hschwoeb

Last week while "kicking down" the V-8 in the 545i to pass, my iDrive message "transmission failsafe" light came on.
Pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the ignition, restarted the car and the message cleared.
The next day I noticed fluid leaking under the car, didnt smell or look like engine oil, although I will be honest I am not sure if synthetic oil smells different than conventional oil.
Read on here about same symptoms as SMG failures with $4000 replacement so was a little freaked out.
When the car was cold the transmission started to shift rough or very hesitant from 1st to 2nd gear, it just didnt feel right while driving.

I took it to the dealer today, only to find that my transmission oil pan was leaking and had been for sometime, I lost a lot of transmission fluid.
Diagnosed as "Mechatronics sealing sleeve leaking. Replaced mechatronics sealing sleeve, replaced trans pan gasket and drain plug and topped off fluid".

- pan gasket ($31)
- sealing sleeve ($18)
- screw pug ($18)
- oil ($95), quantity 6 at $15.87 each.
- labor ($460)

Anyway...I had it replaced for $653 ($460 of which was labor), my car is good as new. I suggest you get it checked out ASAP if you get this (or any) message. I am sure there was very little fluid left in mine out of 2 gallon capacity. I was lucky that I did not ruin the transmission.

BTW had recall done while it was there. One hose clamp and one vacuum pipe installed free of charge.

krn530

I had taken my car into the dealership before and they had told me that some transmission fluid had been leaking while it was there. They said that it was a sleeve or gasket? Lately, it's been having random rough up shifts and even gear grinds sometimes when i get to the higher rpms. I think I'm gonna get that checked out soon.

kane1111

I had the same issue when I took it in for service. They said the tranny plug/seal was leaking and I wouldn't notice it due to the tranny cover. I debated, but then gave in because of mind numbing worries of tranny problems. As a result I changed the seal witch ran me $550 bucks and got warranty on it. I can sleep now. So with that being said dont wait until it's too late!!!!

Happy it worked out for you tho!!!

Isaiah_Charles

Man our cars never cease to amaze me, glad it has all worked out

waelfarhat

i have just discovered this issue today, the leak is very thin and small, i have checked the oil level at the filling cap, it was full, but the leaking idea got me worried.i am on 80k and the transmission oil looked good(light color).do i need to replace the fluid when replacing the transmission pan and gasket?