New X5, fluid leak identification

[ssft]

I noticed I've had a small fluid leak coming from both driver and passenger side on the garage floor. It isn't a huge leak, seems colorless on a paper towel and doesn't smell.

Crawled underneath and snapped a couple photos. Anyone have an idea what/where it's coming from?

[Alan l.]

That looks like the power steering arm but not sure if thats where the fluid is coming out from or just dripped there. Traditionally PS fluid is redish color but bmw could be using their own stuff that is gold color.

Was it on both sides or just one side? if on both sides then i would say its most likely the power steering unit.

If its just on one side was iton the side where you fill your motor oil? Wondering if it could be possible that a bmw tech went to top off oil and spill some down into the engine bay.

Alan

[ssft]

Both sides. So I have the active steering option which is relatively rare. Interestingly enough my alignment was also out of whack from the factory, which the dealer previously fixed.

Bringing it in for warranty next week, they also think it's power steering fluid based on the pics.

[r33_RGSport]

@ssft yeap, looks like power steering fluid coming out from the steering racks.

[taxjoc]

Originally Posted by ssft

Both sides. So I have the active steering option which is relatively rare. Interestingly enough my alignment was also out of whack from the factory, which the dealer previously fixed.

Bringing it in for warranty next week, they also think it's power steering fluid based on the pics.

I have a 2016 X5 50i and I too have the active steering. Sadly, a few months ago I got a chassis warning. Dealer said low on steering fluid. They topped it off and warning went away (but dealer did not check cause of low fluid). Two weeks ago same chassis warning. Same problem of low steering fluid. This time dealer removed rubber boots around steering rack. Fluid was caught in boot (hence no evidence of fluid leak in my garage). Turns out seals in steering rack were not good which caused the leak. Dealer replaced rack under warranty and no further problem. As complex as these X5s are, problems like this are bound to happen (even for an expensive bimmer). So, this event did not bother me. I still love my X5.

[iconoclast]

i would first rule out cosmoline melting off the engine and other components.
new vehicles are saturated with it to prevent premature rust and corrosion of metal bits.

[coolidge]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

i would first rule out cosmoline melting off the engine and other components.
new vehicles are saturated with it to prevent premature rust and corrosion of metal bits.

I seriously doubt that.

[iconoclast]

no harm exploring all options.

[ssft]

Just got an update from the dealer, they say it is a defective pressure relief valve for the hydraulic sway bars. Is that a part of the DHP package?

[TOPEC]

yes only DHP has hydraulic swaybars, but i also thought it was for the rear sways only

[ssft]

Still leaking after they replaced the valve. Brought it back and now diagnosed to be issue with the steering rack (active steering), and it's being replaced.

I saw a thread about this option being discontinued on MY17 due to too many warranty claims. Looks like I'm one of them.