E60Japanese

I just bought a used Japanese 11/2003 E60? sedan(I live in Japan)
I knew the transmission was not working properly and the previous owner was told it needed to be changed so i got it cheap

Yesterday I jacked it up to check everything as I only had it two days

There was transmission fluid everywhere and I mean soaked everything under the car
I removed the plastic covers and steam cleaned everything and this morning after a run there is no obvious leaks anywhere

so today I have three questions

1
Is my car a E60? i have looked at the shape and it says it is
The Japanese VIN is the body number and that doesnt help me much

2
how do i check the transmission type?
It has a hard black lower casing that is ribbed and not flat

3
The transmission is very quiet and no noise
I am thinking that the transmission fluid has either leaked from the front input seal of the transmission or a pipe leak causing it to have no fluid or hardly any left

has anyone else had something similar?

I am looking forward to hearing your views
Thanks

turboawd

if it looks like an e60, it is.
did you check the trans fluid level? there is a fill plug on the side of the transmission. remove it while engine is idling, and fluid should be up to fill hole.

txag_530i

Go to this thread and go to the instructions on how to check your transmission fluid.

https://5series.net/forums/diy-do-yo...thread-137584/

Transmission fluid can get everywhere making a small leak look very large.

Check the transmission pan gasket for signs of leaking. You should also check out the cooling lines and transmission cooler.

E60Japanese

I will post a picture of it to confiirm its an E60

I will check the level this week sadly I am not home for a couple of days
I just rang the previous owner and he said that he never topped up the power steering so it must be comming from only the transmission

He also has never had the fluid level checked in the transmission
BMW just told him he needs a new one after a 5 minute inspection

I am wondering if the transmission problem is just a leak somewhere as he said the transmission slowly got worse and then didnt change gears anymore
Now it is 3rd always when i put it in drive but i can select reverse fine

turboawd

it sounds like the trans is in fail-safe mode, which keeps it in third gear.
first thing i would do is check the fluid level.

E60Japanese

Thanks for you reply and link

yes the fluid is everywhere even from above the powere steering pump so it maybe the sourse
I think i will need to fill it up and check the source of the leak will the correct amount of fluid in the system

E60Japanese

Thanks for your help and replies

You are right it is in safe mode
but no noises or anything strange coming from the trans. could it possibly be only fluid?

Do you know what type of transmission it may be?

The tank is a really hard black ribbed casing

The pictures I have seen of a new filter and casing is always flat steel and not like this one

sanjsanj

the connector sleeve as well as the plastic sump are common points for leaking.

Get error codes read (preferably using DIS) and see why it's gone into failsafe mode...

turboawd

read the link that txag posted above.

the pan is plastic and is built with an internal filter.
all auto transmissions are hydraulic in operation, using the fluid for its hydraulics. without the proper fluid level, the valves and pistons inside the trans wont work properly.

CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL FIRST!!

E60Japanese

so
Thanks for your help
sorry for my ignorance as I am new to the BMW's

what is the connector sleeve?
could the sump on my transmission be hard plastic?

and what transmission fluid can I use? any or should it be specific. I hope not from only BMW?