Steering pipe

[PhilT]

Hi everyone,

After getting my hands dirty trying to diagnose a leak I also noticed that my steering oil pipe, the one that runs from the reservior marked ATF (just right of middle of engine bay) is covered in grease/crap/dirt etc. from about half way down the engine bay and underneath. The metal part of the pipe where it exits the ATF reservior is clean and remains so for about a foot or so down into the engine bay but then it gets really greasy/crappy.

Juat wondered if anyone elses is the same or whether I've got another leak issue Nothing else around it is spattered with crap - its almost as if the pipe is supposes to be greased in some way and has just got filthy.

Sorry if the descriptions are a bit vague but as always help and advice appreciated.

[X5Sport]

Had both my PAS hoses replaced just before the end of the 3-year warranty due to leakage on the bottom hose unions. They were replaced with a later version which has what looks like strain relief sleeve fittings. ISTR it's not an uncommon problem.

At the time I think the dealer told me they had installed a modified type.

[AW8]

I caused mine to have a new one fitted nealrly 40k miles ago at just over 60k iirc.

Known weakspot as said I leaks on mind seemed to stem from connectors rather than the hose itself.

The response from X5Sport certainly pointing towards a design fault on early hoses.

Cant recall how long the job takes as I paid for it to be done.

[PhilT]

Cheers fellas - had a better look today and it appears to be seeping from where is joins to a metal section near the bottom of the engine. I'm wondering if this is also whats got on the intercooler hoses somehow.

AW8 - can you recall what sort of cost it was to replace?

[AW8]

I just dug out invoice & it was £97.02 plus vat for the PAS hose back in 2007 Part number on my 4.4i was 32411096343.

4 x new sealing rings 32411093596 & 2 new clamps 51337052945 totalled to just £1.00.

Dealer changed it & charged 7 AW units, (each AW unit being 5 mins), so 35 mins labour........they only charged me £35 plus vat albeit that was well negotiated so dont aim for that rate but do let me know if you can better it

Doing rough maths plus vat at todays rate makes £159 & some pennies.

Aim to get this done for around £200 all in & be careful not to get stung for too much labour.

Main dealers work in 5 min increments whereas others could be tempted to round things up to the next half hour.

Call main dealer parts to get parts price & service reception for price fitted - though expect them to tell you they want to book it in to diagnose first, (more cost). I simpy bought the hose myself & told dealer I wanted them to fit it when they were doing other work.

A good indy will do the job and get hose & sundries for you.