Service Advisories - autobox leak? new guy :xmastongue:

[GermanWhip]

Hello all, this is my first post 

I've recently purchased a 54 plate facelift X5 3.0d sport with 86k miles

All seems well but there is a fair few things that I need to sort out, the service wasn't due yet but I decided to have it done anyway. I went to a BMW specialist and had a section 2 done today.

Having carried out the service, there is a rather long list of advisories. Most of them are small things, but 2 have me slightly worried:

1) AUTOMATIC GEARBOX LEAKING FLUID
2) EXHAUST GAS LEAKING FROM MANIFOLD/TURBO AREA

I can't say I've noticed any leaks at all on the ground, is this common? is it something I can get underneath to locate?

The exhaust gas leak.. I inquired about this and they said they need to strip it down to find it. As it could be a simple gasket or a cracked manifold. Is that correct? It seems inconsistent to what I've been reading online.. you should be able to see if the manifold is cracked without taking it off according to what I've read?

Any advice is massively appreciated, I'm not very mechanically minded so be easy  )

[X5Sport]

Neither are common, but there have been a number of people on here who have had cracked gaskets and changed them for higher quality cast ones.

From where is the gearbox leaking?  It might be really simple like a weeping drain plug or bottom cover gasket, perhaps after an oil/filter change?

Richard

[GermanWhip]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Neither are common, but there have been a number of people on here who have had cracked gaskets and changed them for higher quality cast ones.

From where is the gearbox leaking?  It might be really simple like a weeping drain plug or bottom cover gasket, perhaps after an oil/filter change?

Richard
[/quote]

Thanks, I'll call them tomorrow and ask about the leak

[Raj]

My gearbox had a very minor/slight leak from the electrical connector at the back of the box. Wasn't major and didn't leave and drops of oil on the floor ever but I decided to just get a full oil service done and with that all gaskets, etc are changed. It's piece of mind too.

But as Rich has said you really need to know where it is leaking.

As for the manifold, etc, I have seen/heard of this a few times.

Here is a previous thread showing something 'possibly' similar.

[GermanWhip]

Thanks for the information

I've just spoken to the garage and he said the gearbox leak is from the electrical connector. He said there was quite alot of oil but the gearbox is sealed for life? I asked how severe this is and he said it would probably be fine until the next service but you never know. I'd rather get it done (awaiting a price  :noexpression: ) any idea on a rough price for this job so I can compare?

With the exhaust leak they said either manifold or turbo but it's impossible to tell without removing the exhaust system  :'( so they'd have to strip it all down before pricing for the cost of labor, then price up the actual problem.

[Smeeagain]

Please read all the posts about the pros and cons of changing the oil in a gearbox of your age before proceeding. If it is leaking then on balance probably better to get it down as the box obviously needs the full amount of oil, but check out the consequences first ......

[Raj]

[quote="GermanWhip"]
Thanks for the information

I've just spoken to the garage and he said the gearbox leak is from the electrical connector. He said there was quite alot of oil but the gearbox is sealed for life? I asked how severe this is and he said it would probably be fine until the next service but you never know. I'd rather get it done (awaiting a price  :noexpression: ) any idea on a rough price for this job so I can compare?

With the exhaust leak they said either manifold or turbo but it's impossible to tell without removing the exhaust system  :'( so they'd have to strip it all down before pricing for the cost of labor, then price up the actual problem.
[/quote]

It's better to get the oil change done and the seals replaced to rectify the leak as soon as. Mine was at 120k and got it done and it's fine. Oil is oil and needs changing especially if it's leaking anyway.

Personally think if your gearbox is on the way out then the oil change will accelerate it but the oil change won't cause a failure if it's ok at present.

I did ask Herr Sagert at ZF themselves about all this and he was quite clear that just an oil change won't cause an issue and they should know is my thinking.

Cost me £450 all in including diff and transfer box.

[GermanWhip]

Thanks all, I have been reading up on the pros and cons but I feel like I'm in a pickle here.

