Anyone actually done DCT side cover gasket?

[VictorH]

Has anyone here done the DCT side cover gasket? It's the metal one on the passenger side of the car. I've changed my sump gasket and did the high pressure filter today too (did suction pump filter some time ago), but for the life of me I can't get at the top two Torx bolts.

I can get a Torx in a socket into the top middle bolt and could probably loosen it with a pair of big pliers but the top most one closest to the bell housing (the one you can't see), I don't know what to do. None of my tricks get the Torx into the bolt work and my hands are too big to get all the way up there (I can just barely feel the bolt top with my middle finger.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. I don't want to loosen anything before I know I can get those two out, the rest are no problem.

[EnVe46]

The shop I used was able to swap it out without dropping the trans but I have no insight. Maybe find someone with smaller hands? Do you swivel sockets small enough? O

[VictorH]

Well I guess I can see if my daughter will help, but it's a tough request.
I have plenty choices, Torx "Allen wrench", Torx socket both normal and a bit shorter, but I just can't find a way to get the tip into the bolt head. Spent the last 3 hours trying and just running out of ideas (and skin).

[VictorH]

Well it turns out, for me, the tool for the job was a set of 13 year old hands. Needed help to get the last 3 Torx out and put the last bolt back in. All buttoned up now, but man, those top bolts are really tough to reach. Happy camper now, will fill DCT fluid tomorrow and finish it up.

[roastbeef]

what if you used the torx head and put a tiny ratcheting closed-end ratchet on it? sounds redundant, but i wasn't sure how to word it....

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

what if you used the torx head and put a tiny ratcheting closed-end ratchet on it? sounds redundant, but i wasn't sure how to word it....

Tried that but when you can't see a thing it's only by luck that you might get the Torx into the bolt head. I have a ratchet that holds Torx bits so it's not very wide but it wasn't wide enough to clear the side of the cover. To loosen the top bolts on two of them I had to have my daughter place a Torx socket into the bolt head and then grab the socket by the side with a pair of big Channel Lock pliers and loosen it (they weren't tight at all), then could unscrew by hand (if your hands are small enough).

[deansbimmer]

I do them with the trans in the car. You have to drop the rear trans mount and lower it as much as possible but it is very doable with small tools and/or small hands.

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

I do them with the trans in the car. You have to drop the rear trans mount and lower it as much as possible but it is very doable with small tools and/or small hands.

That's a trick I didn't know, I left the trans-mount alone, I bet that would help a lot. Hopefully, the next person can use that tip.

[rantarM3]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

I do them with the trans in the car. You have to drop the rear trans mount and lower it as much as possible but it is very doable with small tools and/or small hands.

Would you be kind enough to give me some insight as to what tools you'd suggest to do this? I'm planning on replacing the lower pan with an aluminum one (Slon-Workshop) and also the side gasket with an SSP Viton while I'm at it. I do not (and am not equipped) to remove the whole transmission but I can lower it a bit.

I was thinking a mini ratchet for bits/low-profile hex bit wratchet might work but have no idea as I've never tackled this job before.

Thanks!

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by VictorH

Well it turns out, for me, the tool for the job was a set of 13 year old hands. Needed help to get the last 3 Torx out and put the last bolt back in. All buttoned up now, but man, those top bolts are really tough to reach. Happy camper now, will fill DCT fluid tomorrow and finish it up.

I did my own header swap on an s50/e36m back in '06. for the life of me I could not install two bolts on the new aftermarket headers. my 10 year old son layed on top of my motor and reached them from the top with his tiny hobbit hands. best car picture i've ever taken and best car memory to date for me.

[Kmad86]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

I do them with the trans in the car. You have to drop the rear trans mount and lower it as much as possible but it is very doable with small tools and/or small hands.

What tools do you use? I’d like to add anything special/small to the collection and see if I can’t tackle this in the next few weeks.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by Kmad86

What tools do you use? I’d like to add anything special/small to the collection and see if I can’t tackle this in the next few weeks.

Regular hand tools. 1/4" drive ratchet and torx. Nothing any mechanic wouldn't already have in their toolbox.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Patrón

I did my own header swap on an s50/e36m back in '06. for the life of me I could not install two bolts on the new aftermarket headers. my 10 year old son layed on top of my motor and reached them from the top with his tiny hobbit hands. best car picture i've ever taken and best car memory to date for me.

that's an awesome story

[aus]

Originally Posted by Patrón

I did my own header swap on an s50/e36m back in '06. for the life of me I could not install two bolts on the new aftermarket headers. my 10 year old son layed on top of my motor and reached them from the top with his tiny hobbit hands. best car picture i've ever taken and best car memory to date for me.

Pretty sure Hobbits have big chunky hands to go with those big chunky feet in all the Lord of the Ring movies.

You have the pic to upload?
.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by aus

Pretty sure Hobbits have big chunky hands to go with those big chunky feet in all the Lord of the Ring movies.

You have the pic to upload?
.

I posted it on bimmerforums and e36-tech , i'll have to dig and search but they're on there. he's holding the bolts in his little booger pickers. now he's 20 years old, into subarus and vaping.