[Jase 320d]

My brothers bmw went into the dealership today with power steering fault

Dealership says its needs a new steering rack (fortunately under warranty)

Car is a 2008 325d with 65k miles?


Seems unusually early / low mileage for a fault like this?

[KM79]

Is it an EPS rack?(electric)

[Jase 320d]

I don't know?

How would you know?

[Jase 320d]

Its an 08 m57 325d

The car has auto xenon's and these turn as you steer the car if that's anything to do with it?

[KM79]

The biggest give away is a warning lamp in start up or lack of reservoir under bonnet.Hydraulic rack failure is rare but eps more common.Its not the rack that fails it's the electronic part.

[Jase 320d]

On a quick look last night there was no reservoir easily visible. Unless it was under the engine cover


On my 320d M47 as soon as you pop the bonnet you can see the reservoir.

On my old boys N57 335d its the same. Easily visable

But on my bro's M57 325d it isn't visable so thought it may be under the engine cover (couldn't be bothered to remove it to check)


So it may be electronic?

[KM79]

If not visible yes definately electric steering.What was his steering issue?

[Jase 320d]

Just randomely dropped power steering.

Usually after a long motorway drive, pull into the services and boom. No power steering. He said it was as if it was even resisting him.


Bmw have said the car isn't safe to drive so has to be left until they can repair it.

So why do some have electric steering?

Mine is an 07 - non electric
Bro's is an 08 - electric?
Old boys is an 11 - non electric


Doesn't seem very sensible

[KM79]

Depends on the engine variant and if it had efficient dynamics.

[Jase 320d]

It was electric

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by K_M79

The biggest give away is a warning lamp in start up or lack of reservoir under bonnet.Hydraulic rack failure is rare but eps more common.Its not the rack that fails it's the electronic part.

Mine has EPS. That means I should put some money aside.

[KM79]

It's still not that common a job though mate just more common than hydraulic failure!

[ptpending]

for electric you always can get EPS motor from junkyard

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by K_M79

It's still not that common a job though mate just more common than hydraulic failure!

Cheers.
When I bought the car, I updated all the modules.
Except two modules
EPS (as it did not allow me to update)
DSC module (DSC module failure is common on 325/330s, so I thought to leave it on old firmware)


It appears that these faults are common on 3 series.

When you guys get these failures, does bmw update the firmware on the module first or they simply change the module?

[KM79]

With dsc or eps issues?Dsc is has the usual failure it gets changed and then programmed.If it's eps failure it's a new unit as the module is built into the rack.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by K_M79

With dsc or eps issues?Dsc is has the usual failure it gets changed and then programmed.If it's eps failure it's a new unit as the module is built into the rack.

6 Pot and their typical issues.
thanks mate for the explanation.