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Transmission Fluid Leak
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:48 am
by Freysmith
I have a transmission fluid leak in a 1976 530i that is somewhere around the front passenger side wheel but I am not exactly sure where it is coming from, any ideas?
Also, can anyone out there tell me what the white plastic container looking thing is that is mounted inside the trunk to the passenger side fender?
Thanks!
Re: Transmission Fluid Leak
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:10 pm
by DEMIURGE
Freysmith wrote:Also, can anyone out there tell me what the white plastic container looking thing is that is mounted inside the trunk to the passenger side fender?
Check this link:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?m ... g=16&fg=10
Re: Transmission Fluid Leak
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:25 pm
by DEMIURGE
Freysmith wrote:I have a transmission fluid leak in a 1976 530i that is somewhere around the front passenger side wheel but I am not exactly sure where it is coming from, any ideas?
I think, there are only two possible fluids there - brake fluid (brake lines and caliper) and the cleaning liquid for the windshield (tank and pump).
You have to locate the exact place - just put a piece of paper under the car and then following the vertical projection, find the leak traces.
Re: Transmission Fluid Leak
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:36 pm
by Blaise
Freysmith wrote:I have a transmission fluid leak in a 1976 530i that is somewhere around the front passenger side wheel but I am not exactly sure where it is coming from, any ideas?
Also, can anyone out there tell me what the white plastic container looking thing is that is mounted inside the trunk to the passenger side fender?
Thanks!
I responded to this in your other post. If an automatic transmission it is probably one of the coolant lines. They run from the transmission to the radiator....and close to the exhaust.
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:35 pm
by Mike W.
Be careful about the ATF lines. More than a couple early 530s were lost to fires due to the firecracker hot thermo reactors first cooking the lines to the point where they failed, then setting the leaking fluid on fire.

Later ones had insulating covers on them but I'm not really sure if that fixed anything or not. Typically the hose to fitting connections leak first, but you never know.
Always, always with a oil leak, degrease/pressure wash it first, then see where it's leaking from. Leaks are very apparent when it's clean around them.
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:49 am
by Blaise
I have a few projects in line before I tackle the transmission swap, but I hope to have it completed within the next six months.
Here are a few photos of the transmission lines out of the car. You can see where mine ruptured. Luckily I was only one block from my house when it happened. It was a huge mess.
In my case, the line failed because it was against the exhaust. You can see where it was cooked and cracked. The rest of the line still felt and looked good. I used the same insulation that was stock on my new lines.
You CAN route the lines such that they do not touch the exhaust.
If yours are leaking I would not drive the car until you fix it. I lost a lot of fluid very quickly when it blew and it was blowing all over the exhaust.
You can have them rebuilt at a good radiator shop. They should reuse your old fittings. Or you can go to a place that does hydraulic lines, but I found that their fittings had smaller inner diameters.
http://picasaweb.google.com/blaisedesco ... 6_esrrVwwE