Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: E39 automatic transmission pan gasket leaking

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW

    E39 automatic transmission pan gasket leaking

    just replaced the automatic transmission fluid on my 2002 530i. Even though it was working perfectly
    It had 128K miles and I thought it was time. Also changed the oil, differential fluid, and fuel filter while
    I was underneath the car.

    Because it was the weekend and the dealer was closed I used an aftermarket gasket and carefully
    tightened it down to 10NM with a spiral pattern. Filled it with ZF type 5 fluid.

    ......And it's leaking around the gasket !!!

    I guess I learned my lesson on the gasket which seemed to be a little thicker rubber so I'll pick one
    up from the dealer on Monday.

    Is 10NM the correct torque? I reused the original pan bolts, is that OK?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    438
    My Cars
    2003 BMW 530i M Sport
    Reusing the pan bolts shouldn't be a problem, mine was a paper laminated sort of gasket and was a pain in the ass to seat properly.

    I ended up stringing very thin wire through every bolt hole to like the gasket up, then I pulled the wire out once I got the bolt to line up and hold the gasket.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
    2003 530i M Sport [Black Sapphire Metallic & Sand Interior]

    IMG_1075 by Alex Wilson Photography, on Flickr



  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Milton, WV
    Posts
    1,286
    My Cars
    2002 BMW 530i Sport
    Use a zip tie to line up the bolt holes on the gasket. One on each side of the pan worked for me. If I have my way I'll never drop that pan again.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW
    Good advice on lining up the gasket.

    What torque did you use on the pan bolts ??

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Milton, WV
    Posts
    1,286
    My Cars
    2002 BMW 530i Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by texasbmw530i View Post
    Good advice on lining up the gasket.

    What torque did you use on the pan bolts ??
    I've seen anywhere from 4 Nm to 12 Nm. I can't recall what I used specifically. I did reuse the pan bolts.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    NW suburban Chicago
    Posts
    16,300
    My Cars
    hiss by my window
    Maybe before replacing the gasket run around the bolts again to check they are tight.
    If there was old thread locker on the re-used bolts your torque readings aren't worth a damn. Take them out clean and tighten again.
    Me, I've never replaced the bolts, don't use thread locker and just run 'em down good and snug. Unless you are Kong using 1/4" drive ratchet pretty much assures you won't over tighten.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW
    Well I decided to bite the bullet and picked up a tranny pan gasket from The dealer. $42 for a thin paper gasket (these guys have NO shame). At least the
    after-market one I originally installed was rubber ... but then again it did leak so there you go !

    While I was there I talked to a couple of the mechanics and asked them what the proper torque for the pan bolts was. I came prepared with the VIN number
    and a picture if the transmission identification plate and they still couldn't find it. They weren't trying to blow me off because they spent about 10 minutes on
    the computer and then finally said with a sheepish smile ... "I would use 10NM" !

    Well 10NM is a number that kept coming up during my online searches so that's what I used. I have a small inch pounds torque wrench which made things very
    precise. 10Nm was about all the inside of those pan bolts could handle before I felt they would start rounding off, so I'm sure it's not more than 10Nm.

    Just took it for a vigorous ride and fingers crossed that the "Super Duper Official BMW $42 Gasket" doesn't leak !!!!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    NW suburban Chicago
    Posts
    16,300
    My Cars
    hiss by my window
    Quote Originally Posted by texasbmw530i View Post
    Well I decided to bite the bullet and picked up a tranny pan gasket from The dealer. $42 for a thin paper gasket (these guys have NO shame). At least the
    after-market one I originally installed was rubber ... but then again it did leak so there you go !

    While I was there I talked to a couple of the mechanics and asked them what the proper torque for the pan bolts was. I came prepared with the VIN number
    and a picture if the transmission identification plate and they still couldn't find it. They weren't trying to blow me off because they spent about 10 minutes on
    the computer and then finally said with a sheepish smile ... "I would use 10NM" !

