Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-17-2010, 07:40 AM
sfcl's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Martinique, FWI
Posts: 196
sfcl is on a distinguished road
Replacing TCC solenoid, experience with GM5 transmission

I recently replaced my intermittently faulty TCC solenoid on my GM5L40E transmission (3.0I). This transmission has 121000 miles, never opened, never flushed, and I thought that it would be interesting to post here what I noticed while working on it.
I had the typical intermittent no reverse problem, not the one which occurs on ZF transmissions (broken reverse clutch drum), only the one caused by a faulty TCC solenoid. I picked up the information on the E46 forum (I posted the link here some times ago) and also in the Sonnax website: http://www.sonnax.com/tech-articles/TASC-TIP-02-09.pdf
In my case, I lost the reverse some times only when the engien was fully hot.

So I got a brand new TCC solenoid, pan gasket and bolts and a new filter from Pelican parts, then 5 liters of the original 8072B fluid to the local BMW dealer (they had no more than 5 liters and they sold it at 10 Euros (about 14 USD) the liter...).

After having drained the fluid and remove the pan, I was surprised to discover that the oil, although brown coloured, was not really dirty. the pan was perfectly clean except around the magnet. No metallic particles though, just a sort of light mud.

Removed the electrical connector to the TCC solenoid and first surprise, the connector clips broke in my hand without any force on them. Totally cooked by the heat and age.

Removed the clip holding the TCC solenoid and second surprise, the solenoid can't come out due to the transmission case!
So what to do without any good experience of dismantling such a transmission nor having a technical manual? After a deep look at the system, I finally decided to untighten the Torx screws holding the valve body (pictures below), just enough to drop the body a bit and get the solenoid out.

Third surprise, while watching to the solenoid in my hands, the plastic part (where the screen is located) broke. I know what you are thinking, that I'm a real brute, that I break all what I touch... Not at all , I didn't even put some force on it, once again it was cooked. Tried after to break the rest of the plastic part (by forcing on it this time) and all broke in small parts...

Refitting the new solenoid, tightening the valve body screws again, fitting the pan, new filter and gasket was no problem, and I refilled with fresh fluid (and a part of the old one as I didn't have enough new fluid) as described in this forum. I had to secure the solenoid connector (broken) with a small steel wire (seen on the last picture). Oh, and I flushed also the TCC solenoid and lock-up convertor bores with a sprayed new fluid due to notices in the Sonnax article (possibility of small particles in the circuit)... The tranny works very well, in fact just like before apart that I have the reverse ALL the time...

So, what to say about this already old (although working well) transmission?
Obviously it was surprinsingly not really dirty inside, no burnt smell, oil still in good condition apart the brown colour.
Obviously too, I was very surprised to notice that most of the internal plastic parts are really cooked? Just touching them a bit and they break... Something to do with heat and age of course but I think that (apart major problems to the gears, pumps or discs) it could be the main problem on these transmissions. Probably thet still work well along the years until one of these plastic fails completely and one of the connectors or one of the solenoid put some mess in the tranny.

Hope this will help.
Attached Images
   
__________________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
BMW X5 2001 3.0I
ALFA-ROMEO Mito Turbo-Jet
Many mythical italian brand Laverda motorbikes...

Last edited by sfcl; 04-17-2010 at 07:46 AM.
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 04-17-2010, 08:57 AM
JCL's Avatar
JCL JCL is offline
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 11,853
JCL will become famous soon enoughJCL will become famous soon enough
Good information, thanks for posting this.
__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver

2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-17-2010, 10:10 AM
jst2878's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The BIG Apple
Posts: 3,218
jst2878 is on a distinguished road
good job with posting the pics and the writeup. seems like an easy fix for the 3.0's out there
__________________
2001 X5 4.4i WHITE-Loaded like a baby's diaper SOLD
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-17-2010, 10:16 AM
cat97628's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bourbonnais IL
Posts: 58
cat97628 is on a distinguished road
this is what mine is in the shop for right now. Not a reverse issue but a slow to build pressure to go forward issue.
__________________


