway driving this isn't the car for you. Unless you want to get tickets in the city. Must be driven hard.
They're only POSs if they've been mistreated. I've got a 2005 X5 4.4 with >150k on it, and it's in great shape. I expect to get another 100k out of it. You just have to do the maintenance on it.
You mentioned rebuilding the old pump. I have never come across anything that says you can rebuild these particular pumps. Do you have a source for a rebuild kit/DIY? Great video BTW.
+AK540i Actually, no I wasn't able to find one as they do not make them. However, you can always try to do it yourself. The o-rings inside are pretty standard and you'd be able to find them. The only special one would be the main one that seals the two halves, and you can probably just reuse that one unless it's leaking. And if it is, you can try permatex the right stuff to make your own new gasket.
Have bmw x5 e53 sport wagon and i need to l need to replace ball bearings, rack opinion, power steering pump, control arms, and them what else would i have to replace to get my steering back in order. i have brake light, traction light and one i cant recall right now but the car was in an accident and it is very hard to steer. it is ticking and a roar due to the left front area where it was hit.
Use a T50 torx on the pulley bolt to release tension. Sometimes this can be a 8 mm hex instead. You should replace the reservoir when replacing the pump as it contains a non-servicable 100 micron filter in the base. Keep the old cap that says 'ATF OIL ONLY' as ZF now only supply new reservoir caps that say 'CHF 11S ONLY'. Use the new O-ring on the old cap. On the E46, the LF-20 runs at 110 Bar and LF-30 runs at 130 Bar. They are only interchangable in conjunction with the high pressure hose from pump to rack, as the pump outlets are in diffierent positions. Personally, the revised LF-20 HD is better than the LF-30 for steering feel (not overboosted) and durability.
Depends what you mean by clean. You will probably have bits of rubber from the inside of the higher pressure hose after a decade. Acetone may not fully dissolve those. If you can not afford a new reservoir, then loosen the T25 torx that secures the filter to the bottom of the reservoir so you can rotate it to get all the debris from underneath. And I mean all, anything you miss will be sucked back through the pump and then rack upon next startup.
Believe it or not, most cars use automatic transmission fluid in the power steering. If that sounds strange, think of it this way; they are both nothing more than hydraulic systems. Back in the 60s and 70's, GM used the same fluid to operate it's convertible tops, and Mercedes used it to-believe it or not-operate it's seats!
Hey! I have a 2003 BMW X5 4.4i and I'm thinking my pump is going bad, sometimes when I'm going at low speeds it feels a lot more stiff when I'm turning and it feels like the pump is loosing power and regaining it when I'm Turing. It's hard to explain. Should I replace my pump or flush the fluid first?
I sent my 2008 BMW X5 to a local shop for an oil pan replacement. When I drove it, the power steering is making noise when turning the wheel. The mechanic told me it is not something he damaged or did by changing the oil pan. The car was not making that noise when I took it to him nor he told me that when he received it. Is that possible with all the power steering lines in that vicinity
I have a 02 X5 4.6 when the engine start I heard rattle noise on the bottom of the engine. But when we put on drive or reverse the noise go away. Any suggestions?
hi my PS reservoir been leaking at radiator return hose. So I change reservoir and clamps. But it still leaking. But worst part is leak is still there. So I wants change that hose it self, but I am not getting any tutorial for x5 e53 3.0i also i suppose to ATF but NAPA guy gave me ELF, so I needs to drain it completly and put ATF.. can you give some tips on it. thanks, Krishna
The hoses have quick-connect fittings that fit into the cooling loop beside the radiator. If you watch my "engine removal" video that I made 2 weeks ago, you can see how I disconnected the power steering hoses on my M54. It's similar for yours.
If you look through my oil pan gasket video, there is a section where I remove the power steering pump from the engine and set it aside. That will show you what bolts you need to get at. Removing it from the car completely is as simple as disconnecting the lines from it first.
