|
|
|
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
03-18-2019, 01:25 PM | #1 |
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
@103K miles and need to decide whether or not to do a DCT service to fix leak vs repl
My Indy is telling me I have the typical side/upper DCT slow leak.. I topped off three weeks ago (was two qts low on fluid somehow) until I could make a plan on the long-term fix. It drove silky smooth after the top off. Three weeks later I am now starting to get some of the jerkiness back, so I assume it's time to start scheduling the DCT service.
Wanted to know what you all thought I should know before taking it back in Wednesday for a full quote/diagnosis. Assuming it's the upper gasket and the transmission will have to come out to service (believe that's a pretty intense job) should I consider looking for a used DCT with fewer miles and comparing cost/benefit? I hope to keep this car for the long haul and would hate to spend over a grand on servicing it when I might have long-term issues come back up... are used DCTs pretty cheap? I saw a low mileage one on here days ago for $1500... |
03-18-2019, 04:58 PM | #2 |
Colonel
3544
Rep 2,822
Posts |
Swapping transmissions will cost the same in labor. If yours is fine otherwise, I'd just stick with it. Instead of buying another box, buy pans/gaskets/fluid/filters and button it up properly. Should be stout after that.
|
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-18-2019, 05:00 PM | #3 |
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
thanks! just wanted to make sure before pulling the trigger on the repairs. Since I was driving around for a few months unknowingly low on fluid just worried I might have damage especially given the mileage... so didn't want to fix it and then be stuck with a replacement down the road. Any ideas on what cost I should 'hope' for in the quote?
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-18-2019, 11:59 PM | #4 |
mTekMods
2114
Rep 2,871
Posts |
Dct side pan can be done without removing it FYI. You need small hands and the right combination of tools.
__________________
2011 Frozen Black/Fox Red E90 M3 650+WHP
G-Power Supercharged First DCT to Manual Conversion Worldwide KW CS, BBS RI-A, BW Headers, Snow 2.5 |
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 04:38 AM | #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel
1072
Rep 1,617
Posts |
If you replace pans, I highly recommend the Slon workshop bottom and side pans. Solved my problems with just the bottom pan.
|
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 09:17 AM | #6 |
Major
167
Rep 1,159
Posts |
Mine's been slowly leaking for the past 5 years and I remember the service rep telling me it will blow up. The leak was so negligible, I've never received any warning or low fluid level and I've tracked my car and put a total of 212,000 kms on it, and its still running healthy.
I did rod bearing for a peace of mind at 170k kms, but other than that my mentality if don't fix it till it broke. And drive it hard.
__________________
M3.E90 JZB Coded.GTSDCT.BomizValved.TurnerTestPipes.ResDelete .EurochargedTune.AAFilter.HRER40s
|
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 09:32 AM | #7 |
///M Powered for Life
11421
Rep 10,294
Posts |
The DCT is pretty much indestructible. Replace the seals, maybe upgrade to the Slonik stuff if you want to keep the car for a long time and call it a day
The slonik goodies are awesome |
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 05:12 PM | #8 |
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
thank you all for the input, as always, this place is full of a lot of knowledge. One last question... anything I should consider or look out for as far as the cost of the DCT pan with the parts mentioned here? any estimates would be appreciated. I have a very solid and honest new Indy, but want to make sure they diagnose and price this correctly.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-19-2019, 05:35 PM | #9 |
Captain
341
Rep 697
Posts |
Do you know what specific tools will do the trick? I have a very minor leak from my side pan - already bought a new gasket.. I've heard this can be done without dropping the whole unit but haven't found what specific tools are needed to do so. Thanks!
|
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 05:35 PM | #10 |
Colonel
3544
Rep 2,822
Posts |
I've seen $1500 in labor if including the side gaskets, which requires at least tilting the transmission down. The bottom pan alone might be $250 in labor.
