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Place to rebuild steering box rebuild (or source a new unit??)

13K views 16 replies 7 participants last post by  kupkake 
#1 ·
Does anyone know a reputable place to rebuild my steering box? I have a pretty significant leak from mine. I put an order though a month ago through a dealer, but the part went from backordered to NLA. I also attempted to source one from BMW Classic, but they don't seem to offer it any longer as well.

This is the only thing I found, but I am hesitant of getting anything off of eBay and just went through a complete overhaul of the engine, trying to keep the car as original as possible.

Any help would be much appreciated!
 
#2 · (Edited)
I was able to get a factory rebuilt steering box for my e34 M5 about 4 years ago directly from ZF, the OEM supplier. It took about 3 months,well worth the wait,especially considering BMW pricing had just increased and ZF gave it to me for pre-increase price. Contact info: email address,info@zf.steering.us; I dealt with Billy Denton who was a straight shooter. He alluded to a rebuilder in Az. at the time, but said if they needed any parts besides seals they might not be able to access them. If you need a core, let me know. Hope this helps.

Vic
 
#3 ·
i just replaced the steering box in my touring last summer. According to RealOEM, the servotronic steering box is still available, the non-servo box NLA. You could put a servotronic in, and if not electrically connected, it defaults to the heavier setting, i think, which isn't bad.
Part number is 32132226892
 
#4 ·
Hi Michael!

Where is the box leaking from? A few weeks ago, I had a Range Rover, with a leaking steering box top plate. The box looked identical to the M5's, although I'm sure it's not the same. However, I removed the top cover (undo the 4 bolts, then the cover does a combination of screwing off and prying off.

And then...MAGIC! A damned square-cut O-ring !!! And it's entirely responsible for sealing the top cover . Of course, the part was not available, but I had a perfectly fitting, but not square-cut, o-ring, in my collection. No more leaks! The vehicle was at the shop again today, just for an oil change, and the steering box is perfectly dry.

The vehicle needed alignment of the steering wheel when done, by the way.
 
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#7 ·
Hey Chris, not exactly sure where the leak is. The top of the box is usually wet, but I haven't ever seen an active leak (only the puddle that inevitably forms overnight). I'll call the shop that I took it to here in Virginia Beach and see if they remember exactly where they found it. I sent a message to the seller who has the rebuilt units on eBay (BuyAutoParts) and they sent this reply back:

"All seals and bearing are replaced. The gears and shaft are inspected and replaced if they do not meet OE specs. The boxes are then pressure tested and centered. All though its always a good idea to verify center before install."
What do you think they labor would be to get to the box and reseal it? I have a feeling the cost would get pretty close to just paying for a rebuilt box from the seller on eBay, which might also be in better shape given the new bearings etc, given the small play in my box ($465 Remanufactured Genuine Power Steering Gear Box Gearbox for BMW M5 | eBay). Before I do that, I'm going to check on the place in Arizona that was suggested above and see what kind of cost a rebuild would entail.
 
#8 ·
I can tell you that it took me just over an hour to reseal the top cover of the box I did....would have been faster, but I'd never done it before. The labor to R & R the steering box is 3.2 hours; the top cover seal is done with the box in place.
 
#12 ·
I have a box with about 45k miles on it that I'd sell. I bought it with a claimed 42k miles on it and replaced it along with most everything else in the front suspension a few thousand miles later. I was on a prolonged quest for getting my e34 as tight or tighter than it was when new. That included getting a new box, et al.
 
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