Steering fluid; reservoir 'ATF' vs dealer 'CHF' ?!

[Rombbb]

Z4MC built 2006, documentation states 2007.

Reservoir states ATF, but the dealer's system prescribes CHF hydraulic fluid based on vin LK 43835

I tend to go with ATF, doubting that the reservoir was ever replaced with a faulty one.

Another suggestion could be dipping some cloth in it and checking the color, I understood that ATF is always supposed to be red and hydraulic fluid another color.

What would you do ?

[3798j]

I like Red Line Oil products. Entering your vehicle on their website, they list their D4 ATF for the M's power steering (by the way, they list the same for the transmission too).
https://www.redlineoil.com/d4-atf

[KevinM]

ATF. When I changed mine on my 2007 M coupe, I went to the dealer to be sure to get the right fluid, and they sold me 2 bottles of power steering fluid (despite me asking if it was ATF like my M5). Sure enough, it had ATF in it. Back to the dealer I went...

[Rombbb]

Thanks.

I'll go with it. Either their system is wonky or maybe it's because they didn't enter the correct vin, doing LK 43845 instead of 43835. But that refers to a similar vehicle so doubt it's that.

They have both listed in the general maintenance section and the idea is you check the reservoir to see which one you need, but this guy put in the VIN and only saw the non-ATF listed. Really creating confusion and uncertainty (and annoyance :-)

If ATF is indeed always red, maybe I'll check that in the reservoir just to be sure. Heard that pumps can go pretty quickly if wrong fluid is put in.

[GuidoK]

TIS states ATF for your car.
CHF is used for cold climates (so you cannot go on other peoples experiences unless you take this into account) and cars with self levelling, AFS, ARS etc.

BMW ATF is red. BMW CHF is green according to TIS.
Dont mix the 2 fluids; going from one to the other requires a proper flush.

[Rombbb]

Originally Posted by KevinM

ATF. When I changed mine on my 2007 M coupe, I went to the dealer to be sure to get the right fluid, and they sold me 2 bottles of power steering fluid (despite me asking if it was ATF like my M5). Sure enough, it had ATF in it. Back to the dealer I went...

So annoying. Don't want to be disrepectful to the good-willing guys, but a lot of those dealerships is 75% marketing. If you take away all the flashy buildings, BMW billboards, merchandise and 'technician' uniforms a lot of it can drop below-average with employees being regular dudes cutting corners on their off days.

[Rombbb]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

TIS states ATF for your car.
CHF is used for cold climates (so you cannot go on other peoples experiences unless you take this into account) and cars with self levelling, AFS, ARS etc.

BMW ATF is red. BMW CHF is green according to TIS.
Dont mix the 2 fluids; going from one to the other requires a proper flush.

Thanks !

You evaporated the last drop of my doubt

General question; is there some kind of official maintenance book for the z4m's avaliable somewhere ? TIS is that right ?

I tried everywhere online and the closest I got was my own manual and the blown-out pictures on part ordering sites, or E46 documentation.

EDIT just found newtis.info, that's a pretty good source for official specifications, torques and stuff, niiice