E28 Power steering reservoir overflow

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DT - 19 Apr 2006 04:02 GMT

Power steering reservoir overflow

Though this isn't a major problem it can be quite the mess if I don't
drive it. I am at a loss... is the car retaliating for not being driven
daily?

If I do not drive my E28, 535i w/ ~200K for a couple of days, i.e. over a
weekend, the power steering reservoir will start to overflow and create
quite a puddle. The cap to the reservoir seems fine but it will overflow
at the stem where the screw holds the lid secure. If this is in the
Bentley manual I haven't found it.

Any suggestions or input would be most welcome.

Thanks,
Dan

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Bill - 19 Apr 2006 19:46 GMT

Sounds like the "brake bomb" is losing vacuum and the fluid is moving back
into the reservoir. You have too much fluid in the system. When the brake
pedal is pumped 20+ times to discharge the "bomb" (engine off of course),
the level in the reservoir should be 10mm below the inside lip.

Bill
86 535i 5sp w/chip (nice!)

> Power steering reservoir overflow
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks,
> Dan

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DC - 20 Apr 2006 03:08 GMT

It does sound like I do have too much fluid because I was thought the
level should be 10mm below the lip without pumping the brake pedal 10-20
times with the engine being off. That begs a bit of a question if the
'bomb' is loosing vacuum is that a bad thing. I need to do some more
reading to learn more.

I forgot to mention the other car I'm driving is my new to me- 88 535is
w/ chip… I didn't think I could be more hooked on BMWs than I was with
just the 85 but it is possible. My friends ask me, so when are you
selling the 85. My answer- I'm not. And they ask, why did I buy the 88
and they nod when I say because I couldn't pass it up… and we leave it at
that.

Thanks again,
Dan

> Sounds like the "brake bomb" is losing vacuum and the fluid is moving
> back into the reservoir. You have too much fluid in the system. When
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>> Thanks,
>> Dan

Reply to this Message

Bill - 20 Apr 2006 19:24 GMT

I have a spare pressure regulator and "bomb" combo I picked up from a
u-pull-it auto parts in Mississippi. Vines in Alabama is very good for these
things, too. If you need help, let me know. I have culled about 380MB from
the internet about E28s. I can send a CD-ROM to you if you could use it. I
consistently try to find things and stockpile them. Some of the sources have
been taken off the web so I'm glad to have them on CD. I consult "The
Bentley" and a visual Chilton's for 3 and 5 Series.

Bill
wechorba at yahoo dot com

> It does sound like I do have too much fluid because I was thought the
> level should be 10mm below the lip without pumping the brake pedal 10-20
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> >> Thanks,
> >> Dan

Reply to this Message

E28 Guy© - 20 Apr 2006 20:58 GMT

> I have a spare pressure regulator and "bomb" combo I picked up from a
> u-pull-it auto parts in Mississippi. Vines in Alabama is very good for these
> things, too. If you need help, let me know. I have culled about 380MB from
> the internet about E28s.

You guys ARE members at MyE28(.com), aren't you? If not, get over
there *now*! After 20+ *active* years in BMW CCA as well as a dozen or
so here, I have found no more effective nor more supportive community
for the E28 than MyE28.com.

> I consult "The Bentley"

Lemme get this straight: you've got a Bentley .PDF? Or simply the big
green E28 Bible we all use? If it's an electronic version, I'd
certainly be interested in a copy!

> and a visual Chilton's for 3 and 5 Series.

Which may be the only book more worthless for working on these cars
than the Haynes ...

> > That begs a bit of a question if the
> > 'bomb' is loosing vacuum is that a bad thing.

It's a Very Bad Thing. But you're fixing it. Good.

> > I forgot to mention the other car I'm driving is my new to me- 88 535is
> > w/ chip. I didn't think I could be more hooked on BMWs than I was with
> > just the 85 but it is possible. My friends ask me, so when are you
> > selling the 85. My answer- I'm not. And they ask, why did I buy the 88
> > and they nod when I say because I couldn't pass it up. and we leave it at
> > that.

Most people just don't get it. I'm on my fourth E28 in about 7 years.
An '82 528e followed by two '87 535is' (all silver) and now Da Red Dog,
a Cinnabar/Schwarz '88 535is that you will have difficulty prying out
of my cold dead hands. I don't really want anything else for
street/sport driving. My wife has an '02 Jaguar X-Type Sport. It's
even the 3.0 5-speed, so it's about as good as those get (which is,
honestly, *very good*). Still, every time I get out of the X and climb
into my 'is, I remember all over again why I love it.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; done that)

Reply to this Message

Richard Sexton - 21 Apr 2006 20:55 GMT

>> I have a spare pressure regulator and "bomb" combo I picked up from a
>> u-pull-it auto parts in Mississippi. Vines in Alabama is very good for these
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>so here, I have found no more effective nor more supportive community
>for the E28 than MyE28.com.

% nslookup mye28.com
Server: 192.147.236.1
Address: 192.147.236.1#53

** server can't find mye28.com: SERVFAIL

Digging around a bit shows your nameservers are not responding. If
you need nameservice just whistle.

Signature

Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

Reply to this Message

> >You guys ARE members at MyE28(.com), aren't you? If not, get over
> >there *now*! After 20+ *active* years in BMW CCA as well as a dozen or
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> ** server can't find mye28.com: SERVFAIL

It was down for most of the day on Friday. You can log in now.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Missed it myself ...)

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R. Mark Clayton - 20 Apr 2006 01:04 GMT

If you pump the brakes when stationary the reservoir will overflow.

> Power steering reservoir overflow
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks,
> Dan

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