ZF6HP Mechatronics Sleeves & Seal

[325_driver 422]

Hey all, i'm looking at replacing these seals on my ZF6HP box in  the near future as preventative maintenance,

Shifts smooth, but every now and then I do get the old kick from 2nd to 1st pulling up to a stop (once a month maybe), looked through service history the transmission & filter has been serviced, but the seals definitely haven't been replaced. 137,000km on the clock

My question was, after replacing the seals, do you have to do the following in ISTA+

- Reset transmission adaptions

- Valvetronic limit positions?

 

Wondering what the official procedure is on it

Any advice appreciated, thanks heaps

Edited May 18, 2020 by 325_driver

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

It releases from the inside of the transmission and you buy the fitting complete sleeve with seals. You normally do this with a transmission service. New filter/pan, oil and mechatronics sleeve. Set oil level at 45c and clear all fault codes and adaptions.

[325_driver 422]

@B.M.W Ltd yeah , strange the owner before me had the shop do the fluid and filter but not the seals under the mechatronics unit. I guess they weren't BMW specialist.

So by all adaptions you mean transmission adaptions or transmission and the other ECU adaptions too in power train.

Cheers

[B.M.W Ltd 950]

I'd check for fault codes first and attend to anything that comes up

[KwS 2425]

I did the sleeve and tube seals on my E91. Made a noticeable difference, but that trans was average at best anyway (probably to do with the nasty fluid that had been in there for 154000km, and at stage 2+).

https://www.tasteslikepetrol.net/2018/11/schnellwagon-transmission-service-and-lifetime-fluid/

I used INPA to reset adaptions and set trans level at temp.

[325_driver 422]

@KwS how much fluid did you use re-filling? 5l?

it's a 9.5l dry fill, but just wondering how much comes out doing the job

Cheers

Edit: Sorry just found it on my second read of that write up 7.5l 

Edited May 19, 2020 by 325_driver

[Kiwi_BMW 89]

There are a lot of seals in a transmission but I assume you are talking about the Mechatronic case connector and the bridge seal between the case and the mechatronic and possibly the mechatronic to case tube seals.

The Mechatronic case connector seal can be replaced by draining the fluid and removing the pan.

The bridge seal and mechatronic to case tube seals requires the transmission to be drained the case connector removed and the valvebody removed.

There should be no need to reset the adaptions unless some parts like solenoids or other parts are replaced.

The adaptions happen through driving the vehicle and the adaptions "alter" the shift timing , pressures and duration according to wear inside the transmission so that the shifts happen according to a set of criteria programmed into the TCU. If the adaptions are reset the transmission has to relearn how to shift and adapt to the wear inside the transmission and engine, it also has to adapt to your particular driving style.

 

If there is some shift issue, and a filter change and fluid flush doesn't fix the problem then there is usually another problem present. Resetting the adaptions will set the shift programming back to a standard set of parameters that will change/adapt according to the transmission and engine wear and your driving style over a period of time.

When was the transmission serviced??

At 137k on the clock it should have been serviced several times, if it hasn't and the last service was only a drain and refill then the new fluid would have been contaminated by the dirty fluid that was left in the transmission.

 

Depending on what fluid was used it should either be a nice straw colour (OEM Fluid) or a red colour with no darkening of the fluid or dirty streaks in it. If it isn't then the transmission needs a flush.

[325_driver 422]

@Kiwi_BMW the person that owned it before me had it pretty well maintained, have a pretty pedantic service book as it was under mechanical warranty.

But @120km the fluid and filter was changed but not the mechantronic/ bridge seals from what I can see.

theres no slipping or kicking, it's really just once a month coming to a stop I'll get the odd kick from 2nd to 1st, which is why I was looking into it.

drained a bit of the fluid out and it's a definitely a relatively clean, slightly darkened amber colour.

[brenthay 10]

Interestingly enough, Eurosurgeon don't recommend a full flush.

They only do a drain and refill.

To do with releasing the sludge holding old seals together.

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

Up until January this year, I used to work at a ZF authorised repairer in Toronto.

We did do the seals frequently, but is not included in a standard service, and a full fluid exchange is never recommended.

The filter is built into the pan, and are one time use. once you crack the drain plug, it cannot be done back up again.

if the oil coming out smells like burnt caramel or has excessive flakes around the magnet then dont waste your oil and seals, you are about to be rebilding the whole thing anyway.

[KwS 2425]

24 minutes ago, _ethrty-Andy_ said:

The filter is built into the pan, and are one time use. once you crack the drain plug, it cannot be done back up again.

I don't want to be pedantic, but yes you can remove and reinstall the drain plug without issue. May not be designed to, but I had no issue with it (did a drain and refill before dropping the pan). 

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

5 minutes ago, KwS said:

I don't want to be pedantic, but yes you can remove and reinstall the drain plug without issue. May not be designed to, but I had no issue with it (did a drain and refill before dropping the pan). 

it will have no mechanical lock (thats what you are overcoming when you do it) and will back out.

im sure your one experience of one car is better tho.

[KwS 2425]

2 minutes ago, _ethrty-Andy_ said:

it will have no mechanical lock (thats what you are overcoming when you do it) and will back out.

im sure your one experience of one car is better tho.

Wow, way to be a dick about it.

Plenty of people have done it before without issue, but do what you like.