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E90 N52 Power Steering Reservoir and Fluid Service DIY (CHF11S)
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08-18-2019, 12:11 PM | #1 |
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E90 N52 Power Steering Reservoir and Fluid Service DIY (CHF11S)
Have you checked your power steering fluid condition lately? It looks like the previous owner of my 269,XXX mile 328i accidentally filled the reservoir with ATF instead of CHF11S (designated by the green sticker on the fill cap)!
I immediately purchased a new genuine reservoir, as the filter is built into the container itself. New factory clamps, a liter of CHF11S and we are on our way. Also note, this DIY is specific to E90's *without* active steering. That is a different reservoir. Do also take note some cars may specify ATF. Finally, it is very common for the green CHF11S sticker on your fill cap to fall off over time. |
08-19-2019, 12:11 PM | #3 | |
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I'm not sure how one would get 100% of the fluid that remains inside the pump and the rack from a simple drain and fill like I did... maybe a vacuum pump? |
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10-16-2019, 06:10 PM | #5 |
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The only PS "flushes" I've come across so far only "suck" fluid from the reservoir. There doesn't seem to be a drain plug system of actually "flushing" clean fluid completely through the lines until you see only clean liquid flowing?
I've seen another flush video where a guy hooks up plastic hose to reservoir return line, jacks up front of car to allow turning of wheels, and uses the steering wheel turn (lock to lock), to pump out the old fluid, while pouring new fluid in reservoir until what's being drained is correct color. Is something like that possible for the E90? Last edited by nvargas78; 10-17-2019 at 09:10 AM.. |
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10-16-2019, 06:34 PM | #6 |
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Unless I'm mistaken, ATF is probably the correct fluid for your car. CHF was only specced on cars with active steering (and other gubbins I can't remember right now) running off the PS pump. For cars with only standard PS, ATF is the correct fluid. Filling with CHF on an ATF system won't do any harm, and vice-versa; CHF just maintains correct operating properties under harsher conditions, as far as I know.
Willing to be proven wrong, of course. |
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10-16-2019, 07:00 PM | #7 |
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Here is a thread on a flush procedure. Unfortunately the pics are messed up
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996184 I've also heard of people undoing one of the reservoir lines and running fluid thru that way. Also, CHF11 is very common on non-active steering BMW's
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10-17-2019, 09:17 AM | #8 | |
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Pretty tempting to just let the PS pump do the work and keep introducing new fluid until the color improves. |
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10-17-2019, 01:22 PM | #10 | |
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That is correct, some cars are ATF others are CHF11S. It does partially depend on options, production date, and apparently there is some random luck to which cars have ATF vs. CHF. |
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10-17-2019, 02:03 PM | #11 | |
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The undershield tray is almost as much fun as the trunk liner.
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10-19-2019, 03:51 AM | #12 | |
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10-20-2019, 08:02 AM | #13 | |
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It is simply that BMW stupidly relies on the green sticker to remain affixed to the power steering reservoir cap. The cap plastic is embossed with ATF underneath the green sticker because BMW uses the same PS reservoir for models dating back to the 1980's, which do use ATF for the power steering fluid. BMW decided not to produce a distinct PS reservoir cap that was embossed with "CHF-11S Only". The actual problem is the PS reservoir cap has a thin o-ring that flattens over time and allows fluid to creep past the cap seal. The oil works its way under the green sticker and eventually degrades the adhesive and the sticker falls off. BMW sells a replacement green sticker. Over the past 30 years I've had four BMWs, all which use the same PS reservoir and everyone of them has developed a seal leak at the reservoir cap that is cured by replacing the o-ring.
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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10-20-2019, 03:41 PM | #15 | |
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But there is no way BMW just randomly fills the E9X power steering system with either ATF or CHF-11S. All manufacturers keep very strict configuration management control of the manufacturing process and vehicle part content.
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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10-21-2019, 08:01 AM | #16 | |
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Last edited by streetpro; 10-21-2019 at 08:38 AM.. Reason: added picture |
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12-07-2019, 06:54 AM | #17 |
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Streetpro, can you provide info on the reservoir you used to capture overflow from PS Cap? Thanks!
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12-09-2019, 03:08 AM | #19 |
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Any generic motorcycle brake fluid reservoir from AliExpress will do... I had to drill a hole in the cap as it was getting pressurized...
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12-15-2019, 06:39 AM | #20 |
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Then how do you keep the pressurized fluid/vapors from escaping the hole drilled in the cap of the motorcycle brake fluid reservoir...?
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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12-16-2019, 01:43 AM | #21 |
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And why would I want to have it pressurized, there is no point in that... either you allow the gasses/fluid to go via this route or they fight their way around the lid as they have done before...
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chf11s, e90 steering service, n52 power steering |
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