They said there was quite a bit of oil (although I've never seen any drips) and it's 100% gearbox oil according to them. SO my thoughts are. OK, QUICK change the seal and top up the oil? or change the oil... whatever

But then he tells me it might be OK till the next service? so my heads spinning. Surely if it's leaking it should be done right away!? ahhhhh

[JimmySpeed]

The old 'gearbox oil change killed my box' scenario is a common one but it's almost always another way of saying 'my box was giving me problems, so i had the oil changed, then my box died'. The real issue being that most people only think of changing the oil when there is already an issue.

Also, e53 boxes are generally ready to eat themselves after 100k and there are so many failures on cars of all conditions that to blame it on the oil change is a bit short sighted.

By the way, I changed the oil in my 4.6is box an it died around 3 months later. But the reason I changed the oil was that the box was acting up...

[X5Sport]

@mobilejo, that's a very philosophical approach - and most likely the right one.

Changing the oil is amongst the first things to try - along with clearing the adaptions and perhaps a software patch - but as you say, if it is already playing up then cleaning the crud out with an oil change is probably just advancing the inevitable by a few weeks.

The E70 does not seem to suffer as badly as the E53 did, but then it has the 2nd generation ZF 6sp box, though finding what was changed has (for me) been fruitless.  Whatever was 'weak' in the 1st gen variant appears to have been sorted, but time will tell.

Richard

[JimmySpeed]

Hopefully! I'm not trying to go through all that again!

Sent from my 20246 using Tapatalk

[GermanWhip]

Thanks all, well the gearbox seems fine. Nice smooth changes, all works as it should. I wasn't even due a service either but wanted it done.

They've quoted £150 to do the oil on the box which will solve the leak. Seems reasonable but I'm not worried after what I've read? but don't see what other option I have if it's leaking..?

[JimmySpeed]

[quote="GermanWhip"]
Thanks all, well the gearbox seems fine. Nice smooth changes, all works as it should. I wasn't even due a service either but wanted it done.

They've quoted £150 to do the oil on the box which will solve the leak. Seems reasonable but I'm not worried after what I've read? but don't see what other option I have if it's leaking..?
[/quote]

dont worry - a box in good condition will not suddenly pop its cogs because of an oil change. Do it now before its too late is what i say

[Smeeagain]

[quote="mobilejo"]
[quote="GermanWhip"]
Thanks all, well the gearbox seems fine. Nice smooth changes, all works as it should. I wasn't even due a service either but wanted it done.

They've quoted £150 to do the oil on the box which will solve the leak. Seems reasonable but I'm not worried after what I've read? but don't see what other option I have if it's leaking..?
[/quote]

dont worry - a box in good condition will not suddenly pop its cogs because of an oil change. Do it now before its too late is what i say
[/quote]

Yes but ..... with the small caveat that a box that appears to be in good condition isnt necessarily so. I have seen them just pack up, badaboom out of nowhere. So you take the box "in good condition" you take out all the old oil which 'can' but not necessarily 'will' flush pout all the crap between everything and taking up the tolerances - it doesn't then go boom overnight but it can do so in a matter of weeks or a couple of months. But I'm not saying it definitely will.

All Im saying is , be prepared for the worst - can you afford a gearbox rebuild circa £1600 or more?

I haven't changed mine but if I had a leak then I probably would do so as you will at some point leak enough not to have enough oil in there and then you will definitely have a problem.

It has to be your own individual call and don't let me or others with the opposite view to me sway you - read the posts, weigh up the pros and cons for your own personal situation and then take the plunge one way or the other.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

Smee

[GermanWhip]

Well to be honest I'm a bit annoyed as I spent 9k on the car as the mileage is pretty low. And already faced with bills and a potential box blowing up after an oil change, eh.. not cool really. New I should of spent more and got the range sport  :'(

I need the leak fixed, if there is a way to do it without changing the oil I'm all ears.. I feel like I have no choice but to change the oil