How do I suppose to remove these bolts?

[humbertob]

I was trying to flush the auto trans on my wife's 2013 X5 Xdrive, but just found that 3 bolts on the trans oil pan are nearly impossible to unbolt, how do I suppose to remove them? Any ideas?

[Lviv777]

um there are those like these tools where they can go at angles and can be twisted and turned, I don't remember their names but I bought mine at Home Depot.

[omgboost]

Something like this? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Ac...19PC/301175115

[TwinSnailz]

I find this 2 combo works great with this and future use. Everything is soo cramped up in this vehicle.

[smass]

You need to remove the transmission mount (the bar in your way) to get to them. Put a jack under the transfer case to hold it up and the mount easily unbolts.

[humbertob]

Originally Posted by Lviv777

um there are those like these tools where they can go at angles and can be twisted and turned, I don't remember their names but I bought mine at Home Depot.

Impossible ! Just tried the little torx bits with a ratchet wrench and the bolts just go off half way.

[humbertob]

Originally Posted by smassey321

You need to remove the transmission mount (the bar in your way) to get to them. Put a jack under the transfer case to hold it up and the mount easily unbolts.

The transfer case is connected to the front differential, how could I move this bar that is holding the transfer case without also disconnecting the front differential? Fatal design on this year E70

[smass]

Originally Posted by humbertob

The transfer case is connected to the front differential, how could I move this bar that is holding the transfer case without also disconnecting the front differential? Fatal design on this year E70

Once you support the transmission from a suitable area you can unbolt the transmission mount and it will hang down low enough for you to remove your pan bolts. The driveshafts and transfer case has nothing to do with this. Which engine do you have? Information like that helps.

[humbertob]

Originally Posted by smassey321

Once you support the transmission from a suitable area you can unbolt the transmission mount and it will hang down low enough for you to remove your pan bolts. The driveshafts and transfer case has nothing to do with this. Which engine do you have? Information like that helps.

I have the N55 engine.

[smass]

Originally Posted by humbertob

I have the N55 engine.

See below. This is for the M57 diesel however the transmission mount is the same part number for N55 and M57.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=933957

[humbertob]

Originally Posted by smassey321

See below. This is for the M57 diesel however the transmission mount is the same part number for N55 and M57.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=933957

GREAT !!!!!! Thanks for the info !

[mitch808]

Is a 2013, anything like a 2012? On my model year, there is no flush, there is replace the entire pan, as the filter is also built-in to the pan. Then re-add new fluid. I think I paid around $200 for the pan?

[Ghanziang]

I saw on an old thread, that they used their jack and a piece of 2x4 to put pressure on the transfer case (right towards the rear of the vehicle from the cross bar). Then you can use the short T40 and the combination wrench to remove them. The thread said you can get about 1 or 2 inches more clearance by lifting that way. I am hoping to try it this weekend.

G.

[humbertob]

Originally Posted by Ghanziang

I saw on an old thread, that they used their jack and a piece of 2x4 to put pressure on the transfer case (right towards the rear of the vehicle from the cross bar). Then you can use the short T40 and the combination wrench to remove them. The thread said you can get about 1 or 2 inches more clearance by lifting that way. I am hoping to try it this weekend.

G.

Good idea ! At this time I just was able to drain the old fluid and replace it with fresh one, on second drain I'll prepare with all of these new ideas to replace the pan.

[Ghanziang]

I did the transmission pan swap this past weekend. It was not a pleasant task, but not overly horrible. As shown in the photos at the top of this thread, those three bolts are in an almost impossible location. I put a 2x4 right on the front of the transfer case, making sure not to catch anything else, and jacked it up about 1 inch. This gave me enough room to get my T40 wrench key and loosen the bolts. I only needed to loosen them about 2 turns and I was able to use my fingers to get them off the rest of the way. When putting the new pan on, it was a bit more difficult as the new bolts did not like to go in quite so smoothly, but with lots of half turns I was able to get everything tightened back up again. My X5 had 102,000 miles on it when I did the fluid change. I think the previous owner towed a bit. I had surprisingly little fuzz (metal filings) on the magnets. The fluid was dark brown, but not black. Definitely needed a change. Life time fill, my butt. I spilled a bit more fluid than I hoped, transferring the new fluid, I bumped the bottle and it spilled some. Anyway, the initial fill (at 18.5 degrees c) took about 3.5 liters of fluid and the second fill (at 40 degrees C) took about 1.25 liters more. So right at about 4.75 liters. I had purchased 6 liters, so that worked out well. I took out almost exactly 1 gallon of fluid. (I saved the fluid in my drip pan and then transferred it into an empty 1 gallon jug of windshield washer fluid. So a pretty close fluid swap considering my spillage.

G.