power steering system nightmares

[Liquid Ice]

howzit everyone this is my first post and hopefully the beginning of many more to come.:wave: anyway here my dilema

i have a pre facelift e46 318i. the steering system has been acting up with the following sysptoms:
streering permanently hard (no assistance) wether hot or cold.

when i fill up atf fluid, the pump whines and sprays the fluid out somewhere on the pump (i think its on the output shaft) until the resevoir is empty.

i have replaced this pump with a known good one (not brand knew) with the same results:banghead: is this a typical sympton due to a blockage in the system eg; steering rack am i just purchasing bad pumps:thinking:

please help. any input would be appreciated. thanks.

 

[BMW M]

Welcome Liquid Ice,

I had a 325i that did the same. The impeller shafts in the original pumps break easily, specially when the vehicle is turned to a lock and then revved.

After two OEM pumps I eventually replaced mine with a 120psi Facelift BMW OEM pump. That was the end of my problems. I know Beemows sell the higher output pumps for around R1200, which is much better than the dealer R5000.