Power steering resevoir + hoses

[Cobra Jet]

Has anyone come up with a better solution to the factory power steering resevoir?

Why is it that on all E30's (or most BMW's) that have this same type of resevoir, they are always so grimy and covered in power steering fluid?

Is there a different cap available that does not allow the fluid to seep out all over the exterior of the container?

Do the hoses at the bottom of the resevoir fail over time, or do the factory crimped clamps just become useless and allow fluid to spew out down the hoses from the pressure of the steering system?

This is one area of my engine bay that I despise, the pwr steering resevoir & it's hoses...

[monty23psk]

Not sure what is happening with yours, buy mine is clean as a whistle. It was dirty when I first got the car, but after a good cleaning during the rebuild a year and half ago, still clean. I do have a leak, but its at the end of the hose towards the pump or rack, need to investigate. So down there, its crudy and dirty, but all clean on top. Not sure if there is a rubber seal on the lid.

Like all clamps they can get loose over time, mine were, or the hoses get stiffer and expand. The pressure will make it release fluid quicker, which is my problem with the leak.

[colin86325]

I've seen people attach a hose to the vent in the cap to enable splatter to drip into the hose instead of down the down the site of the reservoir.

[ClodKing]

I pulled mine...

The whole system was dry, and the pump was hooked up, so I pulled everything.

Everything except the two hoses coming off the rack.

I am gonna fill the fill the rack, and link the two hoses so the fluid can pass from one side to the other, but that would take care of your leak, because there would be minimal pressure. You just gotta figure out whether you want to route hard lines, or rubber lines...

Sorry it's a little off topic, but it's a way to stop the leak. And ditch weight. And mechanical power loss.

[christophbmw]

they fail and leak all the time, not so much on the E30's but i was replacing the E36's resivors all the time when i was a bmw tech. just put a new one in and youll be good for another 200K :).