Need to Drain/Fill Transmission fluid. Odds of Catastrophic failure?

Zearkos · 07-27-2019, 07:50 PM

Yo.

So I'm at a crossroads, and i'm pretty sure that I'm going to end up doing a drain/fill, along with a pan and filter swap on my automatic 2011 335Xi E90. Current mileage is at ~98500 miles.

Recently, I haven't been putting my car into Sport mode often, because the shifting is getting rougher than when I got it. Not noticeable to passengers, but I notice it. Well, that has started to happen as well in non-sport mode. on occassion, the shift will be quite... pronounced and noticeable, compared to the barely noticeable way it was upon purchase.

So here's the problem, I'm not 100% sure if I should do it. I mean I know if I change the fluid, filter, and pan, (and reset adaptations) there's only 2 outcomes.

One, it works great and there's no issues, goes back to buttery smooth shifts.
Or two, complete catastrophic failure because the excess clutch material in the transmission fluid was the only thing keeping it going.

I know I probably should do it, but i'm uneasy about possibly making my only car in my household completely crap out.

Thoughts?

kkasson · 07-29-2019, 06:23 PM

I would check the fluid level before doing anything else. I'd be very surprised to find a transmission that's actually worn/wearing out at only 98k miles, but if it's leaking and is a little low on fluid you'll get hard shifts.

Zearkos · 07-30-2019, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkasson

I would check the fluid level before doing anything else. I'd be very surprised to find a transmission that's actually worn/wearing out at only 98k miles, but if it's leaking and is a little low on fluid you'll get hard shifts.

Fair enough, that's a solid piece of advice before jumping straight into a full drain/fill. Dunno why I didn't think of that, but thank you!

TheMidnightNarwhal · 07-30-2019, 01:12 PM

Send it.

If your transmission is at the point where it only lives because of the excess clutch material then it wouldn't last to long more than that IMO.

Zearkos · 07-30-2019, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Send it.

If your transmission is at the point where it only lives because of the excess clutch material then it wouldn't last to long more than that IMO.

I'm only operating on theory, I haven't inspected the system since it's a closed system. I just know that the standard trans fluid is "lifetime" which is code for 100k miles. No idea how the fluid is, but i'm going to inspect before moving forward.

ouderkirk · 09-04-2019, 03:00 PM

Any update? I would really like to know how the job went and what are you observing now?

Over the Labor Day weekend I did a fluid service on my front differential (AWD 06 325xi) and had a pretty substantial transmission leak happen after the car was no longer level.

My story

Plan was to do transfer case too, but after lifting front end I got the splash plate off the transmission section and the splash plate looked good.... dry.... no oil puddle.

The transmission pan though did appear have some slight leaking toward the back of the transmission pan. Like it was slowly seeping out ... like how a power steering reservoir looks after it has been "weeping" from the top. Tacky/sticky ...... but just the back section and no major concern at that point.

I took some pictures and went about the weekend, I left the front end elevated for another 24 hours or so because I had a tire off and was going to look over the front brakes the next day.

After it was lifted at a light angel for a day I noticed a small puddle of fluid under the transmission and the tacky areas at the back of the pan was now slowly dripping oil. I put a pan there to catch it and it has easily lost a 1/4 to a 1/3 of a quart over the last couple days.

Though I am frequently jumping the gun and making bad decisions, I bought a kit from FCP Euro and I am going change the pan. Possible going even deeper and replacing the components above the valve body. If you are in for a penny, you might as well be in for a pound I say.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...24152333907kt3

The car had a sealing sleeve/mechatronics sleeve leek before I bought it (Carfax) .... but I don't see oil leaking from above the pan so I might get lucky and it was just a poorly placed gasket on the pan.

Has anyone else seen a transmission start to leak when sitting at an incline?

Once I get the whole thing up in the air I'll update as to where the leak coming from.

