BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Mechanical Maintenance: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing
 
BPM
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-19-2020, 03:46 PM   #1
328inOR
Private
328inOR's Avatar
17
Rep
54
Posts

Drives: 2011 E90 M3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Clackamas, OR

iTrader: (0)

DCT is angry

Well, I may be effed!

I have a 2011 E90 DCT and honestly drive it like a grandma. I'm simply growing older and have kids, so I no longer cruise to work doing 110 in the emergency lane.

The other day, I got a wild hair to burn some rubber. I pulled over in a vacant industrial area, stopped, put it in manual mode and 1st gear and hammered on the gas....no tire spin, but it did accelerate fast until I got to 5k rpm. I then experienced what felt like it popping out of gear and stopped. Trans light came up on the dash so I shifted to neutral, then back to first and gently drove off. dash light went off and all seemed normal.

about a mile down the road while doing about 30mph I floored it and it seems normal for a few seconds, but then it cut power and the trans temp light came on.

I have driven it once since and all seems fine.

Any idea wtf is going on? clutch pack slipping? trans toast?
__________________
2011.75 E90 ZCP DCT Melbourne red
2004 X3 2.5
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2020, 04:46 PM   #2
SYT_Shadow
///M Powered for Life
SYT_Shadow's Avatar
11421
Rep
10,296
Posts

Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Greenwich, CT

iTrader: (2)

These trans are almost indestructible. I would not be worried about it being dead.

What code does the car throw? Maybe you have the typical DCT leak that has leaked enough to where there isn't enough fluid in there anymore
Appreciate 0
      05-19-2020, 04:48 PM   #3
rcracin
Major
1238
Rep
1,285
Posts

Drives: M3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NYC

iTrader: (3)

Yup, low fluid is the usual culprit due to a weeping pan.
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2020, 05:27 PM   #4
328inOR
Private
328inOR's Avatar
17
Rep
54
Posts

Drives: 2011 E90 M3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Clackamas, OR

iTrader: (0)

I was honestly hoping that wouldn't be the case. This tranny had a previous leak while it was under warranty. BMW preformed a trans pan, gasket replacement and I've had a gut feeling since then that they didn't put the correct amount of fluid back in. Ever since then trans service, it seemed slightly noisier during gear changes, especially from N-1.

Because of the specific process required to change the fluid, what does a change cost? mine was under warranty so I don't know what it was.
__________________
2011.75 E90 ZCP DCT Melbourne red
2004 X3 2.5
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2020, 01:34 PM   #5
WhiteM3EMC
Second Lieutenant
WhiteM3EMC's Avatar
116
Rep
202
Posts

Drives: 2011 White M3 DCT
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Suffolk, VA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 328inOR View Post
I was honestly hoping that wouldn't be the case. This tranny had a previous leak while it was under warranty. BMW preformed a trans pan, gasket replacement and I've had a gut feeling since then that they didn't put the correct amount of fluid back in. Ever since then trans service, it seemed slightly noisier during gear changes, especially from N-1.

Because of the specific process required to change the fluid, what does a change cost? mine was under warranty so I don't know what it was.
There is a DIY DCT Fluid Change HERE---> https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=746269 that shows how to change your fluid. You could use the end of the procedure to add fluid. The gist is that you want to run the engine at 2000RPM for a minute, then get under the car (with it running) and add more fluid until fluid seeps out the fill hole. This should be done fairly quickly so that your DCT fluid temp does not exceed 104 degrees. It's not as scary as you may think, and given your experience and the suggestion that you may have low fluid, you may get greater peace of mind from knowing that you did it the right way, yourself.
Appreciate 0
      05-21-2020, 01:45 PM   #6
SYT_Shadow
///M Powered for Life
SYT_Shadow's Avatar
11421
Rep
10,296
Posts

Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Greenwich, CT

iTrader: (2)

i suggest you just refill it yourself. It isn't very hard. It'll make the car happy again and you don't have to worry. I'd use the GTS fill process and feed it an extra quart
Appreciate 1
      05-21-2020, 07:02 PM   #7
brettcp
Captain
United_States
341
Rep
698
Posts

Drives: 2012 E93 M3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: So Cal

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
i suggest you just refill it yourself. It isn't very hard. It'll make the car happy again and you don't have to worry. I'd use the GTS fill process and feed it an extra quart
Agreed, I did a DCT flush/fill with new fluid and it was much easier than expected. I also replaced the filters while I was in there.

Not a difficult job.
Appreciate 1
SYT_Shadow11421.00
      05-21-2020, 10:23 PM   #8
Audioslave686
Private First Class
Audioslave686's Avatar
United_States
165
Rep
126
Posts

Drives: M3 E90/X4 F26
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Cincinnati, OH

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteM3EMC View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 328inOR View Post
I was honestly hoping that wouldn't be the case. This tranny had a previous leak while it was under warranty. BMW preformed a trans pan, gasket replacement and I've had a gut feeling since then that they didn't put the correct amount of fluid back in. Ever since then trans service, it seemed slightly noisier during gear changes, especially from N-1.

Because of the specific process required to change the fluid, what does a change cost? mine was under warranty so I don't know what it was.
There is a DIY DCT Fluid Change HERE---> https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=746269 that shows how to change your fluid. You could use the end of the procedure to add fluid. The gist is that you want to run the engine at 2000RPM for a minute, then get under the car (with it running) and add more fluid until fluid seeps out the fill hole. This should be done fairly quickly so that your DCT fluid temp does not exceed 104 degrees. It's not as scary as you may think, and given your experience and the suggestion that you may have low fluid, you may get greater peace of mind from knowing that you did it the right way, yourself.
I was not able to add enough fluid following this procedure.
I drained almost 6 quarts and was only able to add 5 back.
I ended up following GTS filling process and added almost 7 quarts in the end.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:31 PM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST