[BashShah]

So I bought the oil, pan/filter and mechatronic sleeve.
But did not buy any pan screws.
Do I need them or am I ok?

Reason I ask is a lot of people selling a kit with the bolts....why?

Car is a 2007 e90 335i sedan.
Built sept 06.

Advise will be appreciated.
DN

[stashtrey]

Possible one-time use, aluminum screws. Are they marked with the blue ink mark.

[BashShah]

Hoping for a sure answer.
Dealership says old ones are good to go.

Anyone do this DIY, that can chime in.

DN

[XM_Rocks]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Hoping for a sure answer.
Dealership says old ones are good to go.

Anyone do this DIY, that can chime in.

DN

I would buy new ones for piece of mind.

A transmission is expensive.

How much are the bolts?

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by XM_Rocks

I would buy new ones for piece of mind.

A transmission is expensive.

How much are the bolts?

I agree just replace, i think they are about 5.50 each.

[biz77]

Originally Posted by Eat.Sleep.Race

I agree just replace, i think they are about 5.50 each.

There are 21 of them to replace, so at $5.50 each, that would be $115.50. IMO, $115.50 for screws isn't "cheap."


FWIW, I did my Mechatronic, pan and fluid 15K miles ago. Used original screws. No issues.

[Meeni]

The bolts are steel and can be reused just fine. They sometime rust, that's why some prefer changing at least some of them.

[Squark]

I just changed the fluid in my GM tranny and opted to replace the bolts. I think there were 17 of them and they were ~$11 for the set (the ZF might be different). The Bentley manual recommends either replacing them or putting Loctite on the old ones.

[ETexas335]

I reused mine... no issues so far.

[BashShah]

Thank you guys.
There is one employee at a local dealer at the service dept.... Been with BMW dealer for 18 years.

Everytime you ask him something, he doesn't BS you, tells you his cold hard truth with a very logical reason.

His name is Chris K. At Brian Jessel BMW in Vancouver, Canada.
He said, it is recommended to change them, as they are Aluminum, and when they are torqued for the first time they slightly stretch.
So the next time you change them.
You do either .... Replace em.
Or
Reuse, but lower the torque a notch.

So, I am going to replace them, just to be on the safe side.

Will try to post a pic of old and new screws...... Try to measure them also.

DN

[Meeni]

Seeing how mine are rusted, they are not aluminum. But maybe it varies from year to year.

[BashShah]

Originally Posted by Meeni

Seeing how mine are rusted, they are not aluminum. But maybe it varies from year to year.

I actually don't know what mine are. But not taking a chance, just change em.
Might have to delay the oil change till the following weekend.

DN

[spuntyb]

If the bolts are blue, they are aluminum. They are meant for only single-use and if you torque them once, they should then be replaced. I attached this screenshot from a service manual for the N52 that another member posted in a different thread.

Cheers!

[BashShah]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

If the bolts are blue, they are aluminum. They are meant for only single-use and if you torque them once, they should then be replaced. I attached this screenshot from a service manual for the N52 that another member posted in a different thread.

Cheers!

This is best info yet.
Thank you, thank you, Thank you.

If possible, this picture is not very clear or readable...., please upload a better picture.

My tranny project will have to wait till next weekend. With new bolts already ordered.

DN

[Casca]

Get a magnet. Hold it near a bolt. If it pulls towards one another, it's steel. If not, it's aluminum or at least not steel. Not to mention the aluminum bolts are very lite feeling and gives me mental images of bolt heads snapping off easily. Not too crazy about aluminum hardware

I work on airplanes, flight controls, hydrualics and structural. Guess what.....we re-use hardware all the time. Our maintenance procedures were not written by anyone that might have an interest in selling us stuff.

Look, it's a cover. It has a lot of little screws holding it on. Probably because the cover is too thin and flimsy to not warp and leak unless they have a screw every inch or two providing pressure.

I'd be 95% sure that with a tiny bit of blue or even just purple loctite, you will have no problems from any one of the screw, nevermind all 24.

There are places I'd seriously consider getting new hardware, this is not one of them. Unless the hardware is aluminum.

What do you think about your lugbolts? Do you re-use those or get new ones everytime the wheels come off? Because I'd be 100 times more concerned about the 5 bolts holding on my wheel that shops love using impact tools on to remove/install than I am about a pan that is held on by 24 screws. The hardware on the pan does not really get worked, I wouldn't worry about it. Just a bit of loctite, correct torque and pattern. And a good leak check when done followed by another leak check 3 days later.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

This is best info yet.
Thank you, thank you, Thank you.

If possible, this picture is not very clear or readable...., please upload a better picture.

My tranny project will have to wait till next weekend. With new bolts already ordered.

DN

Not sure I can attach a PDF here. I took a screenshot of the relevant page but attaching it reduced the quality. PM me your email address and I'll just email you the PDF. It has a lot of great info.