my a4s 310r is leaking from the torque converter housing...

[ryan roopnarine]

end, where the tq housing connects to the front of the overdrive unit. my buddies and i were trying to end a tranny leak that i've had for about two years or so. a little background: about two years ago, i put about 3 quarts of advance autoparts DEXIII atf into the unit at an oil change--as i try to change the unit oil at every oil change. from the smell and consistency of the fluid that came out of the bottle, i can now safely conclude that the stuff was not transmission fluid, and was either in a mislabeled bottle, or was too defective in construction to serve as transmission fluid. the unit began to overheat about two weeks later. i changed the oil in the unit appx. twice within a week (28 quarts) and changed the filter, and the unit is still performing two years and many miles elapsed later.

after this, the unit began to leak--from what i thought was stripped tranny bolt holes or a bent forward pan, but, upon closer inspection this week, is from where the torque converter housing connects/mates to the overdrive. for those of you unfamiliar with the autotrans in the US m50 525i, the unit consists of three parts. 1) the tq converter housing, which bolts to 2) the overdrive housing, which has a small, forward oil sump, and bolts to 3) the main transmission unit, which has the larger oil sump. the unit is leaking from between the tq housing and overdrive. this particular tranny has a tsb about leaking between the overdrive and main body, but i inspected the unit with this in mind, and could find no leakage from that area. anyone with any tranny knowledge want to take a stab at what seals, bushings, et cetera, might be leaking? thanks.

ps....because of either bravery or hubris, we will be taking on any repair that is necessary by ourselves, with help from the atsg manual and a videotape, if we can find one for this car.

pps....peter warton, who has the same car, made a post in 2004 about some half moon shaped plastic retaining rings breaking free and causing his tranny pump to rub up "against a clutch". admittedly, i have dug the same number of these retaining rings out of my pan, and my trans. still shifts perfectly. no vibrations or anything.

thanks.

[BigKriss]

Good luck with it. I've never seen a pic of your car before from the outside.

[winfred]

i think theres a big floppy gasket type thing in there that leaks and can cause shifting problems depending on which part is leaking and or just piss on the ground

[ryan roopnarine]

i think theres a big floppy gasket type thing in there that leaks and can cause shifting problems depending on which part is leaking and or just piss on the ground

the "big floppy gasket" you refer to, is, i think, the one that the tsb is about, is the one that causes the pendulum shift issue. the leak from that is typically from between the end of the front pan, and the beginning of the back pan--and mine isn't leaking there. i used to host the PDF for the TIS repair on that gasket, but my school wiped my webspace. i don't have tis on this computer. if someone could provide it for me, i'd really appreciate it. the pdf is called SI pendulum shifting, delayed gear engagement or adaptor case......, would be in the transmission section. car is a 07/1991 525i us, left hand drive.

[WarrenBrown]

Warren
88 325iX
91 318is
95 525iT

[ryan roopnarine]

thanks very, very much.

ps--oh wow, i didn't see that you sent me all of that. thanks.

[ryan roopnarine]

i really don't want to make demands of someone who is doing me a favor, but if you get a spare moment, could you pretty pretty please send me the rest of the pendulum shift, delayed gear engagement one? if not, that's certainly ok, and i thank you for your help. i might have to find where the heck i stuck my copy of the tis.

[WarrenBrown]

Warren
88 325iX
91 318is
95 525iT

[ryan roopnarine]

worked fully this time, thanks.

[Gman]

Hi guys,
I have a 535i with a 5 speed and am new to these GM slush boxes

Just just picked up an E34 525it with the same tranny and similar problems as Ryan's. It was good when I first got it two weeks ago, but I've noticed a steady oil drip from the back of the oil pan and around both tranny pan covers. It is delayed to go into gear form a full stop and slips a bit around turns.

What is this TIS I hear you talking about. Does it detail the source and fix for the oil leak?

Any input would be helpful.
Greg.

