I've been looking into this (again!) since it bugs me and it seems that many suppliers indicate that the 6HP26 uses the part WITH the additional tabs: -

https://i.ibb.co/Wy3zRMg/Bridge-Seal.jpg

https://zftranspart.mypinnaclecart.c...product&id=178

:dunno:

Thanks for digging up that info, Wayne. Odd that they say the one with the tab will fit when it clearly doesn't.

Congrats on the 270k km milestone :thumbup:

It seems that BMW part number for this part is different before/after 9/2005. Most likely many suppliers only provide the newer version thinking it fits all 6HP26 models. If you have pre 9/2005 version get that seal from BMW.

Even dedicated ZF part suppliers give the reference for ZF 0501215718 seal for both BMW versions: older 24347588727 and newer 24347571211.

Good information, thanks. Hopefully, anyone here with a pre-9/2005 N62 who's replacing this part will see this thread!

I'm glad my friend was able to diagnose and fix the issue while we were repairing my transmission.

Took a couple orders to get the correct seals when I was ordering them as well from FCP. Don't remember if it was when I did the 6hp19 in the E61, the 6hp28 in the E70, or the 6hp26 in the E53. :D So many ZF trans vehicles currently in the driveway (5 :wow:).

Just to add to this thread (18 months later!), I just found this in some ZF documentation. :rolleyes:

https://i.ibb.co/8D7Pkkrk/Wrong-size.jpg

I wish I'd seen this earlier - but nothing I can do about it now (don't have the old seal anymore and no way am I opening up the trans to measure the "new" one!). :confused:

Interesting find, Wayne, thanks for posting. Other than removing the two unneeded (and interfering) additions on mine, it appeared identical to the original. No problems since the replacement :thumbup:

Yeah, same same. I double checked it at the time and I'm certain that the tabs were the only difference. I would not have put it in the transmission otherwise..

But a 1mm difference is very small...! ;)

I also stumbled across these two images on a BMW parts site today. The site listed TWO bridge seals for the ZF 6HP26, didn't mention any differences, although they referenced the two different part numbers that Clavurion mentioned earlier in this thread. But the two images made me chuckle...

The first bridge seal option image (the newer BMW # ...211): -

https://v1vehicleparts.co.nz/cdn/sho...71211_800x.jpg

And the second bridge seal option (the older BMW # ...727): -

https://v1vehicleparts.co.nz/cdn/sho...88727_800x.jpg

Looks somewhat familair...! :rofl:

Yup! I guess better to have the extra features for those that need them, but who knows if those two are different :dunno:

I'm staggered they sell a part that is so obviously "modified". :rolleyes:

FWIW, I think you can remove the rubber seal sections from the hard plastic sections and re-use the hard plastic section (with the new rubber seals)

But now I'm over-thinking this! :rofl: