power steering hoses/reservoir 3rd party brands

[stephenkirsh]

So my power steering reservoir has a leak so it's on my list of things to do soon. As somebody pointed out on this forum before (I found it in the search a week ago, maybe a few years old), I'm not too concerned about going OEM on this since if the power steering 100% fails my car will still work until I get a fix. So I'm looking at ECS parts.

My question is, is one brand better than the other?

Reservoir (32411097164):
BMW: $48.66
ZF: 28.95 (same ZF that makes transmissions?)
URO: 15.95

Hose #1 (32416750155):
BMW: $41.47
CRP: 26.95
URO: 18.95

Hose #2 (32411095526)
BMW: $31.89
CRP: 19.95
MTC: 11.59

I was just going to go w/ the middle ground, CRP (hopefully that doesn't stand for "crap"!) for the hoses and ZF on the reservoir.

Middle ground is a total of $75.85 vs going OEM at $122.02. (Plus I gotta pay somebody to put it on because apparently the clamps on the hoses use a specially designed tool?)

thoughts/comments/experiences?

[TigerTater]

I replaced them and the reservoir, along with a high pressure hose. No special tool needed to remove just a pair of pliers and flat head screwdriver. I would not use the same band clamps for reinstall. I would upgrade to some t-bolt hose clamps. Much better seal and can always adjust much easier. I forget what oem brand clamps are. I bought all my stuff from pelican parts. I made a thread about all this over Christmas if you want to look back at it. Hope it helps. Lmk if u have any questions.


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[brettbimmer]

I replaced them and the reservoir, along with a high pressure hose. No special tool needed to remove just a pair of pliers and flat head screwdriver. I would not use the same band clamps for reinstall. I would upgrade to some t-bolt hose clamps. Much better seal and can always adjust much easier. I forget what oem brand clamps are. I bought all my stuff from pelican parts. I made a thread about all this over Christmas if you want to look back at it. Hope it helps. Lmk if u have any questions.
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+1. Can def. do this yourself, but switch to a decent hose clamp, not the band clamp ones that they came with originally. T-bolt hose clamps are awesome (if a bit costly), and are IMHO a bit overkill for the power steering fluid pressure, but again, awesome if you want to spend the $$$. Second to that is the more common hose clamps that have a hex head/screw to tighten down. The better ones of these (and what is factory in other areas of our cars) are when the ridges for the screw to catch to tighten are NOT cut entirely through the clamp band. Those cheap ones can actually chew into your new hoses, so if you have the ability avoid that cheap style.

You may check to be sure that the hose is not just leaking at the reservoir as that happens on occasion too, and you may be able to fix with a new good quality hose clamp. ZF looks like the same ZF that builds our transmissions. Personally no experience with their reservoir. That said, the reservoir in our cars have a built-in filter, so be sure that whatever reservoir you get has this feature too, if you do end up replacing it.

[stephenkirsh]

Any idea what size hex screw clamp to buy and where to find it? Been looking around and can't be too sure what size to get

[TigerTater]

You can buy hose clamps at any parts store....not sure what size I just brought the originals with me and compared them..(I had a spare car) but you could definitely bring your new hoses with you to match up the right size.


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[Boris3]

Reviving an old thread here with a related question about PS hoses.

What is the recommendation for the high pressure PS hoses, BMW, Rein, other? I've got a power steering leak from the looped high pressure PS hose for sure: the power steering feed line for a LF-20 pump (part #32416774215). The Genuine BMW part is $268 at FCP, the Rein version at ECS is $97. Any experience with either of these?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-power-steering-pressure-hose-32416774215-1
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-rein-parts/power-steering-feed-line/32416774215~ren/

The PS reservoir and hoses are not leaking at first look but I'll probably just replace anyway while I'm in there.

[Vas]

Rein is the way to go from fcpeuro.



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[Boris3]

Thanks for the reply.

Interesting thing is that FCP only lists the Genuine BMW option for this part and does not offer the Rein. Not sure why. I'll contact them tomorrow and ask. ECS lists the Rein for $97, and also offers the Genuine BMW for $227 ($40 cheaper than FCP).

If folks have used the Rein without issue for this part than I'm good with that. If the Rein fails after a year or so while the BMW lasts longer I'll go with the BMW.

I've bought a lot of parts from both suppliers, though lately have been purchasing more from FCP.

[DeathTrap]

I bought the Rein hose from some supplier on eBay. No problems so far after roughly 6k miles

[Vas]

Thanks for the reply.

Interesting thing is that FCP only lists the Genuine BMW option for this part and does not offer the Rein. Not sure why. I'll contact them tomorrow and ask. ECS lists the Rein for $97, and also offers the Genuine BMW for $227 ($40 cheaper than FCP).

If folks have used the Rein without issue for this part than I'm good with that. If the Rein fails after a year or so while the BMW lasts longer I'll go with the BMW.

I've bought a lot of parts from both suppliers, though lately have been purchasing more from FCP.

I had asked the same question and FCP Euro informed me that there was fitment and quality issues on that hose. So they pulled it from the website and only offer the Genuine BMW part currently.

[Boris3]

Thanks. I got the same answer this morning.

[egiles14]

I had asked the same question and FCP Euro informed me that there was fitment and quality issues on that hose. So they pulled it from the website and only offer the Genuine BMW part currently.

I really like Rein parts and try to use them as much as possible...the price and quality can't be beat. But I did have an issue with the Rein high pressure steering hose roughly 3 years ago. It just did not fit properly for some reason, even though it was listed as the correct hose. I bought it from FCP and had to return it. Obviously others had the same issue for them to pull it. Maybe Rein will get it straightened out.

[John in VA]

I really like Rein parts and try to use them as much as possible...the price and quality can't be beat. But I did have an issue with the Rein high pressure steering hose roughly 3 years ago. It just did not fit properly for some reason, even though it was listed as the correct hose. I bought it from FCP and had to return it. Obviously others had the same issue for them to pull it. Maybe Rein will get it straightened out.
Bummer - I purchased a power steering kit for the E39 from FCP during the holiday clearance sale that came with Rein hoses. Haven't worked with them yet.

[DeathTrap]

Strange. Maybe Rein had a product revision with this hose? I'm curious to see what happens when I get some age and mileage on this part.

[Archbid]

Strange. Maybe Rein had a product revision with this hose? I'm curious to see what happens when I get some age and mileage on this part.

I bought the Rein part from FCP years ago and it failed after about 15k. At that point they no longer sold the Rein part and replaced with Genuine (how awesome is FCP!).

I think this is the unstated benefit of a lifetime warranty - it is a disincentive to sell crappy low-end parts that won't last because they are on the hook. I would trust the signal and avoid Rein for that particular hose.

[GeorgeH]

CRP is ContiTech, Rein, Pentosin.

You will find a lot of the Rein hoses will still have the BMW part number silk screened on them.

The pressure hose is such a high failure item I can't imagine FCP would be successful warrantying anything else other than OE. I have had good luck with Rein Intake and Return hoses (the hoses on the reservoir), but only use BMW for the pressure hose. IF there is any doubt about an aftermarket part quality I would search FCP and if they don't carry it then I probably wouldn't buy it.

The ZF reservoir is the OE part and has the BMW pn# ground off of it.