Power steering fluid leak

[FourPointEight-is]

Hello all

I am losing what appears to be quite an alarming amount of power steering fluid all over my garage floor. The car is a 2005 4.8is with roughly 110k miles.

I have cleaned the area down as best as I can and started the car, let it idle for a few seconds, turn the steering end to end and turned it off, just waiting for the leak to show up now.

Just wondering if there is any one specific component in this car that is known to give out? At least this way I can start my troubleshooting with some knowledge up my sleeve.

Thanks

[upallnight]

The power steering hose at one of the crimp could be leaking. The rack itself could be leaking. With a 4.8i X5 you most likely have a Servotronic steering rack.

[FourPointEight-is]

Hmm, as far as I can tell I don't have this active/servotronic steering. Here's the output from the VIN decoder:

Standard Options
Light Alloy Wheels V Spoke 168	Lm Raeder V-speiche 168
221	2-axle Self-leveling Suspension	2 Achs Niveauregulierung
226	Sports Suspension Settings	Sportliche Fahrwerksabstimmung
249	Multi-function For Steering Wheel	Multifunktion Fuer Lenkrad
255	Sports Leather Steering Wheel	Sport-lederlenkrad
261	Side Airbag For Rear Passengers	Seitenairbag Fuer Fondpassagiere
302	Alarm System	Alarmanlage
321	Exterior Parts In Body Color	Exterieurumfaenge In Wagenfarbe
413	Luggage Compartment Net	Gepaeckraumtrennetz
423	Floor Mats, Velour	Fussmatten In Velours
442	Cupholder	Getraenkehalter
459	Seat Adjustm., Electr. W. Memory	Sitzverstellung, Elektr.mit Memory
471	Interior Line Graphite Metallic	Interieur Line Graphit Metallic
481	Sport Seats F Driver/front Passenger	Sportsitze Fuer Fahrer/beifahrer
488	Lumbar Support Driver/front Passenger	Lordosenstuetze Fahrer/beifahrer
494	Seat Heating F Driver/front Passenger	Sitzheizung Fuer Fahrer/beifahrer
502	Headlight Washer System	Scheinwerfer-waschanlage
521	Rain Sensor	Regensensor
522	Xenon Light	Xenon-licht
534	Automatic Air Conditioning	Klimaautomatik
775	Individual Roof-lining Anthracite	Individual Dachhimmel Anthrazit
785	White Direction Indicator Lights	Weisse Blinkleuchten
840	High Speed Synchronisation	Hochgeschwindigkeitsabstimmung
853	Language Version English	Sprachversion Englisch
Options
205	Automatic Transmission	Automatic Getriebe
328	Aluminium Running Board Sill	Aluminium-trittbrett
354	Green Stripe Windscreen	Gruenkeil-frontscheibe
386	Roof Rail	Dachreling
402	Panorama Glass Roof	Panorama Glasdach
430	Int/ext Rr Vw Mirror W Aut Anti-dazzle	Innen-/aussenspiegel Aut.abblendend
441	Smokers Package	Raucherpaket
464	Skibag	Skisack
508	Park Distance Control (pdc)	Park Distance Control (pdc)
524	Adaptive Headlights	Adaptives Kurvenlicht
548	Speedometer With Kilometer Reading	Kilometertacho
601	Tv Function	Tv-funktion
609	Navigation System Professional	Navigationssystem Professional
638	Car Telephone Professional	Autotelefon Professional
672	Cd Changer Bmw For 6 Cds	Cd Wechsler 6-fach
677	Hifi System Professional	Hifi System Professional
761	Individual Sun Protection Glazing	Individual Sonnenschutzverglasung
810	Australia Version	Australien-ausfuehrung
818	Main Battery Switch	Batteriehauptschalter
825	Radio Control Oceania	Radio-steuerung Ozeanien
861	Change Of Coding Data Set	Aenderung Codierdatensatz
864	Overseas/dealer Directory	Service Kontakt-flyer Uebersee
880	English / On-board Documentation	Englisch / Bordliteratur
925	Shipping Protection Package	Versandschutzpaket
984	Coding Service Interval	Kodierung Wartungsintervall

[FourPointEight-is]

I took the cover off from under the radiator / engine front end and cleaned everything off. it looks like at least some of this leak is coming from the hose that goes from the PS Reservoir -> PS Pump. I had a single drop develop within a couple of minutes of starting the engine.

Additionally, I've got some weeping/"Sweating" happening at the crimp points on the crimped hose - where it goes into the radiator (the upper one, lower one OK). Lastly, I've got some more slight weeping/"sweating" happening on the hose at the crimp point on the "Expansion Hose" - i.e. the hoes that goes from the power steering pump to the steering rack.

I think I will replace a hose clamp and see how this pans out. I can see all the hose clamps on the reservoir etc have been replaced, but the one underneath the car.

Anyone had all 4 hoses replaced? What is the labour cost on this? Hoses themselves are not cheap... about $40 each for the 2 hoses leading out of the radiator and $65 for one hose leading out of the steering rack and $200 for the other. Looks like a total cost of 345 just in parts alone.

The hoses are parts 1-4 on here: RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

[StephenVA]

I will let you know soon as I have them sitting in a box in the garage waiting for my butt to stop working on other vehicles.

[SlickGT1]

I did them all. And the fluid canister/filter thing.

Did it myself. Wasn't too bad, but that number 3 hose was a bitch. Took an extreme amount of maneuvering to get it out, then same shit to put it back in, oh and you pretty much do the bolts by feel.

And you need the power steering hose coupler tool. You see in that diagram where 3 and 4 plug into the cooler 14. Yup. You need that too thing like you use on fuel lines. Otherwise you going to mangle shit up. It's cheap, and will up your manhood because it's another tool to own.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009V...hhL&ref=plSrch

[FourPointEight-is]

Is that tool really required. $20 for a piece of metal? I have nothing against "paying for quality' but sometime I swear they're gouging me. I've got small-ish hands... I will try to get it off with BIG BRUTE STRENGTH.

I'm going to do 1 & 4 That's where I see the actual leaks. While i'm there, I'll swap out the reservoir as well since I am going to take off both hoses that go to the darn thing. About 130+freight.

Does anyone know what the volume of fluid is in this circuit? I will drain out all the fluid to do this job and may as well replace it while I'm there. The guys at the BMW parts counter at the local dealer didn't seem to know.

PS, that under-belly bash plate thing - once removed, it says you must discard bolts. How necessary is this? A real PITA as I've got everything done now and want to put it back together so I can drive the damn thing.

[Fifty150hs]

"PS, that under-belly bash plate thing - once removed, it says you must discard bolts. How necessary is this? "

Now you've gone and done it. There are two camps on that one and if you do a search you will find plenty of disagreement about whether to reuse or not.

[FourPointEight-is]

What if I go 50-50? 6 bolts total right? So I'll get 3 new and reuse 3.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by FourPointEight-is

What if I go 50-50? 6 bolts total right? So I'll get 3 new and reuse 3.

That's a novel idea!