[james0013]

Last month I had my car in the shop to replace the head gasket. Yes you read that right a 7 year old BMW with just less than 50,000 miles needed a head gasket replaced. Now it looks like I have a trans fluid leak.

To say I am furious with this car is an under statement (it will be back to mercedes for me next)

I have a red fluid leaking under the car on the garage floor. And red fluid on the under tray aft of the engine. Can anyone confirm the color of the trans fluid used in our cars?

Mine is a 2008 328xi which I think means Ihave the parts bin bastard tranny from GM built in France.

My guess from research is that the leak is coming from the mechatronic sleeve. Any other common places for leaks? I gather the mechatronic is a PIA to change on the xi cars.

Thanks in advance
James

[mike3000fl]

are you sure they didn't replace the valve cover gasket? that's common on these cars. head gasket is kind of rare unless you overheated the car.

the mechatronic seal isn't that big a deal. you owe it to yourself to get the tranny fluid changed out around now anyway, so may as do the seal at the same time.

[Bimmer Barney]

I had this way back after a service and it was Power Steering fluid. Apparently the tech and nicked a line or bumped a line or something.

[mike3000fl]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I had this way back after a service and it was Power Steering fluid. Apparently the tech and nicked a line or bumped a line or something.

Could be that. Some cars have green CHF11s fluid, others have ATF fluid which is red. So that is possible.

The power steering cap should say what is in there, if it is CHF11s it will have a green sticker on the cap saying so, if it is ATF then it is stamped on the cap. Sometimes the sticker peels off though so confirm by looking at the fluid in the reservoir.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

Could be that. Some cars have green CHF11s fluid, others have ATF fluid which is red. So that is possible.

The power steering cap should say what is in there, if it is CHF11s it will have a green sticker on the cap saying so, if it is ATF then it is stamped on the cap. Sometimes the sticker peels off though so confirm by looking at the fluid in the reservoir.

I have the green sticker and fluid is red? Always dealer maintained component. Anyway, something for you to put on list of possibilities OP.

[james0013]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

are you sure they didn't replace the valve cover gasket? that's common on these cars. head gasket is kind of rare unless you overheated the car.

the mechatronic seal isn't that big a deal. you owe it to yourself to get the tranny fluid changed out around now anyway, so may as do the seal at the same time.

Yes I am quite sure it was a head gasket, not only did I get the bill for it I also smelt the coolant smoke from the exhaust which is why it went in.

I was planning on doing an ATF flush in the summer but guess I will have to do it in the cold garage in fedruary. The very thing I wanted to avoid. Hear the mechatronic sleve is a pig to get to on the xi?

[james0013]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I had this way back after a service and it was Power Steering fluid. Apparently the tech and nicked a line or bumped a line or something.

My power steering fluid is green and this fluid is Red for sure. But good thinking, I wish it was this and I would not be stuck with another repair bill.

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by james0013

Last month I had my car in the shop to replace the head gasket. Yes you read that right a 7 year old BMW with just less than 50,000 miles needed a head gasket replaced. Now it looks like I have a trans fluid leak.

To say I am furious with this car is an under statement (it will be back to mercedes for me next)

Remember, these are machines built by man and far from infallible. They will be flawed but your problem is NOT typical.

[mike3000fl]

Originally Posted by Denny347

Remember, these are machines built by man and far from infallible. They will be flawed but your problem is NOT typical.

exactly. i have been here awhile. i have seen very few people on here that blew a head gasket. i still think that at some point his car overheated and he drove on the red limp home mode light until it damaged it.

[james0013]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

exactly. i have been here awhile. i have seen very few people on here that blew a head gasket. i still think that at some point his car overheated and he drove on the red limp home mode light until it damaged it.

I respect your opinion, but I know it is extremely unlikely this cas has ever been over heated. It in service date was april 2008 I brought it in June 2011 with only 13,000 on the clock. Since it has been in my ownership I have babied the car never running it hard and maintaing it properly.
The head gasket did not blow the only symptom was a sweet smell from the exhaust and only on a cold startup after sitting over night. They also (after much argument and insistance from me) verified he head was not warped.

The tech at the dealership assured me that it was a manufacturing fault and that was why I got a 70% cost assistance from BMW N.America.

Yes I agree it's a rare occurrence but as a traditional mercedes man it does not do much to build confidence in the brand.

However I digress any other common causes of an atf leak? Is our atf red? How easy is a mechtronic sleeve to change on XI? Different from a normal RWD car?

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by james0013

I respect your opinion, but I know it is extremely unlikely this cas has ever been over heated. It in service date was april 2008 I brought it in June 2011 with only 13,000 on the clock. Since it has been in my ownership I have babied the car never running it hard and maintaing it properly.
The head gasket did not blow the only symptom was a sweet smell from the exhaust and only on a cold startup after sitting over night. They also (after much argument and insistance from me) verified he head was not warped.

The tech at the dealership assured me that it was a manufacturing fault and that was why I got a 70% cost assistance from BMW N.America.

Yes I agree it's a rare occurrence but as a traditional mercedes man it does not do much to build confidence in the brand.

However I digress any other common causes of an atf leak? Is our atf red? How easy is a mechtronic sleeve to change on XI? Different from a normal RWD car?

My ATF is clear/gold Pentosin. When I had the fluid drained and refilled I watched it go in. It's clear/gold like motor oil.

07 335i Auto

[james0013]

I am guessing your car is RWD with the ZF box? Mine is AWD with the GM trans.

[Squark]

To answer your question, the GM transmission fluid is red. I have a 2007 328i with the GM tranny and changed the fluid last year.

[james0013]

So it turns out that it was transmission fluid, just not from the transmission. It was the tension strut bushing that is apparently filled with a red hydrolic fluid. Easier that a mechtronic sleve replacement.