DrGonzoPOW's 1981 320/6 - 325i -Race'in Up-

[DrGonzoPOW]

Ill check all that stuff, thanks for the info

[DrGonzoPOW]

Ok, so changed the slave cylinder this morning and although i had to bend the s**t out of the pipes to get the new one in place it looks to be working ok.
When i was underneath the car however....i noticed a few bits of oil on the back of the gearbox and above the propshaft coupling. Its looking like a seal maybe leaking.
Is it just called a propshaft seal ? and how much of a job is it to change ???

[nas80]

you have to take the flange off the back of the gearbox.

it would be easier taking the GB off and doing that id reckon. Unless you got a ramp i suppose.

[DrGonzoPOW]

Rollocks, was hoping i wouldnt have to take the box out

[Jason_323i]

Normally it is the selector seal leaks first, before the prop seal.

Jason

[murran]

you needing your mechanic friend dave? lol.

first off id get a can of brake cleaner and get all the oil off so its nice and clean. take it for a run 10/20 miles then have another look to pin point it.... as said could be either the flange or selector seal.
mines leaking a little, as in the back of the box is damp/wet but until it starts leaving noticable patches of oil on the drive im not touching it. tho ive checked the level and its fine.

tbh if i were you id check the level is ok and get a nice clean bit of plywood to put under the car where its normally parked at home. if its not really leaving any drips to speak of on the plywood over say a week (is this your daily driver?), then id ignore it.

[DrGonzoPOW]

I have'nt noticed any oil underneath it to be honest but ill try a piece of wood underneath like you say. Tis a good idea.
May be needing a mechanic friend if it needs changing tho
Maybe a noob question, but how do you check your gearbox fluid level ? Tar

[drjim]

He was my mechanic friend first and I need him more!

[murran]

theres a two bungs on the box... a drain bung in the bottom of the box..... and a level bung in the side of the box (on the n/s i think?). both are a 17mm allen key and will be tight.
buy a litre bottle of gearoil 75/90 or whatever.
the car needs to be levelish surface. cant really do this jacked up at one side.....
basically you top it up via the level bung, the bottle comes with the a pipe built on the cap of the bottle stick the pipe in the hole on the box and squeeze the bottle..... till the oil overflows back out when it stops overflowing put the bung back in. done.

[DrGonzoPOW]

He was my mechanic friend first and I need him more!

Haha, you two should start your own wheel dealers show!

Ill give that a whirl, cheers Murran

[drjim]

I found it was impossible to get the oil bottle into the tunnel to pour into the filler hole, so I bought a cheapo garden sprayer from B&Q, stuck plastic hose on it and pumped the oil in to the filler hole.

Can get a bottle in on the slug, but not with the M20 box.

[murran]

extend the pipe? at work weve got like a big metal seringe.....
like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Action ... 4cf5317582
but its just a simple pull the plunger out to draw fluid/oil in, then push the plunger in to pump whats in it into the gearbox etc.

[DrGonzoPOW]

Double action, ppphwoar

[nas80]

i got a length of clean garden hose and ran it up past the gap on the side of the gearbox into the engine bay

then stuck a funnel on the end and put the other end in the gearbox.

i put an oil catch pan underneath the gearbox - waited till gravity did its work - and i heard drips and then got underneath and did up the cap with an enormous alen key.

[murran]

^^^^^ what nas said!