BMW Power Steering Fluid: What To Buy & Where To Find It
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Power steering fluid isn’t the most glamorous auto part to shop for and isn’t talked about too often. It is, however, extremely important. Not only do cars need a good amount of power steering fluid for you to be able to drive properly, but they also need a specific kind. BMW is one of the pickiest makes of all, as the type of fluid you should use depends completely on the model.
This can make it extremely confusing to figure out what BMW power steering fluid to use by yourself, but thankfully, CoPilot is here to help! We’ll tell you all about the differences between BMW power steering fluids and how to find out which one your car needs.
Why You Need the Right Power Steering Fluid
Although many power steering fluid products may look the same, you can’t just go putting any random fluid in your car. These fluids serve far too important a function to just go in blindly when buying one. The job of power steering fluid is to loosen up the steering system and ensure the link between the steering wheel and the tires stays intact and works properly. When you turn the wheel, your tires do exactly what you want them to do based on your steering, right? This is only possible with power steering fluid. Driving your car safely requires that you have fresh power steering fluid attuned to the makeup of your BMW’s power steering system.
Since cars can have such wildly different mechanical properties in their steering systems, servicing them needs different types of products accordingly. Power steering fluid can range greatly in chemical properties, and factors like viscosity and additives vary from product to product. Each car manufacturer has a specified type of fluid for its cars, and it’s for a good reason. Use the wrong kind of fluid, and you might risk excessive damage to your steering system and pump and even hurt your ability to steer, which is a danger to your health. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance that you stay on top of keeping the right power steering fluid in your car.
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What Kind of Power Steering Fluid Is Best for YourBMW?
BMWs are luxury European vehicles, so they can’t take just any power steering fluid. Some out there have been optimized specifically for fancy cars like these, and you can really tell the difference in driving when you’ve used high-quality fluid that matches the design of your BMW. There are certainly a few options you have to choose from for your BMW power steering fluid, but you shouldn’t venture much outside of them if you want to keep your stylish BMW in tip-top shape. Here are the best power steering fluids you can use for a car like this:
- Pentosin Power Steering Fluid. The manufacturer directly recommends Pentosin power steering fluid as the brand’s number one fluid. It was designed with BMW specifications in mind, and it’ll keep your car’s steering system working like a dream. BMW cars since 1990 will need Pentosin CHF-11S, while older ones will require CHF7.1.
- Dexron III Automatic Transmission Fluid. This is the second-best fluid for BMWs next to Pentosin, as long as your model can take ATF. Check your BMW owner’s manual and see what the manufacturer has to say about ATF; if it specifies that you can use that with your model, then Dexron is a great choice for your car’s power steering fluid.
- Prestone Power Steering Fluid with Stop Leak. While not made for BMW specifically, this is good for models released before 2012 as it’s a great additive for cars with ZF hydraulic power steering racks, which BMWs used to have.
- Ravenol J1B1001 Power Steering Fluid. Ravenol is another decent aftermarket substitute you can use for your BMW. It was made with luxury cars like BMW specifically in mind and helps prevent corrosion and promote thermal stability.
- Prestone European Power Steering Fluid. This synthetic fluid is specially designed for European cars, including BMW. While it is considered somewhat pricey for the relatively low quantity you receive, it’s a great option for topping off your power steering fluid to keep your BMW running at great performance with little noise or wear and tear. With that being said, you can get more bang for your buck with other steering fluids.
We have to clarify that if at all possible, you should absolutely get the first option in the above list, the Pentosin power steering fluid that matches your model’s year. The other options can service your model well if your owner’s manual says those types are able to be used in your model, but the Pentosin is what the manufacturer recommends across the board.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR BRAKES?
Unless you’re a mechanic or super-dedicated car enthusiast, you might not know much about the brakes on your car. How long do they typically last? How often should you replace your brakes? We’ve got answers
Where an You Buy the Right BMW Power Steering Fluid?
Even though BMWs are picky with the power steering fluid they want, thankfully, all of the ones on our list are easy to find. You can get them on many websites online, from auto parts centers like O’Reilly or Autozone to major retailers like Walmart and Amazon. These BMW power steering fluids can be found in many places, whether you want to shop in person or online, so the choice is yours!
Other Things You Should Know about BMW Power Steering Fluid
Some BMW models will have writing on the power steering fluid cap that says “ATF Fluid only,” dictating that you shouldn’t use any other kind of fluid in your car. However, if you use this type of fluid in any model that doesn’t specifically say you can or should, you might risk corroding your power steering seals over time, which would present trouble down the road. BMW models can be tricky this way because they really aren’t close to uniform; they differ per model. It’s vital that you always look at your owner’s manual for your individual BMW before you go out and buy more steering fluid.
The general suggestion for the time to replace power steering fluid is when your car reaches approximately 50,000 miles, but your BMW owner’s manual might have something different to say. Be sure to check and see if the manufacturer recommends you replace your fluid at a different time, and if so, follow that number.
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