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Old 04-03-2021, 01:33 PM
330volts 330volts is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: San Francisco
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spokane2017 View Post
Finally jumped in and serviced the transmission
2012 X5 35d ZF 6 speed. 89k miles.

I bought the service kit with pan-filter, bridge seal and mechatronic seals and Pentosin ATF1 oil from ID Parts.

I have to admit, seeing this guy do it convinced me I could also in my garage.

https://youtu.be/dCvmdo1bLLw

The interesting part was his video has transfer case/rear trans cross-brace that is out of the way.

On my rig, the cross-brace is right over the rear pan bolts with no way to get to them (1" clearance above and no angled torx could fit). Being that I didn't have a lift and was working under jack-stands, I didn't see how nor want to remove the cross-brace.

So I drilled access holes through the brace for a long torx-40 to get through.

















Other than the access issue to the pan, the next was the mechatronic plug seal. It was a b!%ch to get out and the new one in. I could barely get my fingers up there. I used a loop of wire to pull the plug lock ring down because I couldn't reach it.

Filling the transmission under a running car was a new experience while waiting for the trans to come up to temperature and spill excess oil back out is the German way I guess to determine full (my 2013 VW JSW was the same way).

Overall, cheaper than dealer and very possible with some planning ahead for access issues.
What tool did you use to drill the holes in the cross-brace? I am running into the same issues of accessing the 3 bolts under the cross-brace. Thanks.
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