Steering Malfunction

Ok, I was driving into work this morning, 0630 at 20 degrees F. I got an alert that my steering fluid low and to pull over and stop driving. I have not a clue on this, never seen it before. Any help?

Go get some Pentosin CHF-11S, should be at some of the local auto stores, dealer as last resort. Top off your reservoir, when you open the hood it is on the left side of the engine bay. It will say CHF-11S only printed along the cap.

Only use this brand and formula!!! It will be $20 or more for a can. If you are under warranty then the dealer will top it off for free.

Originally Posted by tampamark

Go get some Pentosin CHF-11S, should be at some of the local auto stores, dealer as last resort. Top off your reservoir, when you open the hood it is on the left side of the engine bay. It will say CHF-11S only printed along the cap.

Only use this brand and formula!!! It will be $20 or more for a can. If you are under warranty then the dealer will top it off for free.

+1 I JUST got this same warning last week, cold weather+low fluid=steering warning. I pulled over & turned the car off, then back on & it was gone. Later that day I checked the power steering reservoir, stick was bone dry. Went to O'Reily's & bought some CHF 11S & topped off the fluid the next morning. Warning gone! Total cost $24.02 with tax.

I originally found this 5 series thread that lead me to my solution when I got the warning.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=327066

yep, i've had the same. check the top of your steering res. first. chf 11s does seem to be the most common but a bmw tech told me there is another code ??? cant remember what it was now but something to do with what suspension set up you have. ???

also check your battery condition. these cars throw up all sorts of warnings. sometimes you just need to turn off , wait a few mins then start up again and all back to normal.

I had the same warning for a few months until my friends at bimmerfest told me the answer jeje

I got the "Pull Over" warning light last week too. Checked the reservoir and it was low - must be a cold weather thing. The dealer was the cheapest local source I could find for CHF11S @ $37/L vs Napa @ $52/L!!

Just bought it at Napa in California for 24. Dealer wanted $40!

Hey, if you want to come down to philly, I had the same problem, and I just bought a bottle and your welcome to come by and have some. I bought mine at Napa for $23.

I went to Mount Laurel BMW in NJ and they topped it off for free, no error this morning and it is right at the mark. Thanks guys

I get the same exact message every morning. I live in LA so it is not that cold in the morning, but it still goes on. Should I go and top of the steering fluid... does that fix the problem?

BMW 650i 2007

So basically we can top up the power steering fluid ourself and the dealer I went charge me $300 for this service and even though my car was still under factory warranty at that moment. F***

Originally Posted by 650i lover

I get the same exact message every morning. I live in LA so it is not that cold in the morning, but it still goes on. Should I go and top of the steering fluid... does that fix the problem?

BMW 650i 2007

If your fluid is low, yes you will get the message. Just check the level to make sure and if low, top it off with the fluid suggested. One of the few things we can do ourselves without getting the dealer charge.

Originally Posted by reytran

So basically we can top up the power steering fluid ourself and the dealer I went charge me $300 for this service and even though my car was still under factory warranty at that moment. F***

Fluid to buy $15 ?? and time to check and fill 5 mins, ease of checking a ten year old could do it,
It is quite clear your Dealer loves you! or is it your wallet!!!! Probably your wallet>>>
Even buying a litre will last forever as there is only a small amount used when you top up!!!

Originally Posted by reytran

So basically we can top up the power steering fluid ourself and the dealer I went charge me $300 for this service and even though my car was still under factory warranty at that moment. F***

What??? While under factory warranty fluids and the top-off are free. You need to find a new dealer.

Yeah this message popped up on my car just the other day and it was simply low on the Hydraulic power steering fluid. $26.00 at the dealership, but after I topped her off she was happy and has not complained again. 645/333 is right. I don't imagine having to buy another liter of that stuff for a while, there is plenty left over.

So does this warning mean my power steering fluid is low? It came on today while I was driving, but when I pulled over and turned the car off and back on, it didn't come back...

Originally Posted by shan904

So does this warning mean my power steering fluid is low? It came on today while I was driving, but when I pulled over and turned the car off and back on, it didn't come back...

It's very likely just the fluid level. I had the same error and it was the fluid but a few other things can cause this too.

Check the level for starters, it takes 30 seconds. Don't leave the levels low for long, or you may end up with a several thousand $ repair.

Hi it is also worth resetting the steering, when you have topped the fluid up, by moving the steering wheel lock to lock a few times!!!

this happened to me as well and the fact that a restart gets rid of the error message does not mean it is ok, grin. For me it was just low, I picked up the @28.00 quart of Hydraulic fluid and just filled it up. No issues since then. Good luck.

So do I need Hydraulic Fluid or Power Steering Fluid, or are they the same? Is it the CHF11S I need to top off?

The CHF11S is the PS fluid. Do not use anything else! Top it off and you should be fine.

Originally Posted by shan904

So do I need Hydraulic Fluid or Power Steering Fluid, or are they the same? Is it the CHF11S I need to top off?

Ok, thanks so much for your help guys! I'm going to check the levels now and head to NAPA and pick up some CHF11S. I priced it there at $20.88.

Yes just Like Roseng said use the CHF11S. I tis Hydraulic Fluid. Power steering fluid used in most cars is not the same thing, Only use the CHF11S as shown in post #3 by VileVince.

good luck.

So I just checked the power steering level before I head out to pick up the fluid and the reservoir is bone dry! The fluid only comes to the top of the little hole at the bottom of the reservoir...not even enough to register a level on the dip stick. I haven't noticed anything leaking underneath the car when it's parked. How did it get this low?! So do i fill the reservoir or pour some in and dip the stick till it fills to the line just below "MAX"? Also, I noticed the fluid that's in there now is purple, but I read the CHF11S is green...

Ok, so I checked it again just to make sure it was purple as I was just going off what the picture showed. I dipped a white paper towel and it came out looking like this. Def not purple. Doesn't look very green either, may have a slight tint, but at least it looks pretty clean : )