How do I get trans dipstick out? - BMW Forum

EXPRESS · 12-22-2005, 04:29 PM

On my neighbor's 91 525. She has a message on the driver info center and has asked me to check the oil. Sorry don't know exact text of message, something about Trans Program.
Is it even a dipstick or just a breather?
I did the forum search and here I am.

Torque · 12-22-2005, 05:04 PM

The car doesn't have a dipstick. Fluid is checked and added from under the car, and you can't really do that properly unless you have the means of jacking the car up on all 4 corners -- a shop lift or a lot of jacks/jack stands.

'Trans Program' can mean a number of things. It can be anything from a clogged up valve body, faulty shift switches to a completely dead transmission. Dirty fluid might be the cause for it throwing the message, but it's very unlikely.

For more information on troubleshooting, read http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/5-s...e34-42558.html and download the PDF-format service manual from the link provided in that thread.

Edit: I just remembered ... If she gets the fluid changed, make sure whoever does it, doesn't completely flush out the old fluid. Just take off the sump and the filter and add however much comes out initially. A complete flush could mean complete death for the tranmission. Also, don't rev in neutral or park, that kills them prematurely.

And lastly, welcome to Bimmerwerkz, even though you're here because of someone else.

EXPRESS · 12-22-2005, 06:01 PM

Thanks. I'll print the info for her.
I guess the tube with the cap is a breather or something else entirely.

Torque · 12-22-2005, 06:50 PM

Hm .. wait. When I hear people talk about '91 525i, I assume it's a m50-engine and GM transmission, not m20 and ZF ... she must have one of the very very late m20-powered 525s (which would be the first one I know of) that's a 91.

Sorry about that. So, if the engine looks like the pic below, then the dipstick is where indicated. To get it out, you tilt the black cap to the side and pull up. Check at idle in park, which I'm sure you already know.

If the engine looks like this, there is no way to check it from above, like I said in the first post: