[Cocooningweb]

Hello,

I have a 2018 530E. I bought the transmission service kit from FCP Euro, watched their video and it seems easy enough. I serviced the transmission on my E60 years ago and it’s essentially the same procedure.

The problem with my G30 is that the fill plug is not accessible at all. It’s on the side and even a low profile 8mm HEX socket won’t fit in. I need a socked that’s less than 15mm deep to squeeze it in there. Has anyone serviced their transmission themselves? If so, can you share a link the socket you used? I can’t seem to find a low-enough profile to fit.

Thank you!

[admranger]

Can you pull the hex portion out of the socket or get a piece of 8mm hex bar? Then just put a wrench on the hex piece.

[Cocooningweb]

Originally Posted by admranger

Can you pull the hex portion out of the socket or get a piece of 8mm hex bar? Then just put a wrench on the hex piece.

The sockets I have are machines one-piece, but that sounds like the way to go, thank you. I ordered a small 6mm to 8 mm adapter last night. All I need really is anything that would fit in the HEX and stick out a tiny bit so I can grab it with pliers or wrench. Even the short side of a L-shaped Allen wrench is too long. That’s really odd!

[Cocooningweb]

Originally Posted by admranger

Can you pull the hex portion out of the socket or get a piece of 8mm hex bar? Then just put a wrench on the hex piece.

You just made me think that I could cut an Allen wrench with my Dremel to the length I need. Thanks again!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Cocooningweb

You just made me think that I could cut an Allen wrench with my Dremel to the length I need. Thanks again!

Isn't there a special tool to fill these new transmissions up with through the drain plug s0 that you don't need to take the tight to the body plug out? Will your fill hose fit the tight space?

I haven't done a trans fluid change on my M550i yet, but I did one on my old E53 X5 and it was a bit of a PITA. You do the final fill with the engine running and the fluid up to XXX degrees F iirc. Do you have a way to measure the trans fluid temp? ISTA shows the trans fluid temp iirc. Maybe some of the new scan tools do as well.

Just don't want you to get in there and not be able to get out with a drivable car.

[Cocooningweb]

I’ll definitely test that my fill hose fits in that tight squeeze before empty.

You can measure the transmission fluid temps with BimmerLink.

[admranger]

Getting the fill plug loose will be a task. Might require wrench on wrench or dead blow hammer on wrench violence to break it free. Make sure you can break that free, get it out and the fill hose in before draining.

[aerof16]

There is a special tool for it that might be worth buying but…I just used a serpentine belt tool I already had. Its slim and (if you get the right size) will take a 3/8” socket on the end. You could also just find an allen wrench of the right size and use a breaker bar.

I just did this on my 540i. On the 540i, one of the issues with getting the fill plug out was an exhaust hanger that was in the way.

I just loosened the exhaust bracket and was able to rotate it out of the way, gave me a bit more clearance. Then, install the socket into the fill plug. Then, install the tool onto the socket. Once you break it loose, remove the tool and you can probably twist the full plug out by hand with just the socket. Maybe another turn or two with the tool.

If you back it all the way out without removing the tool, you won’t have the clearance to remove everything because you’ll be jammed against the exhaust.

https://www.harborfreight.com/serpen...SABEgJj3_D_BwE

[Cocooningweb]

Originally Posted by aerof16

There is a special tool for it that might be worth buying but…I just used a serpentine belt tool I already had. Its slim and (if you get the right size) will take a 3/8” socket on the end. You could also just find an allen wrench of the right size and use a breaker bar.

I just did this on my 540i. On the 540i, one of the issues with getting the fill plug out was an exhaust hanger that was in the way.

I just loosened the exhaust bracket and was able to rotate it out of the way, gave me a bit more clearance. Then, install the socket into the fill plug. Then, install the tool onto the socket. Once you break it loose, remove the tool and you can probably twist the full plug out by hand with just the socket. Maybe another turn or two with the tool.

If you back it all the way out without removing the tool, you won’t have the clearance to remove everything because you’ll be jammed against the exhaust.

https://www.harborfreight.com/serpen...SABEgJj3_D_BwE

That's what I needed. I wish I had come back to the forum before doing it this morning. I ordered a few tools which were all too big and ended up using the short side of an allen key which barely fit, then connected the longer end with an adapter then to a socket wrench extension. That did the trick.