[ryan roopnarine]

Hi guys,
I have a 535i with a 5 speed and am new to these GM slush boxes

Just just picked up an E34 525it with the same tranny and similar problems as Ryan's. It was good when I first got it two weeks ago, but I've noticed a steady oil drip from the back of the oil pan and around both tranny pan covers. It is delayed to go into gear form a full stop and slips a bit around turns.

What is this TIS I hear you talking about. Does it detail the source and fix for the oil leak?

Any input would be helpful.

Greg.

that kind of sounds like a generic slipping tranny, or low fluid induced slip. have you pinpointed where it is leaking from? the fix outlined in the tis is kind of involved and costs a good couple hundred dollars.

[Gman]

Thanks Ryan, I think the slipping is due to low level from the steady leak.
The leak starts from the back of the oil pan where and the tranny bell housing.
Then then there are droplets around the small tranny sump pan and a bit less around the bolts of the main filter cover. Some of this may be from blow by I guess.

If it's a seal between the torque converter, is the repair outlined in the TIS?
Do I have to drop the tranny to fix it? Could you please PM the TIS if you have it.

I'm planning to take it to an independent transmission shop for a fluid and filter change. If there is any info that will help reduce the cost and time at the shop by purchasing the gaskets or seals in advance, would be good.
I would normally attempt the initial check if it wasn't so cold and snowy out there!

Thanks again,
Greg.
92 525it M50, A4S310R, 245Km

[John B.]

Hi guys,
I have a 535i with a 5 speed and am new to these GM slush boxes

Just just picked up an E34 525it with the same tranny and similar problems as Ryan's. It was good when I first got it two weeks ago, but I've noticed a steady oil drip from the back of the oil pan and around both tranny pan covers. It is delayed to go into gear form a full stop and slips a bit around turns.

What is this TIS I hear you talking about. Does it detail the source and fix for the oil leak?

Any input would be helpful.
Greg.

You might just be low on fluid from the oil leak. Get a gasket/filter kit for $27 & do a service.

[John B.]

Ryan - My 95 525iT had a tranny leak at 92k that required 3 trys to get fixed. The first 2 times the shop just replaced seals but the 3rd time they contacted a BMW specialist in Ct and finally found the cause. The work was done for the p/o owner of the car so I don't have first hand knowledge of the repair. According to the receipt the leak was traced to the bearing for front pump & torque converter. There is a charge for "sublet work for line boring the front pump bearing & supplying torque converter".

No idea if this is the same problem you have but I could PM you the contact info for the shop if you wanted more info on the problem & fix. The work was done in 03 & considering the trouble they had fixing it they probably still remember the job.

[ryan roopnarine]

here's the pdf of the fix if you wanted to browse it, don't know if this is your particular problem or not.


http://plaza.ufl.edu/rroopnar/attachment%5b1%5d.pdf


Thanks Ryan, I think the slipping is due to low level from the steady leak.
The leak starts from the back of the oil pan where and the tranny bell housing.
Then then there are droplets around the small tranny sump pan and a bit less around the bolts of the main filter cover. Some of this may be from blow by I guess.

If it's a seal between the torque converter, is the repair outlined in the TIS?
Do I have to drop the tranny to fix it? Could you please PM the TIS if you have it.

I'm planning to take it to an independent transmission shop for a fluid and filter change. If there is any info that will help reduce the cost and time at the shop by purchasing the gaskets or seals in advance, would be good.
I would normally attempt the initial check if it wasn't so cold and snowy out there!

Thanks again,
Greg.
92 525it M50, A4S310R, 245Km

[Gman]

Thanks for the advice guys, and the TIS file from Ryan.
I'll have a good read tonight to see if this fits my leak symptoms. No hunting or pendulum shifting though.

I have an early appointment in the morning at a local tranny shop for a filter and fluid change. While searching here, I also found many suggestions that said to stay away from the flush these shops do. Any views on a flush or specialty additives for that matter?