DCT oil leak

Matheus · 09-02-2018, 09:24 AM

Hello guys,
My car is 2012 with 13,500miles. Sometime ago I noticed that my DCT was laggy and I was clearly facing clutch slipping. For example, if I was in second gear and tried to change to 3rd, the transmission hesitate and then changed. Note that I'm supercharged. So I searched in this forum and find out that low DCT fluid could cause these symptoms.
With that in mind I decided to take a look and took of the protection cover and found what you can see in the pictures.
Is that a bad leak? I want a opinion of this community before taking the car to the dealer.
Thanks!

Honda · 09-02-2018, 09:58 AM

looking at transmission cover, I would say this is a bad leak

buddalun · 09-02-2018, 01:35 PM

I would have the leak addressed.

Good info here:

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1096911

Matheus · 09-02-2018, 02:41 PM

Actually that not my car transmission cover. I took this picture from another thread because I forgot to take a picture. Mine was much worse than this one

Matheus · 09-06-2018, 10:10 AM

Just got a call from the dealer and they found a leak in the mechatronic cover gasket.
They told me that it order to change the cover and the gasket they need to take off the transmission to have access to it. They also said that somewhen BMW changed the design of the cover. Is that right?
Well, finally they charged me 1,5k USD to make the repair, as I'm out of warranty. Have to say that a was expecting a bit more...
The bad news is that I'll have to wait 30 days because everything will come from Germany!!! That's frustrating.
My question is: can i use my car, even with the leak? Is there any danger to the transmission? I think that the car would warn me if my DCT hasn't enough oil to operate properly right?
Best regards!

wyatth · 09-06-2018, 10:49 AM

If it hasn’t leaked a lot of fluid, you are fine to operate.

Note that some are able to replace the side cover by only lowering part of the transmission, which saves a lot of time/labor. But $1.5K isn’t bad for dealer work.

aswy6 · 09-06-2018, 09:24 PM

I was quoted 1.1k by my local show that supposedly does only BMWs

Matheus · 09-24-2018, 08:52 AM

Just left my car at the Dealer. I had to buy the mechatronic cover and gasket by myself, as the dealer asked 30 days to bring it from Germany.
In a few days I should get the car back and let you know if DCT feels any better. At least I hope so!

aswy6 · 09-24-2018, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matheus

Just left my car at the Dealer. I had to buy the mechatronic cover and gasket by myself, as the dealer asked 30 days to bring it from Germany.
In a few days I should get the car back and let you know if DCT feels any better. At least I hope so!

Why do you need to buy a cover? I thought you dont need to change it unless its damaged. Otherwise you can just replace the gasket

Sandye90m3 · 09-24-2018, 10:35 AM

Mine has been leaking for the past 110,000 kms.

I was told that my car would blow up and I should replace it asap, but clearly that hasn't happened as I'm at 205k kms now.

///M Power-Belgium · 09-24-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matheus

Just left my car at the Dealer. I had to buy the mechatronic cover and gasket by myself, as the dealer asked 30 days to bring it from Germany.
In a few days I should get the car back and let you know if DCT feels any better. At least I hope so!

Make sure they use Pentosin oil !
Note : You will feel NO difference .

Matheus · 09-24-2018, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aswy6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matheus

Just left my car at the Dealer. I had to buy the mechatronic cover and gasket by myself, as the dealer asked 30 days to bring it from Germany.
In a few days I should get the car back and let you know if DCT feels any better. At least I hope so!

Why do you need to buy a cover? I thought you dont need to change it unless its damaged. Otherwise you can just replace the gasket

The dealer said that they need to change both. I don't really know if it's cracked or damaged . I should have asked it before buying though...

aswy6 · 09-24-2018, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Mine has been leaking for the past 110,000 kms.

I was told that my car would blow up and I should replace it asap, but clearly that hasn't happened as I'm at 205k kms now.

Have you ever changed your DCT oil?

sibhusz06 · 09-24-2018, 10:36 PM

You know you might want to try to just tighten the screws say a half turn and see if it stops it. Even when new gaskets are installed, I believe you have to go back and retorque due to the heat from the exhaust causing the gasket to lose its sealing.

Sandye90m3 · 09-26-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aswy6

Have you ever changed your DCT oil?

Nope, I thought it was lifetime?

aswy6 · 09-26-2018, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Quote:

Originally Posted by aswy6

Have you ever changed your DCT oil?

Nope, I thought it was lifetime?

It is but what if say you want to track your car, not just drive on highway to work every day.

Sandye90m3 · 09-26-2018, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aswy6

It is but what if say you want to track your car, not just drive on highway to work every day.

I've taken my car to the track 9 times over the past 2 years.

3 of those track days in the past 3 months, and I DD my car to work putting on 800 kms a week.

kyippee · 09-26-2018, 08:59 PM

Get the Slonik DCT pan. The stock pan/gasket will leak again.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1425010

aswy6 · 09-26-2018, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Get the Slonik DCT pan. The stock pan/gasket will leak again.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1425010

He does not make side gaskets and the bottom one is $$$$. For that price you can do this service again lol

kyippee · 09-26-2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aswy6

He does not make side gaskets and the bottom one is $$$$. For that price you can do this service again lol

Ah yes, my bad. I scrolled through the pictures too soon, I assumed it was the bottom pan/gasket. An independent shop may be cheaper than the dealership

Matheus · 09-28-2018, 11:36 AM

I got the car yesterday and went for a spirited drive. I can ensure that there is a difference. It's clearly that shift changes are faster and I can fell that punch in my back when I shift close to redline. I only remember felling it a long time ago. Also, the sensation that clutch slip is gone together with the all the hesitation.
Couldn't be happier. And of course, nothing better than my peace of mind.
Thank you for all help!

2011_M3 · 06-26-2021, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matheus

I got the car yesterday and went for a spirited drive. I can ensure that there is a difference. It's clearly that shift changes are faster and I can fell that punch in my back when I shift close to redline. I only remember felling it a long time ago. Also, the sensation that clutch slip is gone together with the all the hesitation.
Couldn't be happier. And of course, nothing better than my peace of mind.
Thank you for all help!

Hi my dct transmission has been shifting horrible for almost a year and I finally decided to check under the car and noticed my drain bolt was loose so I tighten it and added transmission fluid and man it's running smoothly now and it finally kicks when I shift after accelerating hard but I just check under the car and I have fluid leaking from the side gasket aswell 😔

09-02-2018, 09:24 AM	#1
Matheus Private 23 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E92 Fire Orange Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	DCT oil leak Hello guys, My car is 2012 with 13,500miles. Sometime ago I noticed that my DCT was laggy and I was clearly facing clutch slipping. For example, if I was in second gear and tried to change to 3rd, the transmission hesitate and then changed. Note that I'm supercharged. So I searched in this forum and find out that low DCT fluid could cause these symptoms. With that in mind I decided to take a look and took of the protection cover and found what you can see in the pictures. Is that a bad leak? I want a opinion of this community before taking the car to the dealer. Thanks! Attached Images __________________ 2012 E92 M3 ESS VT2 650 - Bilstein B16 Damptronic Coilovers - Brembo 380mm BBK - Innotech Catless Exhaust - GTS Carbon Wing - RollCage - Back Seat Delete - Sparco Evo Racing seats @m3boosted
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09-02-2018, 09:58 AM	#2
Honda Lieutenant Colonel 289 Rep 1,535 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: US iTrader: (25)	looking at transmission cover, I would say this is a bad leak
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09-02-2018, 01:35 PM	#3
buddalun Lieutenant Colonel 679 Rep 1,934 Posts Drives: 911 x 2, Tesla M3P & MYP Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (7)	I would have the leak addressed. Good info here: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1096911
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09-02-2018, 02:41 PM	#4
Matheus Private 23 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E92 Fire Orange Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	Actually that not my car transmission cover. I took this picture from another thread because I forgot to take a picture. Mine was much worse than this one __________________ 2012 E92 M3 ESS VT2 650 - Bilstein B16 Damptronic Coilovers - Brembo 380mm BBK - Innotech Catless Exhaust - GTS Carbon Wing - RollCage - Back Seat Delete - Sparco Evo Racing seats @m3boosted
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09-06-2018, 10:10 AM	#5
Matheus Private 23 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E92 Fire Orange Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	Just got a call from the dealer and they found a leak in the mechatronic cover gasket. They told me that it order to change the cover and the gasket they need to take off the transmission to have access to it. They also said that somewhen BMW changed the design of the cover. Is that right? Well, finally they charged me 1,5k USD to make the repair, as I'm out of warranty. Have to say that a was expecting a bit more... The bad news is that I'll have to wait 30 days because everything will come from Germany!!! That's frustrating. My question is: can i use my car, even with the leak? Is there any danger to the transmission? I think that the car would warn me if my DCT hasn't enough oil to operate properly right? Best regards! __________________ 2012 E92 M3 ESS VT2 650 - Bilstein B16 Damptronic Coilovers - Brembo 380mm BBK - Innotech Catless Exhaust - GTS Carbon Wing - RollCage - Back Seat Delete - Sparco Evo Racing seats @m3boosted
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09-06-2018, 10:49 AM	#6
wyatth Colonel 3549 Rep 2,824 Posts Drives: E90 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	If it hasn’t leaked a lot of fluid, you are fine to operate. Note that some are able to replace the side cover by only lowering part of the transmission, which saves a lot of time/labor. But $1.5K isn’t bad for dealer work.
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09-06-2018, 09:24 PM	#7
aswy6 Captain 261 Rep 769 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M3 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (1)	I was quoted 1.1k by my local show that supposedly does only BMWs
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09-24-2018, 08:52 AM	#8
Matheus Private 23 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E92 Fire Orange Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	Just left my car at the Dealer. I had to buy the mechatronic cover and gasket by myself, as the dealer asked 30 days to bring it from Germany. In a few days I should get the car back and let you know if DCT feels any better. At least I hope so! __________________ 2012 E92 M3 ESS VT2 650 - Bilstein B16 Damptronic Coilovers - Brembo 380mm BBK - Innotech Catless Exhaust - GTS Carbon Wing - RollCage - Back Seat Delete - Sparco Evo Racing seats @m3boosted
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09-24-2018, 10:35 AM	#10
Sandye90m3 Major 167 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Calgary, CA iTrader: (0)	Mine has been leaking for the past 110,000 kms. I was told that my car would blow up and I should replace it asap, but clearly that hasn't happened as I'm at 205k kms now. __________________ M3.E90 JZB *Coded.GTSDCT.BomizValved.TurnerTestPipes.ResDelete .EurochargedTune.AAFilter.HRER40s*
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09-24-2018, 10:36 PM	#14
sibhusz06 Second Lieutenant 109 Rep 234 Posts Drives: 2011 M3, 2012 X35I, 2007 911 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	You know you might want to try to just tighten the screws say a half turn and see if it stops it. Even when new gaskets are installed, I believe you have to go back and retorque due to the heat from the exhaust causing the gasket to lose its sealing.
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09-26-2018, 08:59 PM	#18
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1073 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Get the Slonik DCT pan. The stock pan/gasket will leak again. https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1425010
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09-28-2018, 11:36 AM	#21
Matheus Private 23 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 E92 Fire Orange Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Brazil iTrader: (0)	I got the car yesterday and went for a spirited drive. I can ensure that there is a difference. It's clearly that shift changes are faster and I can fell that punch in my back when I shift close to redline. I only remember felling it a long time ago. Also, the sensation that clutch slip is gone together with the all the hesitation. Couldn't be happier. And of course, nothing better than my peace of mind. Thank you for all help! __________________ 2012 E92 M3 ESS VT2 650 - Bilstein B16 Damptronic Coilovers - Brembo 380mm BBK - Innotech Catless Exhaust - GTS Carbon Wing - RollCage - Back Seat Delete - Sparco Evo Racing seats @m3boosted
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