    Well 10NM is a number that kept coming up during my online searches so that's what I used. I have a small inch pounds torque wrench which made things very
    precise. 10Nm was about all the inside of those pan bolts could handle before I felt they would start rounding off, so I'm sure it's not more than 10Nm.

    Just took it for a vigorous ride and fingers crossed that the "Super Duper Official BMW $42 Gasket" doesn't leak !!!!
    Pretty sure that $42 should include new bolts
    https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...et-24101423380
    Last edited by ross1; 04-16-2019 at 09:24 AM.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW
    Well one would think that a $42 BMW paper gasket would come with something .... pan bolts, the filter, or maybe even a Coke ! But nope, just the gasket.

    I did decide to buy 1 pan bolt in case i needed it and the dealer price for 1 (count em one) bolt was $9.80. SHAME on you dealers !!!

    The good news is the new gasket isn't leaking.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    NW suburban Chicago
    Posts
    16,300
    My Cars
    hiss by my window
    Quote Originally Posted by texasbmw530i View Post
    Well one would think that a $42 BMW paper gasket would come with something .... pan bolts, the filter, or maybe even a Coke ! But nope, just the gasket.

    I did decide to buy 1 pan bolt in case i needed it and the dealer price for 1 (count em one) bolt was $9.80. SHAME on you dealers !!!

    The good news is the new gasket isn't leaking.
    Are you diddling the parts man's wife?

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Los Gatos CA
    Posts
    4,246
    My Cars
    1987 325is, e34, Z3, e39
    The ZF pan bolts used to be $5 each, which I thought was really pushing it for a basic fastener.

    ZF sells the factory service kit for around $100, which includes a new metal=cased filter, green fiber gasket, two o-ring plugs and a set of T27 pan bolts. It starts to look like a reasonable price if you have a few rounded-off bolts and want the new-style plugs with integral o-rings rather than old style with crush washers.

    The original gasket was thin green fiber. That type of gasket is excellent for longevity on flat, stable surfaces. It's not great for sealing with surfaces that have warped slightly (perhaps from previously over-torquing the fasteners) or have accumulated imperfections. Rubber gaskets are more forgiving of surfaces, but generally won't last as long. And while they are initially forgiving of varying torque, they tend fail with the gasket squeezing out or cracking where the excessive pressure. So always use a torque wrench.

    For either type there should be four smaller holes in the gasket, usually at the corners. These are for holding four corner bolts and pinning the gasket in position. You lift the pan-with-bolts to the transmission with one hand and spin the driver with the other. Once you know the trick, installing the pan with only two hands is far easier.

    The proper procedure is to gently snug the four corner bolts, install all of the other fasteners to snug and back off a half turn or so, wiggle the pan to get rid of any gasket bunching or binding, and tighten in the final pattern.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Beaverton, Oregon, USA
    Posts
    1,694
    My Cars
    2001 E39 540i A, 207 k
    Quote Originally Posted by djb2 View Post
    .
    ….
    For either type there should be four smaller holes in the gasket, usually at the corners. These are for holding four corner bolts and pinning the gasket in position.
    ….
    .
    Actually, all gaskets have those smaller holes -typically on the corners, but not always- -to be used as guides when installing the new gasket. First, you pin the bolts to those smaller holes to guide the installation, then you bolt all the other holes in a criss-cross pattern, and finally you tighten the guide holes and all the rest to specs.

    And yes, the thinner paper or fiber gaskets are the best (oem). Do not use any RTV on the tranny oil pan gasket.
    Last edited by Chedley; 04-16-2019 at 06:32 PM.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW
    Well I finally found out what the real BMW recommended torque on the tranny pan bolts is on my car.
    I obtained a copy of the specs from their service department computer.

