Power steering reservoir pitfalls...

[jabstick420]

Just did this job yesterday.

Couple of tips to make this go smooth.

1) keep track of splash shield screws. There are three kinds

2) Get regular screw clamp for lower hose. Its tights and the crimping tool that I had wouldn't fit.

3) careful around the upper radiator hose. I broke the nipple that goes into the expansion tank

4) get the tool for the high pressure hose. there was no way I could get two wrenches to compress the plastic tab. Here is what I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5) the rein brand hoses are good. One made in Germany and the other made in turkey. no issues with fitment.

Pretty straightforward job if you're prepared. I ordered the oteiker style clamps, but regretted this decision later. Make your life easier and order the correct size screw clamps and the line disconnect tool.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by jabstick420

Just did this job yesterday.

Couple of tips to make this go smooth.

1) keep track of splash shield screws. There are three kinds

2) Get regular screw clamp for lower hose. Its tights and the crimping tool that I had wouldn't fit.

3) careful around the upper radiator hose. I broke the nipple that goes into the expansion tank

4) get the tool for the high pressure hose. there was no way I could get two wrenches to compress the plastic tab. Here is what I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5) the rein brand hoses are good. One made in Germany and the other made in turkey. no issues with fitment.

Pretty straightforward job if you're prepared. I ordered the oteiker style clamps, but regretted this decision later. Make your life easier and order the correct size screw clamps and the line disconnect tool.

I am guessing that this thread is about replacing the PS reservoir? Or is it about replacing the lines?

If it is the lines, then what engine/year is this in reference to (adding your vehicle details into your signature is helpful.)

Can you expand on the job? What was hard? What was easy? Where did you find the steps? Do you have detailed steps for the job? How long did it take?

I am looking to do my PS lines and this sounds like it might be helpful with a few details.

[blktoptrvl]

To those who have done this job... I plan to break the hose clamp pictures and replace the entire hose.

Does anyone know how the hose connector is coupled to the pump? For example, is this some kind of banjo ... maybe using an torx bolt?) Or is the hose connected directly to the pump and this just looks like a coupling?

[jcp240z]

On the N62 engines the hose attaches with clamps. That fitting is part of the pump assembly and is not removable. You can see it in this picture https://ecstuning.com/ES55039/

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by jcp240z

On the N62 engines the hose attaches with clamps. That fitting is part of the pump assembly and is not removable. You can see it in this picture https://ecstuning.com/ES55039/

Thanks, exactly what I needed to know. Now I won't waste time trying to see/figure out how to remove what isn't a fitting. Thanks again.

[blktoptrvl]

OK reservoir hoses replaced...

I believe you definitely need to replace the oetiker's with worm/band clamps. I can see no reason that BMW uses the oetiker's other than to cause you to spend a lot of money in their shop if you are ever stuck on the side of the road. Without my roto-zip and an abrasive blade, I would not have gotten the one at the pump off. And if stuck on the side of the road, I estimate I would have had to get a tow job to a shop to replace the hose at about $500?

Without using the BMW PS line tool I believe I would have been fighting to get the high pressure line off for hours. As it was, with the tool, it only took about 30 seconds. The odd thing was that after putting the new high pressure hose in, I tried to remove it again in order to reposition the low pressure line - nothing doing, once the new line locked on I could not get it back off. So, I bent the hose to move it instead.

Years ago, a BMW dealer told me they wanted to replace all the lines to the tune of $800 for all of them. I spent about $60 for the reservoir hoses and sat on them for years until needed for this job. Saved a good bit of money - thanks to those who contributed to this thread and to the success of this job.

I rate this job: easy - so long as you have the proper tools.

On a side note...

While under the car, I decided to change the motor oil too, as usual I spilled a little on the floor. For this reason, and because I need to replace the pan gasket of my RX7, and because after about forty years of working on my cars on my back, I think it is past time I get a garage lift. Has anyone installed a two post lift? Any reviews?

[StephenVA]

Just completed this process yesterday on my 4.8is. Easy job that takes longer to remove the splash shield underneath than to do the whole job.
Tips:
1. you will need the compression tool to remove the short hose from the cooler to the reservoirs. Without it you will never remove the hose without damage to the nipple or or other nearby parts.
2. On mine 2005 build date, all the hoses had worm drive clamps making removal quick. So pull the whole system from the vehicle, confirm location and angles of the hoses before removing them from the bottom of the reservoir as the supply line to the pump has lots of premolded bends to align correctly over all the objects on the way down to the pump. Don't forget the clip on the radiator!
3. Replace the reservoir itself as it is only a few bucks and will solve the cap leaking problem at the same time. It is a ZF unit so skip the dealer and save more $$$. Also there is a built in filter.
4. No more leaks!
Drive safe.

[upallnight]

If you plan to use the lift to store a car above another car, get the four posts lift. You should check to see if there are DIY shops that will rent you a bay with a lift. There are two shops in my area that rent bays with lift to DIYers and include the use of their tools and air. The price varies from 28 to 40 dollars a hours. The 28 dollar place is 40 miles from where I live whereas the 40 dollars place is only 2 miles away. If it is a job that will only take a couple of hours or less I will go to the 40 dollars place. If it take a day or more I will go to the 28 dollars place.

I thought about adding a lift to the garage but with places available to me, it would be cheaper in the long run to just do the work at one of those shops.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

OK reservoir hoses replaced...

I believe you definitely need to replace the oetiker's with worm/band clamps. I can see no reason that BMW uses the oetiker's other than to cause you to spend a lot of money in their shop if you are ever stuck on the side of the road. Without my roto-zip and an abrasive blade, I would not have gotten the one at the pump off. And if stuck on the side of the road, I estimate I would have had to get a tow job to a shop to replace the hose at about $500?

Without using the BMW PS line tool I believe I would have been fighting to get the high pressure line off for hours. As it was, with the tool, it only took about 30 seconds. The odd thing was that after putting the new high pressure hose in, I tried to remove it again in order to reposition the low pressure line - nothing doing, once the new line locked on I could not get it back off. So, I bent the hose to move it instead.

Years ago, a BMW dealer told me they wanted to replace all the lines to the tune of $800 for all of them. I spent about $60 for the reservoir hoses and sat on them for years until needed for this job. Saved a good bit of money - thanks to those who contributed to this thread and to the success of this job.

I rate this job: easy - so long as you have the proper tools.

On a side note...

While under the car, I decided to change the motor oil too, as usual I spilled a little on the floor. For this reason, and because I need to replace the pan gasket of my RX7, and because after about forty years of working on my cars on my back, I think it is past time I get a garage lift. Has anyone installed a two post lift? Any reviews?

Having the right tools always makes the job a lot easier.

[StephenVA]

Mine popped right off with just hand pressure using the tool.
Sources
https://www.tooltopia.com/assenmacher-bmw8390.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-346...70_&dpSrc=srch

I purchased the CTA TOOL $20