what size are they?

Can you buy any that are generic, rather than from bmw?

 

I certainly wouldn't use off the shelf bolts from say, Home Depot. I didn't measure them, but they are tapered at the ends.

Get the right ones from BMW or a ZF supplier. They're securing the pan for a $5000 transmission. A set of the correct bolts from thectsc is around $25. Not a gamble worth taking IMO.

 

it will be hard to find bolts with a big head, but i suppose you could use a washer too. i'm sure its just a standard metric thread. use galvanized or stainless bolts so they dont seize in the aluminum. although i would just buy them from bmw. lol

 

I'm sure they are, though I have no idea what the length and pitch are on those things.

But just like you said, why go through all of that work when BMW has them at the parts counter and thectsc.com will ship them right to your door in about 3 days?

 

True, I'm just doing the service soon and I'm from Australia, and from recent transactions, it's taken 2 weeks to get things from the US (namely eBays new shipping thing they have -- I get things from China DHL faster..)

But yeah.
• What are the chances of me stripping a bolt when taking the pan off?
• Are they the same bolts for the mechatronic unit?? If not, what bolts are these? Or will I not need them

 

-as long as you work on the car when it's stone cold, and don't use air tools, its unlikely youll strip anything

-you wont need them, just reuse what comes off of the mechatronic

 

If you have an early build E60, the pans used T27 torx bolts, which strip very easily. As a result, later builds used T40 torx bolts. Both bolts have the same large surface area mounting head, just different torx size holes.

 

I searched the forum to find the spec of the bolt just in case that my vehicle uses the old T27 bolts. Luckily, mine uses new T40 bolts. But I already ordered the bolts from McMaster at much loser price. I also ordered pretty wide washers as well. you can see the screen capture. The first and the last should be bolts and washers. You may want to use at your own judgement.

 

94500A240 1 Pack Type 316 Ss Button-head Socket Cap Screw, M6 Size, 30 Mm Long, 1.0 Mm Pitch
95211A160 1 Pack Metric Type 316 Ss Large-diameter Flat Washer, M6 Screw Size, 18mm Od, 1.4mm-1.8mm Thick

Picture was not uploaded correctly.

 

Hmmm your pic has 4 items/ What are the other two?

So you use the button head socket screws with the washer??