Re: 328i gearbox smoke - update

[MW de Jager]

According to the local gearbox specialists this was caused by the previous
owner replacing the BMW spec ATF with a cheap alternative. Apparently this
causes the gearbox to overheat under strain and blow off some oil through
the breather. A assume that it ends up on the exhaust causing all the
smoke. Gearbox is now full of the right stuff and changes are much better
also. Will see the next time he does that hillclimb if the gearbox still
overheats.

Regards
MW


"MW de Jager" <mwdejager@privatemail.me.uk> wrote in message
news:d6sj98$luo$1@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
>A friend of mine has a 1998 328i auto. Friday last week, he was towing a
>caravan up a steep incline +-5km long in 3rd at 80km/h (3,500RPM). When he
>started the decent, the car was engulfed in smoke coming from the
>transmission, or that's what it seemed like 'cause the smoke comes through
>the gearbox console. This happened again on Sunday when returning home. I
>drive the same car, manual with a heavier caravan and I had none of the
>symptoms.
>
> Anyone with experience of this or any ideas as to what the cause might be.
>
> Kind regards
> MW
>