Transmission fluid leak

dannyjones · 12-23-2014, 12:47 PM

Another day, another problem with my BMW 2011 335i M sport

This time I can't really blame the car. My wife was driving and went over a big rock in the road which was obscured from view at traffic lights by the car infront on top of it. It scraped the underside of the car, and she kept going. The car was then left for a couple of hours at the mall before she drove home.

The next day, the car shows transmission malfunction, no power, and there's a big pool of transmission fluid underneath the car. Luckily the insurance is covering it because it was a collision - however I'm a bit concerned. They are first going to replace the oil pan since that is what was cracked. Then they will do some transmission 'diagnostics' to determine if there was any damage to the transmission when it was running with leaking/no fluid.

What do you think the chances are of there being further damage? And how reliable can these diagnostics be? I'm worried they'll say the transmission is fine and it'll die 6 months from now. Should I insist on a replacement or trust their diagnostics? (I know replacing that is a huge and expensive job... could it lead to other issues?)

Thanks in advance!

A recap of my issues over my first year of ownership

:
- coolant leak
- oil leak around the turbo
- washer fluid leak
- dead battery
- transmission fluid leak (ok, not the cars fault

)

fun2drive · 12-23-2014, 04:37 PM

The pan and filter are integral and the Life Guard 6 ATF is the right fluid and they will need 5-6L.
I doubt you have any issue with the transmission. The diagnostics will tell you right away. The pan is ABS plastic and not robust like a metal pan is.

As long as the transmission pan is replaced correctly and refilled properly, BMW refills for the pan require a few steps last one being the engine running and filling the fill port to weeping, you should be good...

floydarogers · 12-23-2014, 04:43 PM

The transmission didn't complain the first day, only upon startup the 2nd day. Pretty obvious it worked properly and didn't kill itself the 1st day.

You should be fine.

ThatRWD · 12-23-2014, 05:10 PM

Pics ?

dannyjones · 12-24-2014, 07:09 AM

Thanks, you've put my mind at rest - will see how the diagnostics go after the leak is repaired. No pics I'm afraid

dannyjones · 01-19-2015, 09:03 AM

OK, had the car back for a week now, with the transmission oil pan replaced and all was good. This morning though, I had a low coolant warning. Anyone know if there are any parts under the car which could have been damaged by that rock 4 weeks ago, causing a slow leak? Or is this likely to be yet another new issue?

Note that I already replaced a fractured coolant reservoir 1 year ago.

12-23-2014, 12:47 PM	#1
dannyjones Lieutenant 82 Rep 405 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida, USA iTrader: (0)	Transmission fluid leak Another day, another problem with my BMW 2011 335i M sport This time I can't really blame the car. My wife was driving and went over a big rock in the road which was obscured from view at traffic lights by the car infront on top of it. It scraped the underside of the car, and she kept going. The car was then left for a couple of hours at the mall before she drove home. The next day, the car shows transmission malfunction, no power, and there's a big pool of transmission fluid underneath the car. Luckily the insurance is covering it because it was a collision - however I'm a bit concerned. They are first going to replace the oil pan since that is what was cracked. Then they will do some transmission 'diagnostics' to determine if there was any damage to the transmission when it was running with leaking/no fluid. What do you think the chances are of there being further damage? And how reliable can these diagnostics be? I'm worried they'll say the transmission is fine and it'll die 6 months from now. Should I insist on a replacement or trust their diagnostics? (I know replacing that is a huge and expensive job... could it lead to other issues?) Thanks in advance! A recap of my issues over my first year of ownership : - coolant leak - oil leak around the turbo - washer fluid leak - dead battery - transmission fluid leak (ok, not the cars fault )
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12-23-2014, 04:37 PM	#2
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 38 Rep 847 Posts Drives: 13 128i Vert/ 14 JGC Diesel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle iTrader: (1)	The pan and filter are integral and the Life Guard 6 ATF is the right fluid and they will need 5-6L. I doubt you have any issue with the transmission. The diagnostics will tell you right away. The pan is ABS plastic and not robust like a metal pan is. As long as the transmission pan is replaced correctly and refilled properly, BMW refills for the pan require a few steps last one being the engine running and filling the fill port to weeping, you should be good...
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12-23-2014, 04:43 PM	#3
floydarogers Curmudgeon and Pedant 692 Rep 3,488 Posts Drives: 2010 335d, 2014 328d Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bellevue, WA iTrader: (0)	The transmission didn't complain the first day, only upon startup the 2nd day. Pretty obvious it worked properly and didn't kill itself the 1st day. You should be fine.
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12-23-2014, 05:10 PM	#4
ThatRWD Major 109 Rep 1,062 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Pics ?
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12-24-2014, 07:09 AM	#5
dannyjones Lieutenant 82 Rep 405 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida, USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks, you've put my mind at rest - will see how the diagnostics go after the leak is repaired. No pics I'm afraid
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01-19-2015, 09:03 AM	#6
dannyjones Lieutenant 82 Rep 405 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida, USA iTrader: (0)	OK, had the car back for a week now, with the transmission oil pan replaced and all was good. This morning though, I had a low coolant warning. Anyone know if there are any parts under the car which could have been damaged by that rock 4 weeks ago, causing a slow leak? Or is this likely to be yet another new issue? Note that I already replaced a fractured coolant reservoir 1 year ago.
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