X5 Adaptive Drive Pump Seal Blow Out Catastrophic Failure

[richardb]

Hey all, hope your summer is going well. We've experienced our first major break down with our 2010 X5 30i M-sport (adaptive drive). Lost all the power steering fluid on a 90+ degree day while driving.

Upon first inspection, I found a 1'' long bit of green o-ring protruding from the power steering tandem pump. I poured a few ounces of CHF11S into the reservoir, and it poured right out of the gap where this seal was. Classic blow-out of the tandem pump seal.

The question is why does this happen? A technical bulletin in TIS shows the expansion hose (section 1 in real oem, part 32416788258) is to be replaced along with a new pump. This hose has a filter in it which becomes clogged, causing excess pressure to build in the pump and failing the o-ring seal.

I believe this is what happened in my case. There is only a single trouble code stored, 5D60 "oil-level switch". I don't believe it is a result of any other component failure.

Here is a good post I found about the issue:

https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1947067

and here:

https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/b...g-seal.891131/

Has anyone attempted to rebuild their pump? It is $1,500-$1,900 online. Yikes.

I've ordered o-rings here:

https://www.theoringstore.com/store/...ducts_id=43812

The size is 2.5 x 107 in FKM material.

[andrewwynn]

Remove the pipe with the filter and push good fluid though both ways see if there is restriction then if there is blow it out into some filter material like coffee filter using brake kleen.

Determine what is plugging the filter if it is the case. If it's wear material from the pump, I would look to see if somebody has a tutorial on rebuild. There are for a very similar idea: the oil pump on n55, n63 etc.

[ard]

^ Agree. Make sure if you replace the pump that the pump itself was the initial failure point.



If something else failed, and the particles caused the blockage which in turn killed the pump, you might kill a new pump unless you find that initial failure....

[richardb]

There is a screenshot posted here from BMW TIS that explains the section 1 hose must be replaced with the pump. Based on my reading, the hose blockage here at section 1 causes the pump seal to fail. Likely due to the fluid not being serviced, or this is just a known failure point at 100k miles.

https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1693876

I have the new hose on order and have the o-ring to try to replace in the pump itself. Not sure if that is doable, but I sure will try to save the $1800.

[ard]

^ I wonder if maybe there is an integrated screen/filter in that 'hose' assembly?


GL


report back-

[richardb]

From what I've gathered online, there is a filter in that hose somewhere that can become clogged/fail and this causes excess pressure that blows out the pump seal.

If anyone has successfully rebuilt one of these pumps by installing a new seal, by all means reply here (very unlikely)!

A local Porsche shop owner told me that on Porsche models with similar options, the service interval is 60k miles on these adaptive drive style systems. The fluid is changed along with any and all reservoirs (which contain the filters). On some Porsche's there are two reservoirs, one under the hood and one hidden. Both must be entirely replaced as they contain a non-replaceable filter. This is the 60k service to keep the fluid clean and prevent failure. On the E70, at least my model, there is just one reservoir to my knowledge.

[richardb]

Just stopping back in here to update: the pump was successfully rebuilt, by installing the o-ring mentioned above. I've flushed the reservoir several times to try to clean the system as the two new liters of CHF11S mix with any old fluid remaining in the lines and sway bars.

I plan to continue flushing the reservoir out to help keep the fluid clean and prevent the new hose filter from getting clogged again. Hard to say if there is a wear condition in the steering rack or pump itself that will continue to contaminate the fluid, but flushing it seems to be the best insurance going forward (and to avoid buying a $1600-1900 pump)

FYI anyone doing this job, plan on removing the intake manifold as it makes it easier to remove that section 1 hose along with the pump brackets that mount to the block. I had a new small DISA valve to replace while in there anyway, so removing the intake was the best way to gain access.

[andrewwynn]

Good follow up


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