[Biginboca]

I ordered the kit from ECS tuning to do a fluid change on my manual transmission. The kit comes with 2 bottles of redline synthetic fluid and a pair of replacement plugs (drain and fill).

So the plugs I received have no seal or crush washer. Just the metal plugs themselves.

Pelican parts tutorial shows a green rubber seal on the plug and says the rubber plug seals must be changed when doing the fluid.






Then REAL OEM parts diagram shows only a metal plug and no seal part number or picture of any seal.












So what’s the deal? Anyone know if the plugs need seals or not?

[E90ALLMANUAL]

I reused my plugs when I did the service in my car 20K miles ago. No leaks so far

[PhaseP]

Used to be the plug and seal is one part number. And seal was already on the plug and sold together.
It looks like BMW have done away with the seal at one point.
Maybe relying on aluminum plug on aluminum case seal.
Strange.

[PhaseP]

Spoke too soon, nothing has changed by BMW it appears.

Looking around some more, ZF transmission which mine has and Getrag transmissions have different plug part numbers. The ZF one has rubber seal that comes with the plug.
The Getrag plugs are without seal.

As far as I know, RWD 328's are Getrag manual transmission. All XI's, 330's and all 335's are ZF manual transmission.

Getrag plug:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...815&series=E90

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...g/23127602815/

ZF plug:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part...356&series=E90

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/23117531356/

I don't know if Getrag's have a crush washer or rubber seal originally from factory or they just rely on aluminum plug surface getting crushed and seal. You would find out when you remove your original one.

[Biginboca]

Thanks for that. Seeing as how real oem and ecs show no seal on the plug for my car, and based on your research confirming it then I guess there is no seal.

It just seems strange that there would be no seal. Maybe I’ll use a little Teflon plumbers tape on the plug. That’s what I do for the plugs for my Jeep when there is no seal and I’ve never had a leak.

[tom9192]

No seal on my '06 325i. I just reuse the plugs and I haven't had issues

[hassmaschine]

They are pipe threaded. They dont need a seal.

[Biginboca]

Ok great, thanks guys