I know the manual suggests CH 11 S fluid for the power steering but Can I use any Automatic transmission fluid in place of it? My fluid level is really low and its whining like crazy. Thanks.

you should use what i recommends.

Use only the CH11S. You should be able to get some from a Napa or Advanced Auto.

crap, i Just put in Mobil 1 ATF. should i shoot myself now? or am i gonna be alright?

Flush the circuit, get it out of there. ATF has detergents in it that synthetic pentosin does not have in it. It will kill your seals. You can stick CHF in an ATF system, but not the other way around, unless you want to start replacing lines.

Febi makes an inexpensive alternative to the actual pentosin brand, should be widely available.

how should i go about flushing it out?

i have to do this too:shifty

I went on bmwe34.net and viewed how to change it, seems simple. Does flushing it involve any other steps? is it any different?

thanks

Febi makes an inexpensive alternative to the actual pentosin brand, should be widely available.

Febi? whats that? all that i have seen is pentosin and its like 25 bucks a can :(

Empty out the mobile, i used lucas which was supposed to be better than mobile 1 and now every once in a while il get a chirp from my power steering pump at full turns. Do a full flush and refill with the ch11s. Napa nor advance has it over here... just stealer.

I went on bmwe34.net and viewed how to change it, seems simple. Does flushing it involve any other steps? is it any different?

thanks

Well, technically, it only needs to be drained. Don't remember what .net says, but the procedure is to undo the two banjo bolts (24mm and 19mm, off the top of my head) at the power steering pump and let it drain. Replace crush washers, tighten, and fill/bleed the system.

If the system was low on fluid to begin with, there's probably a leak. Common points are the low pressure line that runs between the reservoir and the pump, and the line that runs between the P/S cooler and the reservoir (which is just OEL P/S line, not a fitted line, so it can be replaced inexpensively). Both can get cooked by the pass side header.


Febi? whats that? all that i have seen is pentosin and its like 25 bucks a can :(


Febi/bilstein is a company, an OEM for BMW, sells a lot of parts. Febi 6161 (red top) is the generic equivalent of pentosin 11. There's also a febi equivalent for pentosin 7. Off the top of my head, 6161 is around $12 a bottle (not that I advocate buying from these people -- http://www.eeuroparts.com/productdetail.aspx?code=7000), although some places, a la bavauto, feel the need to charge the pentosin price for the same thing.

cool, thanks guys I'm going to drain, bleed and refill w/ the CH 11 tomorrow. after that, on to find where my vacuum leak is! I'm becoming a mechanic already (ha right).

lol:devillook well i cant change myne right now. but ive been driving it for a long time with some other kind of fluid ill post a pic of it tomorrow. thats probably y my steering is heavy:eyecrazy

crap, i Just put in Mobil 1 ATF. should i shoot myself now? or am i gonna be alright?

Just shoot yourself.