MrE36

BMW E36 · Fluids & service

Power Steering Whine Leak

MrE36 house reference

A whining E36 power steering, especially cold, usually starts with low or wrong fluid before it's a dead pump.

The E36 uses a ZF or LuK pump and BMW specifies a CHF-type hydraulic fluid (Pentosin CHF 11S / green) — using ATF instead is a common cause of noise and foaming, so confirm what's in there Power Steering Fluid