Zearkos · 09-21-2019, 05:38 PM

If i'm being honest, I haven't had the chance to do ANY fluid swaps. All my time has been taken up with full time work, full-time school, coding for local owners, and certification exams.

I'm overdue for an oil change, so i'm gonna do the oil change and the transmission drain/fill all at the same time.

07-27-2019, 07:50 PM	#1
Zearkos New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335xi Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Need to Drain/Fill Transmission fluid. Odds of Catastrophic failure? Yo. So I'm at a crossroads, and i'm pretty sure that I'm going to end up doing a drain/fill, along with a pan and filter swap on my automatic 2011 335Xi E90. Current mileage is at ~98500 miles. Recently, I haven't been putting my car into Sport mode often, because the shifting is getting rougher than when I got it. Not noticeable to passengers, but I notice it. Well, that has started to happen as well in non-sport mode. on occassion, the shift will be quite... pronounced and noticeable, compared to the barely noticeable way it was upon purchase. So here's the problem, I'm not 100% sure if I should do it. I mean I know if I change the fluid, filter, and pan, (and reset adaptations) there's only 2 outcomes. One, it works great and there's no issues, goes back to buttery smooth shifts. Or two, complete catastrophic failure because the excess clutch material in the transmission fluid was the only thing keeping it going. I know I probably should do it, but i'm uneasy about possibly making my only car in my household completely crap out. Thoughts?
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07-29-2019, 06:23 PM	#2
kkasson Lieutenant 187 Rep 589 Posts Drives: 07 BMW 328i, 08 BMW 528i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	I would check the fluid level before doing anything else. I'd be very surprised to find a transmission that's actually worn/wearing out at only 98k miles, but if it's leaking and is a little low on fluid you'll get hard shifts.
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07-30-2019, 01:12 PM	#4
TheMidnightNarwhal Major General 2655 Rep 6,286 Posts Drives: 11' 335is DCT Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gatineau, Quebec iTrader: (0)	Send it. If your transmission is at the point where it only lives because of the excess clutch material then it wouldn't last to long more than that IMO.
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09-04-2019, 03:00 PM	#6
ouderkirk New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Salt Lake City iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW Series 3 [0.00]	Any update? I would really like to know how the job went and what are you observing now? Over the Labor Day weekend I did a fluid service on my front differential (AWD 06 325xi) and had a pretty substantial transmission leak happen after the car was no longer level. My story Plan was to do transfer case too, but after lifting front end I got the splash plate off the transmission section and the splash plate looked good.... dry.... no oil puddle. The transmission pan though did appear have some slight leaking toward the back of the transmission pan. Like it was slowly seeping out ... like how a power steering reservoir looks after it has been "weeping" from the top. Tacky/sticky ...... but just the back section and no major concern at that point. I took some pictures and went about the weekend, I left the front end elevated for another 24 hours or so because I had a tire off and was going to look over the front brakes the next day. After it was lifted at a light angel for a day I noticed a small puddle of fluid under the transmission and the tacky areas at the back of the pan was now slowly dripping oil. I put a pan there to catch it and it has easily lost a 1/4 to a 1/3 of a quart over the last couple days. Though I am frequently jumping the gun and making bad decisions, I bought a kit from FCP Euro and I am going change the pan. Possible going even deeper and replacing the components above the valve body. If you are in for a penny, you might as well be in for a pound I say. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...24152333907kt3 The car had a sealing sleeve/mechatronics sleeve leek before I bought it (Carfax) .... but I don't see oil leaking from above the pan so I might get lucky and it was just a poorly placed gasket on the pan. Has anyone else seen a transmission start to leak when sitting at an incline? Once I get the whole thing up in the air I'll update as to where the leak coming from.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2019, 05:38 PM	#7
Zearkos New Member 1 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335xi Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	If i'm being honest, I haven't had the chance to do ANY fluid swaps. All my time has been taken up with full time work, full-time school, coding for local owners, and certification exams. I'm overdue for an oil change, so i'm gonna do the oil change and the transmission drain/fill all at the same time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote