Look up LK20 vs LK30 ps pump. One of the 2 is a higher pressure pump with a lighter steering feel. These were installed only for a brief time due to complaints. Most 2004s have the lower pressure pump, and it's possible your friend's car has the higher pressure pump (either originally or retrofitted).

Its hard to predict how long your pump will last, but if you want to extend its life change out the ATF in the system, with fresh Dex 3 or Dex 6, or equivalent.

Simple way is to empty the reservoir with a turkey baster and refill it with fresh ATF and rhen drive it. Repeat once a week or so until you see only fresh fluid in the reservoir. Better way would be to also change the reservoir itself, which has a filter inside. Good opportunity to change any other hoses that are leaking or weeping.

 

Look up LK20 vs LK30 ps pump. One of the 2 is a higher pressure pump with a lighter steering feel. These were installed only for a brief time due to complaints. Most 2004s have the lower pressure pump, and it's possible your friend's car has the higher pressure pump (either originally or retrofitted).

Its hard to predict how long your pump will last, but if you want to extend its life change out the ATF in the system, with fresh Dex 3 or Dex 6, or equivalent.

Simple way is to empty the reservoir with a turkey baster and refill it with fresh ATF and rhen drive it. Repeat once a week or so until you see only fresh fluid in the reservoir. Better way would be to also change the reservoir itself, which has a filter inside. Good opportunity to change any other hoses that are leaking or weeping.

My friend's is a 2005 so would his have the higher pressure pump? I'll definitely get some power steering fluid as well and do that

 

There are a few different pumps and steering gears that were used over the years. Steering effort varies between years and models. Comparing cars that have different steering parts is not an indication of a problem. Unless your steering is abnormally hard to turn, it's likely that it's a normal difference.

Sent from my S61 using Tapatalk

 

Sometimes a flush of the power steering system will cure the whines cause by air in deteriorated oil. Had a friends Honda screaming, I thought we would have to replace it for sure but I ran a few bottles of fluid through it and it lived. Can evacuate the reservoir with a battery bulb, have to a zip tie to secure the bulb so it’s sealed to the plastic nozzle enough to get better volume out of the bulb. Bulb can be bought at auto parts stores for like 8 bucks.

 

ATF, ATF, ATF DEX 3
Can someone please put this on the front page?

I get it, folks don't know. However then the whole community starts a 2 page thread about it yet another time.

The car left the factory, filled with Dexron 3 made by Fuchs.
The reason the newer replacement reservoir caps say Pentosin, is because ZF makes the reservoir for all the cars.
The E46 & E39 are one of the last to use ATF. ZF saw NO reason to produce 2 different caps. The ATF folks lost.

 

I've read good reviews of Castrol Transmax Import ATF in E46's. I guess it all depens on model....Then again I run cheap Walmart Super Tech in my Tundra and it works like a champ.

 

The Castrol Transmax Import ATF is good for the ZF transmissions, but the power steering doesn't need anything fancy. Dex 3 is fine, or something equivalent / compatible.

 

It's surprisingly small system. Likely all one would need would be 1L. Better have 2 just in case. Given that you're tearing it apart.

 

Mine's a 2005 and I have the LF20 pump.

It does feel heavy, and I wondered about it in the start, but for open and windy road driving it's a good feel. Bit strong in the shopping center carpark. I thought about fitting the LF30, but did read that some owners didn't like the light "Camry style" feel.

I got this kit below and then filled it with the same ATF as I used in my auto trans, which saves me from having to keep different fluids.

BMW Basic Power Steering Overhaul Kit - E46PSKIT1

BMW Basic Power Steering Overhaul Kit - E46PSKIT1

www.fcpeuro.com

 

PS is only working when the engine is freshly started up, and when I try and rev it warm to get more steering it only starts to work over 2500. Is it time to buy a new pump or should I just try a fluid change? I have not replaced the reservoir or any hoses yet (I have them sitting in a box) and the fluid is the stuff that was in the car when I bought it

 

PS is only working when the engine is freshly started up, and when I try and rev it warm to get more steering it only starts to work over 2500. Is it time to buy a new pump or should I just try a fluid change? I have not replaced the reservoir or any hoses yet (I have them sitting in a box) and the fluid is the stuff that was in the car when I bought it

Is the pump actually pumping? Remove the serpentine belt and make sure the pump shaft isn't broken.
You could also remove some of the fluid from the reservoir so it is just above the bottom of the reservoir
but not so much that air can get into the system. Run the engine and get someone to turn the steering
wheel full lock one side to the other. You should be able to see the fluid moving at the bottom of the reservoir.
If you can't see flow then your pump has a problem.

