Laguna Seca Blue M3

[Peter@AEW]

Car has a few issues which are not out of the ordinary that we will be attending to.

As there is a plan being formulated for this cars mechanical restoration I thought it appropriate to start the thread and record the work on an ongoing basis

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I think this will be the 5th power steering hose that we will be changing on an e46.
BMW should be ashamed of the lack of quality on this part.

 

[Shabz]

Subscribed :thumbs:

 

[Peter@AEW]

This is the vanos pressure hose assembly which burst due to its incorrect placement in Cape Town some 2 years ago.
Needles to say 5.5liters of very expensive oil met the road and teh car was put on a low bed.

Hose has been replaced and teh car was filled with oil and is purring like a kitten again....well maybe not a kitten but certainly purring

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Just for interest sake here is a bolt that was used to secure the radiator shroud.......one can also use it to secure roof sheet metal......this is so wrong.

 

[sash]

subbed...:thumbs:

 

[Tareeq]

Subbed :rollsmile: Looking forward to seing you work your magic again a1exander :thumbs:

 

[Teezy_F30]

that colour

 

[Fordkoppie]

That same part also burst on my white e46 M3. Apparently its common on the early S54s

Luckily I saw smoke hanging behind the car in my rearview mirror, so stopped before even 1L escaped.

 

[Peter@AEW]

That can be scary as the motor can run bearings in no time.
Luckily in this instance the owner was warned in good time and the motor was killed before damage could occur.
Lucky

 

[calypso]

Peter, my PS hose sweats abit, but doesnt drip or leak.
Worth changing?

 

[AWEA Pa]

Work your magic sir Greek!
Bring this beauty back to life!

 

[Prev]

subscribed :thumbs:

 

[Peter@AEW]

Peter, my PS hose sweats abit, but doesnt drip or leak.
Worth changing?

It will sweat now and all of a sudden it will drip.........
I would in your shoes.

 

[Daaf Vader]

Subscribed, that colour...damn its good looking

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

Peter, my PS hose sweats abit, but doesnt drip or leak.
Worth changing?

Mine was sweating for a long time Calypso. I told Peter we would eventually change it. I left it for over a year. Then, about a month ago the hose just ripped/exploded and all fluid came out resulting in me suddenly not having power steering. It was instantaneous. Also, I got fluid on my tyres and the cars back end was very lively. I was lucky nothing serious happened. It could have broke whilst cornering or turning changing lanes on the highway. That would have resulted in the back spinning out and me not being able to correct for it as the steering became so hard, you literally needed a 5 year Gym contract to build up enough muscle to turn that wheel.

I would change the lines.

 

[Tehwalleth]

Peter, my PS hose sweats abit, but doesnt drip or leak.
Worth changing?

Mine was sweating for a long time Calypso. I told Peter we would eventually change it. I left it for over a year. Then, about a month ago the hose just ripped/exploded and all fluid came out resulting in me suddenly not having power steering. It was instantaneous. Also, I got fluid on my tyres and the cars back end was very lively. I was lucky nothing serious happened. It could have broke whilst cornering or turning changing lanes on the highway. That would have resulted in the back spinning out and me not being able to correct for it as the steering became so hard, you literally needed a 5 year Gym contract to build up enough muscle to turn that wheel.

I would change the lines.

Oh come now it's not that bad. When mine threw the aux belt on a mountain pass drove it down sans PS.

As for lines, ECS you can get it a shitload cheaper than at the agents.

 

[calypso]

Does the hose explode or to crimping just crap. I wonder if it can just be recrimped.

 

[Tehwalleth]

Does the hose explode or to crimping just crap. I wonder if it can just be recrimped.

Massive heat from the motor and PS fluid is somewhat corrosive to the rubber iirc? Also a S54 only part so running improvements probably not that big a concern for BMW since it was such a small series of cars with that engine.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-M3-S54_3.2L/Steering/Lines/

I think Joburg auto qouted 6K for the lines for my car, shipping and taxes i came in under 2.5K for it.

 

[Peter@AEW]

Does the hose explode or to crimping just crap. I wonder if it can just be recrimped.

The quality of the rubber is poor so the fluid just oozes out from the walls..
The crimps hold and no leaks from them.

 

[calypso]

Coolio, good thing i got a Stackery order going. I wonder if BMW have updated materials.

Sorry for the thread diversion.

 

[Ashlin]

Peter, my PS hose sweats abit, but doesnt drip or leak.
Worth changing?

Nothing should be sweating in an M3 except for the passenger.
Seals should seal not sweat. Same goes for these annoying hoses.
Definitely worth changing..... Price is another story .....because you will be replacing this damaged part with an inherently faulty OEM part.