Non-active steering rack pipe DIY supposedly non serviceable?

[MRSEVENTEEN_FIVE]

2009 128i non-active steering 174 000kms

So i have a power steering fluid leak from one of the high pressure metal pipes on my steering rack. a shop told me they are probably vent lines and they are non serviceable nor can you fabricate new ones a-la brake lines. Not exactly sure what a vent line does that makes it unserviceable.

I look everywhere including calling the dealer and the pipes are not something you can buy much to my dismay.

If you have the active steering system you can find the pipes for sale on turner and I think ess for starters.

If you have garden variety Hydraulic steering you are S.O.L. And they say you need to do the whole steering rack re/re.

A shop told me they are most likely a permanent connection like a weld.

Fast forward to me at scrap yard.

I find donor car. Pipes come off with 12mm wrench and T30 torx bolt + small metal plate indexed with two slots for both pipes. O-rings in good shape too.

They come off no problem.

I take them home and attempt the swap out but I can’t for the life of me get a good angle on that small T30torx bolt holding the plate over the pipes.

I’ve tried everything but the oil pan(6mt), the block and sub frame seem to be in the way of me generating any torque.

MY QUESTIONS:
1) is there something I don’t know about these pipes that disqualify them from from being reused from a donor car? They are bolt on parts.
2) is it too silly to ask a shop to take one T30 bolt out for me? It seems like the only way to access it properly is on a lift with a couple of extensions and wobbles.

Any insight helps folks.

[spidertri]

I don't see why you couldn't swap those hard lines, like you said they come off pretty easily and it makes sense that they might be a vent line or something to equalize pressure within the rack.

As for getting more access, usually there are only two bolts holding the steering rack to the subframe. If you remove those bolts you might be able to move the rack side to side a bit and get more room to that T30. Torque spec for the subframe to rack bolts is 56Nm +90deg.