I will check that even though the mechanic that looked at it previously seems to think that it is the front seal.

What did it cost you to get your valve cover gaskets fixed? How many labor hours and where did you get it done? Sounds like that might be less expensive of a problem :)

Just got mine changed last week. The total cost was $450 at an independent garage but for me it was covered under the extended warranty.

I'll make sure to check this then, I assume this one would not be covered under BMWNA good will program. $450 isn't too hard to swallow anyway.

Anyone have a pic that i can refernce so I know where to look for the valve cover gaskets. Don't these sit on the top of the engine on the lower plenum below the upper plenum? So if it's leaking it is leaking down the side and dribblingdown the torque converted housing?

Is there anyway to determine from the fluid? I would think the used oil would be really dark and slicker than the light grey trans fluid.

Regarding R&R, yes this is to drop the transmission so that the torque converter can be accessed/removed to expose the seal on the transmission's input shaft that the torque converter drives.

Regarding the $1,300+, this is my actual labor & parts invoiced by dealership BMW of Houston North (Texas) that BMW USA warrantied.

Regarding the warranty, I dealt directly with the dealership which contacted BMW USA. BMW USA had their field rep/tech look at my transmission when it was dropped. I was there to discuss the matter with the BMW rep/tech who advised he would submit the matter to BMW USA to determine if it would be warrantied. The dealership held off invoicing me for about two weeks until BMW USA got back with them approving warranty of the work. End result is they fixed the leak at absolutely no cost to me. I wrote a note of praise to them which you'll find at:http://www.xoutpost.com/dealer-info/1...=houston+north

Cool, sounds like you were well taken care of. Have you had any issues since? When did you have the truck in for service? I was 99% positive it is the torque converter seal until Hal88 mentioned the valve cover gaskets.

I've had no issues since the repair was done April of 2005 at 64,000 miles (I currently have 89,500 miles on the vehicle).

From your photos and now your statement that the fluid is NOT red I'm 100% sure it's the torque converter radial seal. Engine oil would be relatively thick and usually blackish unless recently changed. The only red fluid in the engine compartment is in the power steering system which uses ATF Dexron that is dyed red.

Yea, I don't know why I thought it was red I must have been high. All signs point to the torque converter seal. So they honored your warranty 2 years after it ended, mine has been over for like 5 years. We'll see I hope BMWNA can help me out.

:rofl: I'm sorry man, I don't mean to make it more confusing, but when I saw your pics it was like I was looking at my own truck, I took it to an indy mech and they came to the conclusion that it was the torque converter seal, but the leak wasn't that bad, he suggested that I add some Lucas oil treatment to make the seals swell and therefore seal the leak, well that didn't work, then I met this guy who is a mech. that works at a Bmw dealer and does work on the side at his house, like I mentioned before he put it on the lift and he went right to the valve covers, he told me that this is a common problem with the V8's (I can't remember if you have a v8 or an I6) anyway, that was the problem......just something to look for, valve cover gaskets are a lot cheaper than the main seal. Good luck.

It is the 4.4 V8. I will examine the fluid some more and get under the truck again to see if i can see valve covers. Where do you add this Lucas oil treatment stuff? You think this is worth trying? Sounds like a bandaid to me.

I added the Lucas treatment right in the eng. where you add the oil, but it didn't do anything, so I will just skip that I were you, don't forget the two crankvent hoses , those two also leak oil down there.