Fluids and filters, I think $250 on ECS. If you want SSP viton seals/gaskets, those are $400 (side and bottom). I think the Slon pans, if you wish to go this route over gaskets, are $900 for bottom and $600 for the side. So the low end would be $1200 or so (if you can find a cheap shop that can do the side without much more labor, and go with SSP gaskets) and the top end would be just over $3K with the billet pans and full labor. Note that the premier local shop to me cautioned against the small-hand approach to the side gasket because you aren't sure that you are seating the gasket perfectly all around. |
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 06:06 PM | #11 | |
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-19-2019, 06:56 PM | #12 | |
Captain
341
Rep 697
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-19-2019, 06:59 PM | #13 | ||
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
03-20-2019, 04:52 PM | #14 |
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
just picked up the car from my Indy and spoke with the master mechanic... Fluids were maybe a half a quart off, which wasn't enough to be causing these issues. He ran codes and said there were two codes throwing for clutch "gap" errors in lower gears... I am definitely not using the right words but hopefully someone here knows what that means.
He thinks there's something internally wrong, potentially related to it being so low on the fluid last month and we didn't know how long it had been low. The car is drivable, cant tell at all in higher gears. Lower gears it definitely has it's moments of jerking slightly, especially when first starting and trying to reverse when on a slope.. or when in stop and go traffic it just doesn't feel smooth. Am I doomed into having to get a used DCT? i guess if the top off doesn't fix it, then it means that it's not the low fluid causing then issues so replacing the pans is a waste... Or maybe this is all in my head? the codes are concerning.. but sometimes I can't tell anything is wrong and it's flawless... it's just every now and then (warm or cold) the lower gears are doing some weird things. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-20-2019, 06:12 PM | #15 |
Private First Class
49
Rep 154
Posts |
I really can't see that a low fluid would cause damage before you would get codes thrown by the DCT
But of course I could be wrong. The DCT is pretty sturdy and I would go and teach-in the clutch and the other tests that are testing the clutch. With ista-d it is three procedures if I remember right. Just google BMW DCT reset cand see what I am talking about. I really can't see that the box is damaged from somewhat lower fluid without screaming "error" If you buy a used box you never know how this box was doing? Or if the owner had a slow leak and drive around like you. The box does leak a little, that's undoubtedly a fact for a lot of boxes. I would give the relearn a try before spending real money. |
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-20-2019, 06:32 PM | #16 | ||
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
03-20-2019, 07:38 PM | #17 |
Private First Class
49
Rep 154
Posts |
I have no idea when low is actually too low.
But if there is less/ not enough fluid in the box that will lead to overheating at some point . The other possibility should be that the pump sucks air and therefore pressure loss. Both cases should lead to a code being thrown and perhaps limp mode. I can not see that the box get a damage before one of those things happens. We know from drivers that track the car that occasionally overheating message didn't destroy the box. If the Indy knows how much was missing then I assume he has the BMW software To do a filling as outlined by BMW. In this case he should be able to to the DCT "reset". I honestly would be more concerned that someone puts in a "automatic" gear oil, assuming that the DCT is an automatic gearbox which it is not. The DCT needs a certain fluid and BMW in the early days replaced the gearbox and cooler and all lines should someone put the wrong fluid in. As far as I can tell, no one knows how it looks when the wrong fluid is used to top up or even a complete flush with the wrong oil. Did someone in your area that has the BMW software and can do a relearn -reset for you and go from there. My box is supposed to be a new box replaced by BMW a few thousand miles ago and it is also a little "jerky" , most noticeable between the shifts from 2nd to 3rd and take off when not warmed up. I filed this under one of the wonders of modern technologies. The box should be able to take a beating. |
Appreciate
1
wfdeacon881102.50 |
03-20-2019, 07:45 PM | #18 | ||||
Major
1103
Rep 1,389
Posts |
Quote:
here's the fluid that they have used today.. |
||||
Appreciate
0
|
03-21-2019, 12:13 PM | #19 |
Private First Class
28
Rep 126
Posts |
Do you get any trans malfunction and loss of odd/even gears? Any specific code readouts? Like Rainer M mentioned, wouldnt hurt to try resetting adaptations.
I’ve been dealing with this issue where my even gears clutch wouldn’t work and got a clutch pressure too low code. My master tech saw no leakage and determined it could have been an internal leak or failing sensor in the high pressure circuits inside the transmission. Ended up just replacing a newer transmission rather than diagnosing the issue further which could have costed more. Last edited by tmak90; 03-21-2019 at 12:23 PM.. |
Appreciate
1
deansbimmer3741.00 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|