'08 E90 328i Sport '04 E53 3.0 '02 E46 325i Sport '91 E30 325ic M-Technic
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-17-2010, 12:15 PM
dkl's Avatar
dkl dkl is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 2,949
dkl is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by cat97628 View Post
this is what mine is in the shop for right now. Not a reverse issue but a slow to build pressure to go forward issue.
Are you doing the same TCC solenoid replacement? Please post updates when completed. I'm starting to run into the same issue (slow to build pressure to go forward), but only when it's cold and/or the car have been sitting for more than a couple of days. Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-17-2010, 12:45 PM
cat97628's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bourbonnais IL
Posts: 58
cat97628 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkl View Post
Are you doing the same TCC solenoid replacement? Please post updates when completed. I'm starting to run into the same issue (slow to build pressure to go forward), but only when it's cold and/or the car have been sitting for more than a couple of days. Thanks.
Yeah. I thought that they were going to update the trans software based on the research I had done but the service manager said the solenoid was causing the pressure in the trans to be relieved over night. I get the X back on Monday so Tuesday morning will be the day of truth. We have been dealing with the issue for almost the entire time we have owned the X 2 years now. I will be glad once it is running right.
__________________


'08 E90 328i Sport '04 E53 3.0 '02 E46 325i Sport '91 E30 325ic M-Technic
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-17-2010, 12:47 PM
wallyx5's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 931
wallyx5 is on a distinguished road
Thanks for the post. I am sure this is in my future some day.
__________________
_________________________________________________
2010 X5M /// R63 AMG...Wifey's 540HP Family Hualer

2001 X5 3.0i Sport 335,448 miles & counting...

SMG M3 Steering wheel
E46 Stainless Racing Headers
4.6is Exhaust
Turner Pulleys
Afe Intake
Brembo drilled rotors
PowerFlex Bushings

Hualingan
30mm H&R Spacers rear
20mm H&R Spacers front

Bavarian Autosport High-Performance Coils
Active Autowerke's Performance Software
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-17-2010, 01:32 PM
sfcl's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Martinique, FWI
Posts: 196
sfcl is on a distinguished road
Here are pictures of the solenoid, just after it broke in my hands. You can see the cracks on the 2nd picture, just waiting to break at any time...
Attached Images
  
__________________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
BMW X5 2001 3.0I
ALFA-ROMEO Mito Turbo-Jet
Many mythical italian brand Laverda motorbikes...
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-05-2011, 12:49 AM
amacman's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: glasgow,scotland
Posts: 1,462
amacman is on a distinguished road
adding this info to the party . complete rebuild info for the 3.0i transmission . file does not say fitted to X5 but essentially same transmission .

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht/Kuvat/au...ikko/5L40E.pdf
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-24-2012, 05:53 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Warsaw, IN
Posts: 136
bimmerboy12 is on a distinguished road
Hey All,
My 2001 x5 3.0i has been perfect for years. has 136,000 miles. sat outside in about 25 degrees for one day (first cold day of the year) and when i went to start it it was barely crawling at idle, then when I reved it it would barely move but RPM's would go up. I let it get up to normal operating temp and it was perfectly normal. Coincidentally, my guage cluster was completely unoperational as well. I drove home and put in the 45 degree garage and 4 hours later it was perfectly normal.
Im guessing this TCC solenoid is what is wrong with my X5, or at least I hope since it doesn't sound incredibly difficult to replace.
Your input with having some experience with this particular problem would be greatly appreciated.
One thing to note I changed the tranny fluid with Mobil 1 about 10,000 miles ago, no issues to start with, and no issues since then.
__________________

1988 325iC Project - RESTORATION FINISHED!!
Build Thread: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ht=325iC+paint
2001 X5 3.0 - 2001 M3Ci - 1988 325iC
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:49 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.