Has anyone ever rebuilt or repaired a whining pwr steering pump?

[Cobra Jet]

When it is extremely cold outside, once the car is first started, the power steering pump whines...  Within a few minutes or so of idling or once I start driving, the whine goes away.  It does not do it when it is warm out (upon a first start).  The whining noise almost sounds like a ps pump that is operating on low or no fluid...

I've checked the pwr steering fluid level in the resevoir many, many, many times, it's always at the proper full mark on the cap's level indicator, so I know the lines are not operating dry and the pump is being fed fluid....  The pump is the original pump w/ 119k on it now.  It makes no noise at all when the outside air temps are warm or hot...

I see there is a rebuild kit available for like $55, however, I've never rebuilt a ps pump on any vehicle... and a brand new pwr steering pump for a 91 M42 is $342!

Has anyone else encountered a whiny PS pump when it's really cold out?

[1991 E30 M42]

mine did that then the rack started leaking so i took the pump off and threw it in the trash, the car drives fine without power steering, its not bad when your not moving, and its perfect when you are moving

[peerless]

My buddy had a pump that groaned and whined all the time. A rebuild took care of that.

The rebuild kit consist of 1 front seal and 2 inner seals, thats it.

Once you remove the pump, crack it in half, remove the snap ring clip and slide out the drive shaft from the front, replace the front seal, reinsert shaft, replace 2 inner seals, bolt it back together and install.

In a nutshell thats all thats required. Simple, takes about 2 hours total.

[Eurospec]

I have the same problem. A rebuild seems to be the way to go. Where would you be able to get the necessary parts/ rebuild kit besides the dealer? Does it have a P/N?

[colin86325]

I ordered from here:
http://www.bmwpartsonly.com


just enter the following part number in the appropriate part search field:
32411135880

[Cobra Jet]

Just an FYI update:

Upon searching around more, it seems that this was an issue "back then" and BMW issued a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) in house for Dealers who had such customer complaints.

The Service Bulletin number is: 32 03 91 (3320)R, Group 32 Steering.

The Bulletin reads:

Situation:
E30's produced from 06/90 thorugh 10/91 may have a power steering pressure hose with a spiral coil of tubing on the steering rack end.  Some of these vehicles may make a groaning noise.  The noise is caused by normal pulses in the power steering system being amplified by the coil tubing.

In case of customer complaint, the hoses w/ the coil can be replaced w/ a hose without a coil. The appropriate part number is:

E30/M42 engine: P/N 32 41 1 133 399

~~~

It does not mention if this "groan" is more prevelant in cold weather or not - but it must be the same "groan" mentioned in the above bulletin.  I know w/ my pwr steering system, the pump is working fine (no noise when warm or outside temps are above 20-30*), the rack is not leaking and works fine, the resevoir is full to the proper mark and the fluid is fine...  My 318ic has the original PS hose on it (coiled)....

Hope this helps others w/ the same type of problem...