BW Powersteering fluid reservoir

[Mvez]

Has anybody been using, or used the Bimmerworld PS fluid reservoir? It looks nice, but I noticed it doesn't come with a filter, or anyway to check the fluid level.

Just looking to see if it helps, or works. I have a CSF cooler, but the stock reservoir obviously still doesn't work.

Looking for feedback on this, not much during the search.

[SYT_Shadow]

I have it on the E92 M3 which has seen two 'double tracked' seasons and has all stock radiators.

It works great. It's vented like the OEM one but has never sprayed any crap all over the engine bay
There is no filter which is a downside, but I replace the fluid every year anyway because it gets black (with or without filter)

As far as level, you should leave it right above the metal mesh it has inside.

[Mvez]

Sweet, exactly what I was looking for. I already have it in hand, just wanted to see if anybody else used it.

I too was initially concerned about no filter, but I would replace the fluid yearly anyway, so no big deal.

[VictorH]

I have one too, no issues and works great. My experience however as it relates to the optimal fluid level is a bit different. When I ran it just above the grate I would have a noisy PS pump when coming off the track, filled it up to about 3/4 full and no issues at all and noise is gone. It does hold a lot of fluid so I'd suggest buying two cans of PS fluid. You won't use all of both but you'll get a ways into the second can.

[gan1hck]

I have it..

I love it.

[SYT_Shadow]

This and the BW precision front control arm bearings have been on the car for two years and have worked perfectly. I'm impressed with both pieces!

[Mvez]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

This and the BW precision front control arm bearings have been on the car for two years and have worked perfectly. I'm impressed with both pieces!

I have those FCAB's too, and they are great. No difference on street, but great on track.

[SYT_Shadow]

ha awesome

[dj_dub]

Thanks to the feedback in this thread, I think I may pick one of these up very soon. How is the install on these...pretty straightforward? Anything to be aware of? TIA

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by dj_dub

Thanks to the feedback in this thread, I think I may pick one of these up very soon. How is the install on these...pretty straightforward? Anything to be aware of? TIA

Yeah, you basically remove the old one and fluid will want to fall all over the place.
Then you move the rubber bushings from the old one to the BW one.

Make sure you tighten the hoses on the BW one, then refill the fluid. That's it!

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by VictorH

I have one too, no issues and works great. My experience however as it relates to the optimal fluid level is a bit different. When I ran it just above the grate I would have a noisy PS pump when coming off the track, filled it up to about 3/4 full and no issues at all and noise is gone. It does hold a lot of fluid so I'd suggest buying two cans of PS fluid. You won't use all of both but you'll get a ways into the second can.

Thank you for that feedback. I do recall a PS noise but then I swapped the fluid and it went away. Likely because I gave it new fluid + the second time I put some more in there

The fluid degrades quite quickly on the track, it's disappointing

[Mvez]

Install was a breeze. I like how they switch the routing so the bigger hose, which is the feed to the pump, is now on bottom, and the return is now the top.

That makes more sense.....so that in high g-load corners, you can't more easily starve the pump. No wonder these cars go through PS pumps all the time. The stock orientation is kinda silly. They obviously knew it too, as the subsequent stock units on the 1M and beyond all use the same bottom mount feed location as well.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Mvez

Install was a breeze. I like how they switch the routing so the bigger hose, which is the feed to the pump, is now on bottom, and the return is now the top.

That makes more sense.....so that in high g-load corners, you can't more easily starve the pump. No wonder these cars go through PS pumps all the time. The stock orientation is kinda silly. They obviously knew it too, as the subsequent stock units on the 1M and beyond all use the same bottom mount feed location as well.

It's a well thought out piece

[M3 Number 86]

is it that much better than a sock? lol

[admranger]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

is it that much better than a sock? lol

All the cool guys zip tie a blue shop paper towel around the top of the reservoir. Chicks dig it.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by admranger

All the cool guys zip tie a blue shop paper towel around the top of the reservoir. Chicks dig it.

I ziptied a wash cloth. Freaking huge one. It's courtesy of redpriest engineering lol

[Mvez]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

is it that much better than a sock? lol

I don't know how much "better" it is than a sock, but what I do know is that for the 1M, and every other 3-series, the new OEM design puts the pump feed line on the bottom to avoid any potential pump starvation and better flow.

This is the same line arrangement on the BW piece. It just makes more sense.

I just wanted to avoid running a "low" level on the stock reservoir to avoid overflow, like many do. Based on the ridiculous amounts we spend on everything else, $165 for a reservoir that works just makes sense to me. The sock does not adequately address the issue IMO.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by admranger

All the cool guys zip tie a blue shop paper towel around the top of the reservoir. Chicks dig it.

I've gotten positive comments about the girth of my reservoir as well

[Richbot]

I have had my PS pump growling at me after a long on-ramp before even with proper level, never understood the stock arrangement other than "that's how we've always done it"-itis

[driftflo]

i just copied the gt4 solution
http://www.m3racing.de/e92umbau.html#5

[dj_dub]

I also use a sock/sweatband to catch the overflow, works just fine. However, I just ordered one of these...the selling point to me was the correct arrangement of the feed line at the bottom. Makes complete sense. The price is also makes this a no brainer.

[su_root]

Originally Posted by driftflo

i just copied the gt4 solution
http://www.m3racing.de/e92umbau.html#5

I had never seen this solution before.

Are there part numbers for this? Thanks in advance..