A co-worker with a 545 with active steering asked me what the reservoir is that is right behind the coolant reservoir. I assumed it was the power steering fluid for active steering, but when I looked at the manual, it is not shown in the illustration of the engine compartment. As a matter of fact, I couldn't find any reference to checking the steering fluid level at all.

So, is it the steering fluid reservoir? What should the level be? And why is it omitted from the manual?

Thanks

Pieter

 

AS is electronic, but I don't know if they have totally converted the system from hydraulics to black-box magic. And it's too dark to go look--as if I could tell.

Cheers,
Ray Hull

 

So, did you ever find out what this reservoir was? I just bought a 2004 545i with Active Steering and was also thinking this was for power steering. When I went to check the fluid, it was so low, it didn't even touch the small dipstick on the cap.

 

Does anyone else with active steering feel a light pulsing effect on the steering wheel when negotiating tight and slow multi storey car park turns. I'm with a client where I'm three floors under ground and the surface is perfectly smooth and when I take the 90 degree turns I definitely feel a regular light pulsing sensation through the steering wheel - sort of like a very muted ABS effect.