Power steering question - please help before it's too late
 

I just had my 2000 323i power steering pump replaced and my mechanic refilled it with Pentosin 11s as opposed to ATF. Will this damage anything? Should I have it flused and refilled with ATF? Considering I just spend $1200 I don't want to have to spend anymore. Please help.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with Pentosin, I don't know what it is. Overall, it's best to stay with the recommendations in the owner's manual. Some tweak things a bit by going over and above what they really need, but using something that doesn't meet with the manufacturer's specs is not the way to go. If this Pentosin isn't the right stuff, then I imagine a complete flushing of the p/s system wouldn't be that big a job, or that costly, considering...

Pentosin makes a variety of fluids.

The only acceptable Pentosin fluid that can be used in your BMW E46 power steering is Pentosin ATF 1.

If he used CHF 11s, CHF 202, ASF 11s, CHF 7.1 or LHM+ then he used the WRONG fluid in your E46. (These are hydraulic fluids that can be used in power steering systems... but NOT in BMW E46 power steering systems.)

You paid him $1,200 to fix your steering. Insist that he use the correct fluid... don't let him tell you that the other fluids are acceptable, because they are not.

BMW specifies an ATF fluid. Period.

Make sure it is ATF fluid. If it is not, go back and chew the mechanic out and get him to change it.

Correction: Pentosin 11s is used on BMW's equipped with self leveling suspensions, for example, on the E39. The best way to know is to look right on the reservoir cap- it'll tell you what to use :doh

Yes, Pentosin is used on some BMW's for self-leveling suspension systems, you're right about that... but we're talking about power steering on an E46.

Your suggestion about checking the cap is valid. If the cap says to use a power steering fluid, then the Pentosin 11s would be acceptable, but if the cap indicates using an ATF fluid, then the only Pentosin product that meets that requirement is the Pentosin ATF 1.

When you read the Pentosin specs, you'll see that Pentosin 11s is used in a variety of hyraulic applications... even power steering systems. Just not BMW E46 power steering applications.

The bottom line is that the person spent $1,200 for some work to be done. The fluid used might be questionable. The cost of flushing and replacing the questionable fluid with the correct fluid would probably cost less than $50.

If the mechanic used a fluid that does not meet BMW specs, he or she should be expected to perform the flush at their cost.

:crazy

I honestly don't know how to respond to that.

I own an E46.
My E46 specifies ATF fluid for the power steering.
Pentosin 11s is not an ATF fluid. It is not a substitute for Dexron III.
It really doesn't matter if BMW uses it in an E39 or not. Specifications change.

The OP asked whether he should be concerned about his mechanic using Pentosin 11 in his E46 power steering instead of ATF. The answer is yes. You yourself confirmed this when you said: "The best way to know is to look right on the reservoir cap - it'll tell you what to use."

I'm new to this forum, and have been duly impressed by the quantity and quality of your posts. But I don't think I'm off-base by pointing out a fluid incompatibility issue.

PM sent.