All in - pulling the 4.6 engine and trans to fix oil leaks once and for all

[stunt]

Thanks Phil.

I don't think I have provided a chronological account of my transmission issues in this thread, so let me do that now.

• 2/2013 133k Purchased X5
• 8/2013 134k Dropped transmission pan and changed the filter and did oil change (ZF Lifeguard)
• 10/2013 136k Getting "TRANS FAILSAFE PROG" when starting cold. No issues when starting warm but did notice rough 2-1 shift
• 12/2013 138k Checked fluid level and it was 1 quart low. I topped it off, but still getting "TRANS FAILSAFE PROG" when cold
• 1/2014 138k Getting "TRANS FAILSAFE PROG" now also when hot
• 3/2014 138k I drained the transmission oil and it was black and smelly

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by RRPhil

We need to be careful not to tar with the same brush the 5HP24 and the 6HP26 transmissions here.

Certainly the 6-speed transmission has an increasing number of issues relating to the performance/durability of the Mechatronic unit EDS solenoids (particularly 3-4 shift problems)



Solenoid issues are, on the other hand, very rare for the 5HP24. They certainly don’t need replacing as a matter of routine (assuming the transmission was performing fine before removal?)



Phil

Right, I forgot I have the 6 speed. Yea my solenoids caused me some grief, but wasn't too bad of an expense. My reverse got screwed up bad when hot. I also have a feeling that I caused this when I dropped the filter and changed the fluid. I kept it at Lifeguard ZF6, I found that pink gasket material from the filter all over the solenoids. When I removed the filter first time, it was stuck in there quite horrifically. The seal on it tore, and most of it stayed up in the hole. I thought I cleaned most if it out, but It seems while I was tearing into it, I must have sent a bunch into the trans. But I did have that 2-1 lurch prior to all this. I haven't noticed in in recent memory at all.

[TriX5]

Hmmm, that is a novel way to get an oil change done......

Oh and I did my own tranny couple of years ago. Quite doable. Your skills and tools seem to be well up to the. task

[stunt]

Rather than tear more stuff apart and make more of a mess, I decided to clean up a little this afternoon after work.

A quick broom and mopping of the floor helped a lot.



Also consolidated and organized all the front end and engine accesories



And I got the L51 packaged up and ready to ship out tomorrow for rebuilding.

[kesslerbmw]

Oh come on, you're this deep... why not spend a little more!

This is the same mentality I've been in for over a month. I'm a do it yourself'er down except to rebuilding an auto trans (but I may be up to it with the info provided here) and I recently bought a 4.4 for my wife and I've paid a really good indy shop to replace every seal on the motor, timing chain guides, valley pan etc etc etc. Every time I call him I say... oh, what the hell, you're in there. lol

If it wasn't for my current work situation and weather I'd be doing it all myself, and enjoying it, but whew its breaking my wallet, and he's giving me a hell of a deal.

I've got an e34 I've had a long time, and shortly after buying it, I had every thing out of the car except for the main harness, doors, sunroof cassette, and front and rear subframes. Including doing an Auto to Manual trans swap, and swapping every other thing to the way I wanted. Even the heater core and some of the blend door/boxes. I love the projects as they give you real peace of mind that things are right, and that you're not afraid when they break way down the road. I really appreciate your documentation, I'm terrible with that. Can't thank you enough for quality pictures.

[kesslerbmw]

Oh come on, you're this deep... why not spend a little more!

This is the same mentality I've been in for over a month. I'm a do it yourself'er down except to rebuilding an auto trans (but I may be up to it with the info provided here) and I recently bought a 4.4 for my wife and I've paid a really good indy shop to replace every seal on the motor, timing chain guides, valley pan etc etc etc. Every time I call him I say... oh, what the hell, you're in there. lol

If it wasn't for my current work situation and weather I'd be doing it all myself, and enjoying it, but whew its breaking my wallet, and he's giving me a hell of a deal.

I've got an e34 I've had a long time, and shortly after buying it, I had every thing out of the car except for the main harness, doors, sunroof cassette, and front and rear subframes. Including doing an Auto to Manual trans swap, and swapping every other thing to the way I wanted. Even the heater core and some of the blend door/boxes. I love the projects as they give you real peace of mind that things are right, and that you're not afraid when they break way down the road. I really appreciate your documentation, I'm terrible with that. Can't thank you enough for quality pictures.

[BigBlack48is]

Stunt.... I would just rebuild it since you already have it out.

No special tools are needed, just some room for the rebuild and make sure you keep everything CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!! ( JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource )

there are links @ the bottom with full howto's

I was fully planning on rebuilding mine, but I got lucky... I changed the filter / fluid at 100k miles and it has been treating me very good since! I plan on doing it again at 150k

[stunt]

Thanks for that link bigblack! I hadn't come across that one before.

I do intend to rebuilt the transmission. Just shipped off the converter this morning and will begin tearing the transmission down this weekend hopefully.

[Ricky Bobby]

This is going to be one hell of a bulletproof 4.6iS when finished stunt.

I hope you are either keeping it or to be honest the right buyer would definitely pay good money for the piece of mind.

[BigBlack48is]

Now if you want bullet proof.... go with this!

Level 10 PTS Bmw Automatic Bulletproof Rebuilding Kit