 

If it's the pump (?) you'll need a new reservoir (filter is inside and it's the most neglected one on the car) and fluid anyway.

Try a reservoir and fluid.

 

Is the pump actually pumping? Remove the serpentine belt and make sure the pump shaft isn't broken.
You could also remove some of the fluid from the reservoir so it is just above the bottom of the reservoir
but not so much that air can get into the system. Run the engine and get someone to turn the steering
wheel full lock one side to the other. You should be able to see the fluid moving at the bottom of the reservoir.
If you can't see flow then your pump has a problem.

Pump is definitely moving because I have power steering when the car is cold started.

 

I had the same problem, it worked only when cold, as the engine bay heats up, the pump heats up and the fluid heats up..ut would stop working...then one day it completely stopped working...it pumps but very very very slightly, there are no restrictions... Definitely the pump.. After some more driving it even started giving off metal flakes in the fluid....i have a complete ps refresh planned with a new used rack... After i did my timing kit...

(Was not my shaft that broke...something internally gave away... 300 000km origanal pump)

 

Ok if I'm just going to order a new pump do I get aLF 20 or LF30, I'm not sure but I think I'll get the 20 so that I don't need new bottom lines

 

Well (as far as my knowledge goes) the lf 20 is the one that breaks the shafts, i had the lf30...but people say lf 30 has to soft of a steering feel....but it was fine for me..if you want get the same one you had (if it was lf20) or you can just get the lf 30 with the extra piping, and maybe a new fill bottle (fill bottle has a filter inside thats unchangeable)

 

OP, instead of replacing what appears to be a working pump, I’d flush the power steering fluid. First replace the reservoir. Buy only a ZF reservoir. What happens is the filter in the bottom of the reservoir gets partially blocked with crud.

What you’ll need:

• ZF reservoir
• 4’ of heater hose
• container that can hold at least 2 gallons of fluid
• 4 quarts of Dexron3
• 2 quarts of Dexron6 or Redline D4ATF
• hose clamps (the factory clamps aren’t reusable)
• a friend

Steps:

• Remove all fluid from old reservoir
• remove the old reservoir
• Install the new reservoir but leave the off-center hose (this is the return hose) off; leave the plastic cap on the corresponding nipple
• slide the heater hose over the power steering hose that’s not connected
• put the other end of the heater hose into the container
• open ALL fluid containers and place them close so that you can grab them easily
• fill the reservoir with Dexron3
• have your friend start the engine and rotate the steering wheel from full left to fill right and back continuously
• pour in the Dexron3 to keep the reservoir from going dry

The fluid will be sucked in by the pump at a very quick rate!!!!

• when you’ve used the Dexron3 switch to the synthetic fluid
• when you have about 1/2 quart of the synthetic fluid left have your buddy shut off the engine
• remove fluid from the reservoir
• connect the return hose to the outer nipple of the reservoir
• fill the reservoir with synthetic fluid
• start the engine and add fluid
• responsibility dispose of the old “fluid”!

 

Following up on old threads, pump died shortly after making this post

 

Following up on old threads, the PS pump ended up failing a few months after posting this mid drive at college in my Fall semester of 2021, I replaced it in the parking lot at my dorm. Ended up dropping the old pump when i removed it and the plastic PS pulley SHATTERED... If you are changing your pump please be careful that you don't drop the old one on removal as you will need to transfer the new pulley! I had to spend $60 on a URO one and did some sketchy stuff with a shorter belt to bypass the PS pulley and get back on the road temporarily see the below post
https://www.e46fanatics.com/posts/18958375/