    My 2002 530i transmission is a green tag ZF 5HP 19. For whatever reason if is referred to as a A5S 325Z
    in their tech manuals. The correct torque is 6 NM, not the 10 that everyone seemed to think. Not knowing
    that I used 10NM but fortunately nothing snapped so I guess I was lucky .... and after 2 days no leaks.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Milton, WV
    Posts
    1,286
    My Cars
    2002 BMW 530i Sport
    5HP-19 is ZF nomenclature for the transmission
    A5S-325Z is BMW nomenclature for the same transmission

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW
    Yes I'm familiar with the ZF transmissions. A few years ago I rebuilt the one in my '89 Jaguar which is a ZF 4HP-22. Everyone should
    rebuild an automatic tranny once in their life ..... BUT ONLY ONCE!

    However I didn't know that BMW used their own designation for the same transmissions, thanks.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Los Gatos CA
    Posts
    4,246
    My Cars
    1987 325is, e34, Z3, e39
    Quote Originally Posted by texasbmw530i View Post
    Well I finally found out what the real BMW recommended torque on the tranny pan bolts is on my car.
    I obtained a copy of the specs from their service department computer.

    My 2002 530i transmission is a green tag ZF 5HP 19. For whatever reason if is referred to as a A5S 325Z
    in their tech manuals. The correct torque is 6 NM, not the 10 that everyone seemed to think. Not knowing
    that I used 10NM but fortunately nothing snapped so I guess I was lucky .... and after 2 days no leaks.
    You can get that from various online sources, including newtis.info

    The confusion is because other transmissions, including most GM and a few larger ZF transmissions, use 10 Nm for the M6 oil pan bolts. Some GM transmissions (the 4L30 family) even use 12 Nm for M6 fasteners.

    Installing new seals in the ZF 5HP19 is quite easy compared to other transmissions. You can have transmission apart into drum assemblies in under an hour with only a half dozen hand tools. It only gets tricky when you change the clutch plates and want to accurately measure the free play.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    513
    My Cars
    E39 99 528iT
    ZF5HP19 = BMW A5S 325Z
    A - Automatic
    5S - 5 speed
    325 - designed max torque
    Z - ZF

    Edit: Torque is NM not LBFT
    Last edited by Aussie528iT; 04-21-2019 at 08:44 AM.
    RonR

    99 528iT M52TU 5HP19
    RHD Euro Spec

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Arlington Texas Tarrant
    Posts
    113
    My Cars
    2002 530i BMW
    ZF5HP19 = BMW A5S 325Z
    A - Automatic
    5S - 5 speed
    325 - designed max torque
    Z - ZF

    Thanks Aussie528iT, I've never seen this break down before. Very helpful.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Lancaster CA
    Posts
    5,051
    My Cars
    e34,e38,e39,e46,e70,e90
    To avoid leaks when you have large pans or covers to tighten down, do not torque until all the fasteners are in place and lightly tightened. This allows the cover to still move as you snug each fastener. After all are snug, then go around and torque. Some panels have required torque sequences to avoid leaks, such is the case in the M62 engines with the upper timing covers and valve covers.

    02 e39 540i Sport (Son), 01 DINAN 7 (Me), 12 e70 X5 x35i (Mrs), 95 e34 525i (Daughter 2), 01 e46 325Ci vert (Daughter 1)

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Norton Massachusetts
    Posts
    76
    My Cars
    2003 530i M-sport
    FWIW, this video from ZF says 10 NM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8jcRd4gyWc&t=244s

Similar Threads

  1. Leaking transmission pan gasket
    By 330CIAF in forum 1999 - 2006 (E46)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 10-29-2010, 08:09 AM
  2. New Automatic Transmission Pan Gasket
    By turkoej in forum Drivetrain & Transmission Parts
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-07-2010, 09:52 AM
  3. E39 E39 automatic transmission - low miles
    By chracing17 in forum Drivetrain & Transmission Parts
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-29-2009, 03:26 PM
  4. E39 Automatic Transmission
    By sirc1228 in forum 1988 - 1996 (E34)
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 10-15-2004, 02:43 PM
  5. Oil pan gasket leak
    By stanleycup10 in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-30-2004, 06:38 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •