Finally,

I'd say, this is one of the biggest things I've been waiting with mixed emotions.

Gearbox has been leaking oil since last season and leakage was so massive you could tell where I was coming from just by following the oily streaks back.

Had few plans on how to attack this problem and did (for a change) fairly detailed background research on what could be wrong and what it costs to fix it.

Well, here's some of it:

-Gearbox is toasted => new one from ATB/Germany or BMW dealer, estimate 5kEUR plus labour... <= oil is red and doesn't taste burned, should be ok

-Torque converted is toasted => New one: ~2kEUR + labour, rebuilding old one at JM-Trading 380EUR (not that bad)

-also received a quote on master build kit to 4HP24/EH ~300EUR, sounds decent to me

-Upper oil pan gasket leaks <= not likely, oil is red and tastes exactly like Dextron III...

-Main shaft sealing is leaking => new seal 9EUR + labour estimated 6hours at local BMW dealer => 480EUR

-Something else => anything realistic would be some other o-rings, etc => comparable to main shaft leakage

So I talked to one buddy of mine at local BMW-CC who owns older 6-series E9?) and he offered help. Due to some mixups on his shop I guess, he wasn't able to setup the appointment and I started calling all and every indie shop around the town.

Seriously, depressing ! Out of seven, three said right away they won't touch it with a ten foot pole as it's considered too exotic to their taste. Two said, they could look at it...some time end of July. Rest just never picked up the phone.

Due to some reorganising around BMW-dealerships in Finland, it happened to be so that there's two official BMW-shops n town. Different companies and this will be the case only until end of this August as contracts are about move from one to another company. Anyway, I did what I finally thought will be the best solution (not financially) and asked for a quote from both BMW Certified Shops.

The other one had 20+ years experience on BMW:s, the other had just the permit to start servicing and selling BMW:s. Pricewise they were somewhat same so I gave the job to Hartikainen and their BMW Master Mechanic himself. So here it is what she looked like today at lunch time:

Gearbox was out in two hours, and we decided it's the main shaft seal. Replace it with the new and put it back together.

We'll see if I can get it back today, looks promising atleast

Some more pics around the shop:

Torque converter seems solid and drain coming from main shaft looks obvious.

See also some official 1meter plus extension tool from BMW as well as the not so official hammer, OLD SKOOL and BMW AG certified expertise together !!

If all goes well I'll be heading to annual roadworthy inspection with emissions test and on this Saturday, she'll be serving a Special Duty at Special Occasion...

More about that later