Tranny Leak! What is this?

[Fly N Drive]

Just today I pull out of my driveway and see a nive puddle of tranny fluid. When I get home I put it on the ramps and get under it. I find where I think the leak is coming from.

I have a 94' 325Is with an Auto Tranny (I know I know). Everything shifts and works fine, but I hate leaks and want to stop it.

Heres a pic of where its coming from. There is a small pan in front of the main tranny reservoir pan, right above that there is a cylinder like thing, when I stick my finger in it, its full of tranny fluid leaking out. What is this? can I do it myself? How much to have it fixed?

Hope this pic helps. Thanks for any help you can give. :confused:

[dave162]

I don't know what that circle object is but are you sure its not coming from the pan?

If it's a leak in the pan gasket its a relatively easy fix.

[Fly N Drive]

Yea, I'm pretty sure its not from the pan. I torqued the bolts down a little bit and dried the tranny fluid from around everything. I then took it out for a 10min drive, came back, jacked it up and sure enough there is tranny fluid in that cylinder above. So it seems to me its coming from the cylinder and running down that pan. Maybe I'll have to take it in?

[joe325i]

I have the same trans as you..
When I get home I'll throw it in the air and take a look..

Can you get a full pic of the liength of the trans so I know where to look.. (It seems as if its above the larger sump)

I'll also check ETK when I get home from work

[choffa]

That is a servo cover, which controls the application of the bands. There should be a snap ring holding a cover disc in the bore. The cover disc will have an O-ring seal either on the disc, or in the bore. If you have sufficient room, you can remove the snap ring, withdrawl the cover disc & replace the O-ring. You may need to disconnect the trans mount, drive shaft & radiator shroud to lower the tail of the trans to gain access.

The O-ring will be available locally, dealer may stock it seperately, or a transmission repair shop, industrial supplier, or large auto parts store will have assorted O-rings. The material should be Buna or Viton (preferrable). It will be a metric size, cross section diameter must be right on the money.

Be prepared for fluid to drain out of the bore when you remove the cover. Make sure you have the correct tool to remove the snap ring. It could be an e-clip which requires an internal snap ring plier, or it may be a split circular cross section ring, which can be removed with a thin screwdriver, insert underthe ring & work it out carefully. Beware that there may be a spring behind the cover, which could blast the cover plate out ofthe bore.

If you are handy, it can be done, or a trip to a local transmission repair shop if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.

CJH
1996 328is coupe auto
Philadelphia, PA

[Fly N Drive]

Hey Guys-

Thanks for all your help. I took the car to a tranny shop and they didn't charge me to look at it. Its a job I won't be able to do myself probably so I will have them do it. They said it was my overdrive governor seal...(at leasthe said something like that). Don't have to drop or repair the trans so that will be good..still going to cost a little.:( (the tune of $400)

BUT WERE PROUD OF OUR BIMMERS NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY COST!!!

Thanks for the posts.

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

If you can remove that item from the outside, then it might not be that expensive. Sorry, I have no more advice other than that - my tranny doesn't have that:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Tranny_Fluid_Auto/pic9.jpg

-Wayne

[Fly N Drive]

The weird thing is, they told me they didn't have to drop the tranny or anything. So they CAN get to it from the outside. Does $400 seem a little steep to get a governor seal out? They said that was parts and labor. Interesting :confused:

[BMWg84]

i was recently quoted 6.5 hours of labor for clutch change (I'm assuming the labor time should be about the same). Most places charge 65 bucks an hour.. I think that's not too bad of a price, although I would hate to have to pay it.. My tranny is leaking too - just not to the extent of yours. I'm hoping it's just a gasket..

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

The weird thing is, they told me they didn't have to drop the tranny or anything. So they CAN get to it from the outside. Does $400 seem a little steep to get a governor seal out? They said that was parts and labor. Interesting :confused:

$5 for the seal. $395 for knowing where it goes and how to replace it. Sorry, I can't offer any help on this - haven't done this repair...

-Wayne

[Blazin95Red325i]

damn tranny, once it starts acting up get ready to pay up the wazoo.

good luck

[Wayne@PelicanParts]

Yes indeed. The cooling systems, rear chassis / shock mounts, and the transmissions are weak points in these cars...

-Wayne