Power Steering failure... - United Bimmer Community

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-08-2005, 10:50 PM

My power steering failed rather abruptly today, so looks like i'll be bumming rides from friends for at least a week. It worked fine almost all day, but when I left to go to rehearsal, it just didn't work. even weirder is the fact that there are zero warning lights on. I'm calling United BMW tomorrow. we're requesting a loaner, so at least there's a chance i'll get to drive an e90.

**DEATH2000** · 11-09-2005, 12:48 PM

Even if the power steering failed wouldnt you still be able to drive it but with great difficulty?

nick_318is · 11-09-2005, 04:59 PM

Yea without the power steering shouldn't you still be able to drive, at slow speeds it will be a bitch but once you are moving it shouldnt be as bad, since you wont have to move the wheel as much compared to low speed.

**catalyst** · 11-09-2005, 05:41 PM

Yes you can drive the car with no PS..

Are you low on fluid? any signs that something was wrong with it earlier?

Take a look under the car and see if everything looks to be in order..

**DEATH2000** · 11-09-2005, 08:40 PM

On my Benz the power steering fluid lid came off and it gradualy leaked fluid. It didnt affect it to much, made it slightly harder to turn but nothing serious. So it might be something worse than the fluid leaking. Probably the pump siezed up or something

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-09-2005, 10:22 PM

there is no reservoir in the engine that I could find, and nothing to indicate a fluid leak. the car's at teh dealer now, so hopefully the issue will be resolved soon.

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-10-2005, 03:00 PM

fuck. according to the dealer, the steering box is shot, with *hopefully* no damage to the steering rack itself, the front bushings need to be replaced again, and the tires are bald. now, my parents are talking about whether or not we really need to be spending this much on a car. If they decide to sell it and cut their losses, I'll try and wrangle myself an e36. What's an exceptionally reliable bimmer?

**komodo** · 11-10-2005, 03:11 PM

Think there's any chance of "downgrading" to an e36 m3?

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-10-2005, 03:20 PM

i doubt it. When I got the car, my parents stipulated that it have no more than 180 horsepower. In fact, they won't even let me run a shark injector because they think that it will make the car too fast. If I keep this one, i'm selling it as soon as my name's on the title, and making that downgrade. Still, i'll try and talk my dad into a '95 M3. Either that or a Dakar Yellow '97 M3 sedan.

nick_318is · 11-10-2005, 04:00 PM

Dakar Yellow = Hello Police

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-10-2005, 10:40 PM

at this point, i'll take anything. Worst case, I lose my car and get shafted with some japanese POS. my parents have decided to take the car to a BMW specialist that isn't a dealer to see if they can get a price they like. If they don't, then they will likely sell the car. If that happens, then they are going to get me "nice transport with a warranty". since we can't afford a CPO BMW, I may be out of my Ultimate Driving Machine. fuck this shit.

**catalyst** · 11-10-2005, 10:48 PM

Man, you could easily have all that stuff sorted out.. You run 17's on your car right?

Tires: 450 mounted and balanced

Steering rack: buy one used and find someone to install it. Im sure all the e36 steering racks are compatible, and an e36 M3 rack if compatible would be an upgrade. See if you can find someone over on BFC in your area that would be willing to help you out for a small fee.

Balljoints: If nothing is vibrating up front, and the car feels tight at highway speeds, then they dont NEED to be replaced.

You can have this all fixed for under well under 1000 IMHO.

Take a deep breath.

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-10-2005, 10:56 PM

* I run 16"s. factory diameter.

* the steering rack is theoretically not a problem. the problem is the steering box itself - we don't know if the rack is affected yet.

*tires - there were cheap tires on there when I bought it - I won't make that mistake. Michelins, my man.

still, nothing sucks more than being in a position to lose your car when you've done nothing and you have no control.

**catalyst** · 11-10-2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhairedhippy

* I run 16"s. factory diameter.

* the steering rack is theoretically not a problem. the problem is the steering box itself - we don't know if the rack is affected yet.

*tires - there were cheap tires on there when I bought it - I won't make that mistake. Michelins, my man.

still, nothing sucks more than being in a position to lose your car when you've done nothing and you have no control.

Go khumo/yoko/general man. Michelins are just to much money for not enough tread life.

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-10-2005, 11:39 PM

my dad had kumhos on his TT - they were gone fast - the PS2's he put on are great.

**DEATH2000** · 11-11-2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhairedhippy

i doubt it. When I got the car, my parents stipulated that it have no more than 180 horsepower. In fact, they won't even let me run a shark injector because they think that it will make the car too fast. If I keep this one, i'm selling it as soon as my name's on the title, and making that downgrade. Still, i'll try and talk my dad into a '95 M3. Either that or a Dakar Yellow '97 M3 sedan.

man ur parents are mean. My mom thought the car was too fast the second i drove it off the lot (she wasnt with me when i did) and now she doesnt want me buying anything for it that will "increase the speed" as she put it retardly. So has no power over what i buy with my money. So far i have an intake and underdrive pullies, M50 manifold is on the way and she cant say shit about it.

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-11-2005, 11:26 PM

damn. the catch for me is the fact that my father's name is on the title. Legally, it's his car, though he never drives it. Besides, once it's mine, i'm selling it to buy an M.

**Antiburn** · 11-12-2005, 08:19 AM

Go to wall mart and buy some 40$ 16inch tires. Then eather go to a junk yard and pull out your own box or get one off ebay. But since your not able to find your power steering cap under the hood you might want to have a shop install the box for you. Since your selling it why do you care what parts go into it?

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-13-2005, 12:20 AM

because I still have to drive it for a year or so - I don't want to have crap parts on it. with the way I drive, a junyard box will be gone in a month or so. As for "not being able to find" the power steering cap, the manual for the e46 doesn't even list one as existing, nor point out where it may lie under the hood. Neither me nor my dad could locate it. And we are far from being mechanically disinclined.

**Antiburn** · 11-16-2005, 06:44 PM

Its the 8 or 9 pointed lid on the direct right of your oil filter. It says "ATF only" on the cap.