DCT leaking 3rd time.

[sjk9671]

Well my car is back at the dealer for a transmission oil leak. This is the third time and now I'm worried about my clutch pack. The car is CPO and my SA is telling me that even if I have problems with the tranny out of warranty, that BMW will cover it since they have attempted to fix the leaks 3 times.

Not sure how much I believe that. I'm gonna try and get it in writing. Anyone been successful in just getting them to replace the DCT? If so, what were the magic words? I can usually tell when it's leaking as it starts shifting weird.

This is my first non manual gearbox. When I eventually upgrade to the 2 series I will deff go back to 6MT.

[elzorro4]

how did you realize you had a leak? is there any light/sign that shows up on the car?

[ignote]

Originally Posted by elzorro4

how did you realize you had a leak? is there any light/sign that shows up on the car?

You should crawl under the car and look at the transmission pan. By the time it leaks enough to show on the ground, you may be in trouble. Search the forum for more info on DCT leaks.

[Gangplank]

Interesting... First I've heard about it.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Interesting... First I've heard about it.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=890006

[Gangplank]

Glad I opted for the extended warranty.

[sjk9671]

Originally Posted by elzorro4

how did you realize you had a leak? is there any light/sign that shows up on the car?

Just what other members stated. I was under the car doing an oil change and noticed the oil on the body pan. The first time I discovered the leak was when I brought the car in complaining about a clutch smell after I would park the car.

I would get home, park and when getting stuff out of the trunk the car stunck like clutch / brakes. Turns out it was the tranny oil leaking and coming in contact with the exhaust.

I can also tell by the shifting. 95% of the time I shift manually. I just never liked the way the car shifts in "D". I would notice that the shifting just felt "off". Sometimes lethargic, sometimes a little stutter.

Now that it has leaked a few times I an hypersensitive to it.

[Yeineken]

Out of curiosity. How hard are you on the car? Do you use launch control a lot?

[sjk9671]

Originally Posted by Yeineken

Out of curiosity. How hard are you on the car? Do you use launch control a lot?

I actually have never used launch control. I feel that is very bad for the transmission.

I would say I rarely go over 50% throttle. In this car, you just don't need to.

Over all I would say I drive spirited with maybe once a month or so I really I take it close to WOT, only really rip it onto a freeway or something.

[Yeineken]

Seems like the same driving habits as me. Yet I have no issues. I've even taken the belly pan off to replace both filters 20k miles ago and used the same original seal. I cleaned it spotless using carb cleaner to ensure it wouldn't leak.

So I wonder if it's a bad seal with a defect that is causing the leak. Have the replaced that?

Also I know of one member that had his replaced under warranty due to hard clunking and vibrations. I doubt they will replace the unit due to a leak.

[e36addict]

Your driving habits I don't really think are related to trans leaks... I beat the hell out of my car and still had no leaks from the DCT at 95k. My mother's car on the other hand got a new trans connector seal below 50k for leaks. I've replaced tons of transmission pans and connector seals on low-mileage DCT cars.

What all has the dealer replaced? I'd hope that they know that the pan is hardly ever (probably never) the cause. Fluid leaks down the side of the case from the "Mechatronic" sleeve, or so they call it. It's the electrical connection at the top of the trans that goes into the case. There's a simple little o-ring around it that fails and leaks terribly. They have to remove the trans to install it, and if done wrong, it will continue to leak.

[sjk9671]

So they replaced a "main seal" the first time, then the second time they said it was leaking from a "side seal". Now it's the pan. If it leaks again I will start working with BMW NA to push for a replacement.

I shouldn't have to take it in once every 2 months to have the transmission sealed and topped off . lol

[sjk9671]

Just picked up the car, as I pulled into my garage I got an orange/yellow exclamation point. Scanned it with ODBII - no faults.

Checked all the lights - good.

ugh need more info !!!

[sometorque]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Interesting... First I've heard about it.

It's pretty well-documented, especially with the e90 m3 guys. The theory circulating around is that since the pan and trans are made from two different metals that expand and contract at different rates based on heat cycles, causing the gaskets to eventually let go (no expert on this, just regurgitating what I've read online).

I had the pan gasket and mechatronic gasket replaced about 15k miles ago myself and there's a few others on here that have had it done as well. 3 times however has to be some sort of record.

[Gangplank]

Interesting. Same trans in quite a few cars. Wonder if it's affecting all models.

Part 28007585538 was found on the following vehicles:
1' E88   (09/2009 — 10/2013)
1' E82   (09/2009 — 10/2013)
3' E92   (11/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E92 LCI   (11/2008 — 06/2013)
3' E93   (10/2005 — 02/2010)
3' E93 LCI   (11/2008 — 10/2013)
Z4 E89   (01/2008 — 03/2016)

[sjk9671]

Stopped in at the dealer the other day to have the random "!" checked. Said it was a parking lock fault code. They cleared it and so far so good.

The first two times I had the car in I don't think it was leaking from the pan seal. So far they tell me it has been 3 leaks in the 3 separate places.

I will say the car is back to shifting how it should, for now.

[sjk9671]

So a quick update, saw some oil on the plastic and decided to clean it up just in case it was some leftover from last repair that they forgot to clean.

I was having trouble cleaning it, so I took off the plastic under the transmission to clean it. I was surprised there was quite a bit of oil on there. I cleaned to crap out of it and I did notice that the bolts on the side of the transmission had oil on them so I cleaned all that as well.

When I we re-installing the plastic I noticed the bolts already had oil on them again and a large "squirt" of oil hit the plastic as I was finishing up. I called my SA and it's going back in on Wed.

I'm getting really fed up with this transmission. Thinking if I can use this a leverage for a good deal on a 240 lease.......

[Dilmorecg]

Mine has already been in twice for leaking DCT pan seal. Luckily I got an aftermarket warranty...they covered it the first time...then BMW the 2nd since it was less than a year since they fixed it the 1st time. After your story I am going to keep a closer eye on it now.

[elzorro4]

Originally Posted by ignote

You should crawl under the car and look at the transmission pan. By the time it leaks enough to show on the ground, you may be in trouble. Search the forum for more info on DCT leaks.

It does not shows up at the computer? No warning sign?

[sjk9671]

Originally Posted by elzorro4

It does not shows up at the computer? No warning sign?

Correct, it does not.

[383backinblack]

If these are under warranty, no brainer having a dealer fix them. But, how difficult is it to change the gaskets/seals? Does it require pulling the the trans to do it?

[sjk9671]

Originally Posted by 383backinblack

If these are under warranty, no brainer having a dealer fix them. But, how difficult is it to change the gaskets/seals? Does it require pulling the the trans to do it?

Yes, they have pulled the trans 4 times already.