Sealing powersteering cap?

[canadian stig]

Has anyone experimented with permanently sealing the stupid vent hole in the powersteering cap? It sucks to go to the track and having the damn powersteering oil splashing all over the place. I havent seen any other car that had such a vent hole in its powersteering reservoir and I wonder if it actually has any important function in the m3.

[jacobe92]

I'm not a rocket scientist but I would rather deal w/ power steering fluid spillage than having that thing explode from excessive heat or pressure. I'm certain it serves as a purge valve. I'm not trying to be over dramatic but just my two cents of the matter. I also track my car and I've never had that problem. Maybe, I don't molest her enough as much as you do.

[shendrick]

Due to the change in temperature of the fluid, I would not close off the vent. Over in e46 land the "O" ring that provides the primary seal on the PS cap ages quickly and you eventually get the same kind of mess you're talking about. The people that care either buy new O rings or put a cotton sock over the reservoir to absorb the mess. In your case, not a lot you can do besides containment.

[Singletrack]

3d design makes a solution.

Or you can wrap a scrunchy/towel around the top to absorb the fluid. Not a great solution, but it works.

Sealing it would be bad for the reasons mentioned above IMO - the system is going to pop somewhere and bleed out.

[persian54]

it's designed like that for a reason... so it doesn't get too pressurized.

Wrap a towel to soak it up, or pay big bucks mod it

If you don't get this spillage while tracking... you're either not tracking hard enough, or it's really cold out.. or you're just driving in a straight line

[Stealth ///M]

Drill and insert a nipple into it. Run a rubber hose to an overflow tank(50$). Problem solved.

[///M Rakete]

I use a black wrist sweatband with a velcro cable tie.

[Krozi]

Microfiber and ziptie seems to be the method of choice.

[SchnellM3]

Old shop rag and zip ties

[tom @ eas]

I've been using the reservoir from the 1M for a couple of track sessions - seems to have corrected the issue.



The 1M unit (also standard on all F-chassis models) also has 2 vents, compared to the E9X top-only vent and a different filter assembly. The return line is also a bit larger.

[BMWNTHZST]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who has to clean up this mess after a day at the track

I was going to make a service appointment to see why it's leaking but after reading this thread I see it's normal after hours of WOT driving.

[beton6]

Just came back from the track and was about to ask this question, I have tracked 2 E92 and both did this, so I guess micro fiber and zip ties for me!

[EAS]

Originally Posted by beton6

Just came back from the track and was about to ask this question, I have tracked 2 E92 and both did this, so I guess micro fiber and zip ties for me!

It's not a good idea to use microfiber, since they are primarily made up of polyester. We've seen cases in which it simply melts into a gooey mess and near impossible to clean off.

A cotton towel would be best.

[///M Ryder]

Originally Posted by Krozi

Microfiber and ziptie seems to be the method of choice.

This ^^^works great.............Phil

[///M Rakete]

I use these...

http://www.amazon.com/GOGO-Thick-Sol...3.15%22+x+3%22

90% cotton and 10% lycra

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

I've been using the reservoir from the 1M for a couple of track sessions - seems to have corrected the issue.



The 1M unit (also standard on all F-chassis models) also has 2 vents, compared to the E9X top-only vent and a different filter assembly. The return line is also a bit larger.

What do you need to retrofit this?
The reservoir and larger return line anything else?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by index1489

What do you need to retrofit this?
The reservoir and larger return line anything else?

Just an adapter to reduce the larger return on the reservoir to the M3 hose. This can be found at any auto parts store.

OEM mounting bracket can be retained.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Just an adapter to reduce the larger return on the reservoir to the M3 hose. This can be found at any auto parts store.

OEM mounting bracket can be retained.

Any idea why only the return line would be a different size? That seems an odd design choice for a closed circulating system.

In any case, I'll definitely be doing this retrofit at 30K miles when I was going to flush the fluid and replace the reservoir to get a new filter anyway.

[isherdholi]

[12mpgm3]

Excellent video!! Very helpful, particularly with respect to how to clean up...

[BMWNTHZST]

Originally Posted by isherdholi

I love it!

[krx927]

I had the same issue when I was driving fast, on roads and on track. I brought my car to BMW service (it had 4000km) and they told me that they found metal piece in my PS reservoir. They changed PS pump on warranty. After that I do not have the issue but I have not been on track yet.

Anyway I see most of you have the same issue, probably not broken pump with all of you.

You have a few options how to permanently fix this.

By far the cheapest long term solution for the issue was proposed by kaiv in the following thread:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=830878&page=2

Despite changed pump I still did it, although I did not get no fluid in small reservoir. Let's see what happens when I track next time.