Direction creaking

[Olive]

Hi guys, maybe somebody already met my trouble.

When the car is cold, no trouble, but after 1 hour of driving, especially with high temperature, the direction become more hard, not "smooth" anymore and on low speed and small virage all the front axle make a big creaking.
This noise stops when I spray some oil on all the silent blocks behind front wheels (direction,stabilizing bar, ...) and come back latter after 30 to 50 minutes.

I first thought the problem came from one of the silent blocks but a friend told me about steering wheel fluid. I checked and the level was quite low, that is right :



I will change the ATF and add more but I really do not think that the problem come from it.

Do you have an idea about the root cause ?

Thanks :thumbs:

[phoenixcsl]

It would be worth checking your high pressure power steering hose, they are prone to leak and then split junking all your power steering fluid everywhere.

Mine started to lose power steering fluid a few years back then it split, I had the same issue on my old E46 M3 too, it's a common problem.

It's easy to check if it's leaking:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=252164

[Olive]

Hi phoenixcsl

This is a great information ! Helpfull. I do remember to have seen this pieces with oil on it 2 or 3 years ago during inspection...:whistle:

Do you know the reference of this piece on the ETK ?

Thanks

Olivier

[phoenixcsl]

Hey Olivier,

No worries :thumbs:

If it's weeping, it means eventually the hose will split and all of the PS fluid will come out of the car.

I put a new one on mine last year, i'll have a look at my invoices and get the part number.

If I remember correctly, its Part No 3:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BL96-EUR-06-2003-E46-BMW-M3_CSL&diagId=32_1251

32412282103

[Olive]

Thanks. If I remember well, when I was with the mechanic guy he shown me 2 or 3 years ago a weeping tube around this place.
Maybe it was this pieces (I thought about number 12...)

Strange thing is that I NEVER refiled the direction fluid for last 5 years... It seems that liquid gone regarding the level but not anymore. Do you think the remaining qty could generate such a noise and cracking when the direction is hot ?

[Monkey]

Looks like your fluid level is still above the minimum, so this is unlikely to be the cause in my opinion.

Those PAS hoses leak all the time, it's not uncommon to replace them under the 2 year parts warranty for leaking. 32.41.2.282.103 is the part number of the high pressure hose, if you're going to replace it anyway it's worth doing that and retesting for the noise. You might get lucky!

[Olive]

Thanks. I will order it and replace. Anyway it is leaking.

I just hope that my noise comes from it. Which is finally not that sure :bigcry:

[Olive]

Update. I will order the PRESSURE HOSE ASSY and try to proceed to the replacement by myself :thumbs:.

[Olive]

I finally changed by myself this piece. It took a while because I ordered a new piece once the former one was out of the car.
For the next time I will have to remember that this reference does not fit on an LHD :bigcry:

:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

[Olive]

For those who will read this thread in the future, just an update to confirm that the solution was the good one. Problem solved :beer: