Hydraulic steering system filter?
 

Short version: is there a filter in the steering system?

Longer version:

I was chatting with the parts guy at the BMW dealer and I commented to him that my steering was kind of stiff but that the steering system was still working and that it had been this way for a long time...

Anyway, he told me that the same happened on his BMW 325 (same generation with M54 engine) and that it was caused by a clogged filter in the steering system. But he could not tell me where that was located.

Anyone know if we have such a thing?

There is a filter built into the bottom of the steering fluid reservoir. Easiest way to clean it is to replace the reservoir.

No, I'm not kidding. :rolleyes:

Could be the pump too, if the reservoir doesn't do the job. Mine was stiff, but intermittently so. I replaced the pump with a rebuilt one from Rock Auto and its been great since.

Normally I don't go as low as Rock Auto, but it was super cheap and I wasn't sure it wasn't the rack. It also was rebuilt by Cardone, which I've generally had good luck with. So far so good.

Probably worth throwing parts at this system in the hopes that it isn't the rack. which is expensive and hard to change out.

What about the diesels?

How stiff is the steering feel supposed to be?

Though I've owned two dozen plus vehicles, and driven over a hundred I'm sure, my X5 is my first and only BMW, so I've nothing in my experience to compare it to.

As I've stated in other posts, the PO rebuilt or refreshed most of the mechanical running gear before I traded cars with him, and the suspension is firm, responsive, and goes over bad roads better than 99% of anything I've driven before, so I expected the steering to be tight, as well. It is tight, with no play, no wiggle over bumps either, but the steering effort required reminds me of my '56 Chevy and my '66 Chevelle drag car.

The '56 came with manual steering, and I tightened the worm gear adjustment so much that it was really stiff to turn. On the Chevelle, first I just removed the power steering pump, and looped the hose so the gear was still lubed, but all assist was gone, but it was too unresponsive and hard to turn in emergency situations (at the time, it was still streetable, though with a 500 hp 427 and 3.73 posi, 90% race/10% street). When I pulled it off the street, with the full-race 427 solid roller cammed engine and 4.88 full-spool gears, I installed non-power steering gear on it. Stiff, but responsive.

Can anyone tell me if my X5's steering is as it should be? I like it as it is, so I hope it is normal, and not another undiagnosed problem upcoming.



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@wpoll: thanks!

@Hen28: yeah, I don't think it is the pump.

@workingonit: The steering should be firm, but not super stiff. I have had the X5 since it rolled off the lot, so I know exactly what it was like and it is not what it is today (or has been for the past 6 years?). It certainly should NOT feel as if you have no power steering at all as you seem to describe is your situation.

steering's not too stiff for my preferences
 

The manual box "feel" on the '56, was about the same as the X5, but I did over-tighten it, so I backed it off after awhile, making it easier...then my brother stole and totalled it.

The de-powered power steering on the Chevelle was way too stiff, that's why I installed a manual steering box on it, which made it feel just about like the X5 does now. Firm with zero play, but still self-correcting, without any trace of bump-steer. I find no looseness or leaks in the rack, so I'm guessing that it's still OK, at almost 22 years-old.

Always one thing to remember that some have Servotronic steering which will go stiffer if it's not operative.

Same same...