Look familiar?

FL 3.2L · 10-27-2007, 10:25 AM

http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/3-s...25i-54254.html
Scroll about midway down to the pictures. This is the auto tranny on my wife's 325i. Earlier BMWs actually used the 4L-30E. This is a similar GM design, including no dipstick and 2 plugs. You can't just slide under this vehicle, though. Way too low. Next time it goes up on jackstands all around.

Ramblin Fever · 10-27-2007, 04:44 PM

IS that the same exact tranny?? What ATF fluid are you using in it?

While we're on the subject, what small tranny pan gasket did you use? Seems my little transmission pan gasket isn't holding a good seal.

pharm_rodeo · 10-27-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

IS that the same exact tranny?? What ATF fluid are you using in it?

While we're on the subject, what small tranny pan gasket did you use? Seems my little transmission pan gasket isn't holding a good seal.

Here are the remains of my adaptor assembly gasket (small tranny pan). I changed it out Friday.

Gizmo42 · 10-27-2007, 06:41 PM

As I understand it is the same transmisson with the possible exception of some internal parts (some a bit beefier for the isuzus) and maybe the output is a bit different.

FL 3.2L · 10-27-2007, 07:29 PM

I can't exactly remember where I got that front gasket, but I know it was from an online supplier. It's not as readily available as the larger gasket.

This tranny is a 5 speed steptronic. I think the 4L-30E was used in the E36s.

There is no dipstick, there is a drainplug in the pan, and the fill plug is low on the side of the tranny housing. You fill with the engine warm and in neutral until it drips out. I used the VW/Audi equivalent of the Esso fluid required for this tranny. It is $15 a litre, and you need 4 litres. Some other lubricant manufacturers claim their fluid works and guarantee it, but I'll stick with this for now.

So today my wife calls me on my cell phone and tells me the car won't go. Something about the transmission. She tells me she's 45 mins from home. She lets me swear loudly at the soccer field where I'm watching my son play before telling me she's kidding. This is wrong!

FL 3.2L · 10-27-2007, 07:31 PM

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/re...placement.html
I think I got the gasket here...

FL 3.2L · 10-27-2007, 07:35 PM

pharm: How did your fluid look?

trooperbc · 10-28-2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL 3.2L

So today my wife calls me on my cell phone and tells me the car won't go. Something about the transmission. She tells me she's 45 mins from home. She lets me swear loudly at the soccer field where I'm watching my son play before telling me she's kidding. This is wrong!

LOL

so very wrong

so very funny.

//bc

Ramblin Fever · 10-28-2007, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL 3.2L

So today my wife calls me on my cell phone and tells me the car won't go. Something about the transmission. She tells me she's 45 mins from home. She lets me swear loudly at the soccer field where I'm watching my son play before telling me she's kidding. This is wrong!

pharm_rodeo · 10-28-2007, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL 3.2L

pharm: How did your fluid look?

It looked good, but I had a bad feeling when I saw 2 of the bolts halfway out. When I had the tranny rebuilt last year I asked them to drop both pans, but after opening up the smaller one I knew they didn't. The pan had some gray sludge and bits of the gasket sitting at the bottom. Also, the gasket was brittle and stiff as a board. I snapped parts of it off like a breadstick. The gasket is actually cardboard with some sort of rubber coating. If the rebuilder dropped the pan, he reused the original one. There is no way that gasket would have gotten that brittle in less than a year.

RF, that price of that gasket is around what I paid from a local dealer, but mine was black. Also, I would slowly retorque the bolts over several days as the gasket heats up and creates a seal.

BTW, I also replaced the two cooler hoses. They were leaking and starting to split. Looked original. Also, did a partial fluid swap since I've put about 12,000 miles on the rebuild.

FL 3.2L · 10-28-2007, 09:53 AM

The torque for tranny pan bolts is pretty low. I have overtightened the bolts and split the gasket. Sucks to do it twice. The Haynes sas the torque is 96 in-lbs. Let me say that again... 96 INCH-lbs.

Ramblin Fever · 10-28-2007, 09:56 AM

Yeah, I had torqued the bolts on the big pan pretty tight the first time and had major ATF leak.

pharm_rodeo · 10-28-2007, 11:09 AM

Yeah the manual has it listed as 96 in-lb. I actually under torqued mine a bit. I just don't trust my wrench.

FL 3.2L · 11-11-2007, 11:18 AM

For those with the 4L-30E, this is a pretty good DIY for our trannies, even though it is for the BMW E36 series.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...Fluid_Auto.htm
I didn't fill my adapter case pan before bolting it up. Ooops!

pharm_rodeo · 11-11-2007, 11:34 AM

I don't think it's necessary to fill the small pan with fluid. Well, maybe half way. I'm assuming the fluid necessary to fill it would make its way over during operation.

I tried filling it to the top and it is impossible not to lose half the fluid. Also, when the fluid spills over it gets in b/w the gasket and the pan and doesnt seal properly. IMO, I think that's why I MIGHT have to do mine over again. Gaskets need a nice dry surface to bond. BTW, I should have used loctite..lol.

Nice find btw! It should help a lot of people.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD