Power steering

[Henry]

E46 b3 1999 I need a new power steering pump I think, would this be a standard 328i pump as listed in the BMW parts catalogue. I’ve got slightly heavy and jerky steering particularly in a straight line, in fact very difficult to keep in a straight line. Fluid has been changed 1k ago. Track rods about 3k old. Haven’t removed it yet but is there any tips on why it would be the pump rather than the steering rack. No leaks anywhere. I suppose the pump will have a p/n on it.

[Meister]

Henry,
My B3 has heavy steering especially compared to driving the B4. Can't see it being the rod ends?, as yer said they've been done as was the fluid. A decent pri-bar will suss the track rod inners? Changing the rods is a cheaper option than going fir a pump. That said you mention changing the rods so I'm assuming you did the ball joint ends plus the rods to the steering rack???? If you have done it yourself or if a Shop has they would have surely noticed the wear in the rack itself? If so and it's good then a recon pump would be the goto. Those Jerky symptoms are a pointer to pump problems as in the internals, so valves/seals etc. But look to the Universal joints on the steering column as that should be your 1st visit, then the pump. Gripping the rod near the U/J and lifting it up and down is the way, yer should have any play at all! The pump I'd say it would be a standard 328/330. Dealer would easily confirm this with Alpina. They in general don't want to give too much info out tho. Find a firm who do recon exchange pumps? Be Eurocarparts, GSF carparts or similar. I need to change mine sometime, eventually I'll get round to it.
Regards
Carl

[Henry]

I just mentioned the problem to my son today and he has had a similar problem on his van (360k miles) and mentioned as you have Carl the uj on the steering as the first port of call. I’ll get the front wheels in the air and soak with wd40 and then follow up with spray grease, probably lots of both. Hopefully that will be a cheap fix, I’ll report the results.