Prop shaft oil leak

[frumpy_uk]

Is a leaky prop shaft a difficult problem to sort on a 325i tourer?

[E30Adam]

Propshafts are a hollow metal tube and contain no fluids, it's probably your gearbox p!ssing oil all over the place.

Output shaft and selector shaft seals come to about Ԛ£10 - Ԛ£15 but you'll need someone to fit them. When I had mone done the box was out the car, I'm unsure if it can be done in situ

[frumpy_uk]

uh-oh

Thanks Adam

So does anyone know if the job can be done with the box in-situ? If not it sounds like an expensive job...

[E30Adam]

If you can get the box out yourself then it's only a Ԛ£30 job.

I'm pretty sure the box has to come out, you might as well get all 3 seals changed if it's got to come out, input shaft seal, output shaft seal and selector rod seal.

[frumpy_uk]

Thanks Adam.

I'm not a hands dirty kinda guy - I've hung up my torque wrench for good!

I'll call a BMW specialist and get a quote.

[cabrio327i]

Hi Frumpy, Yes the seals can be replaced in situ, well two of them can anyway, the output shaft seal, and the selector rodseal are possible to do with the gearbox in the car, but you need to take off the front part of propshaft and undo gearlinkage and allso the gearbox mounting to the body so the box drops lower, then you can carefully prise them out, really tho you need the car well up in the air for this job, ideally on a garage hoist, the imput seal needs the box out of course cheers Dave

[frumpy_uk]

I haven't actually paid for this car yet. Apparently one seal has already been replaced so I should imagine they tried the easiest one 1st. So I would imagine the worst i.e. the input seal has gone. I've had a chat with a local BMW specialist who reckon input seals are just not at all troublesome but would require a gearbox rebuild to replace. Is that right??

Question is, do I carry on and buy it even though there's a good chance the input seal has gone?

I'm thinking no - seems like a bad deal plus I guess there's increased wear on the gearbox caused by leaking oil...

Any thoughts?

[E30Adam]

I haven't actually paid for this car yet. Apparently one seal has already been replaced so I should imagine they tried the easiest one 1st. So I would imagine the worst i.e. the input seal has gone. I've had a chat with a local BMW specialist who reckon input seals are just not at all troublesome but would require a gearbox rebuild to replace. Is that right??

Question is, do I carry on and buy it even though there's a good chance the input seal has gone?

I'm thinking no - seems like a bad deal plus I guess there's increased wear on the gearbox caused by leaking oil...

Any thoughts?

Firstly the BMW specialist is talking crap and trying to get money out of you. The gearbox does NOT need to be rebuilt to change the input seal!!!

It all depends on how much you can get the car for... remember, there's always another one which will probably be better.

[frumpy_uk]

Is a leaky propshaft/gearbox seal a big problem anyway? It's not gushing out by any means. Does the e30 325 have a combined engine & gearbox oil or are they separate?

Wierd. I've spoken to 2 places now, both highly recommended (1 by davetouring, the other by jit), and they both agree that if its the input shaft seal it's a big job, gearbox out.

[Davenotouring]

I think the specialist said Gearbox out to replace, but I don't think they meant gearbox rebuild.

I wish I understood more about this to help.

[E30Adam]

Dave's right, for the input shaft the box definately has to come out to replace it but as for rebuilding the gearbox that's rubbish.

The engine and gearbox oils are separate and they run on different oils. A leaking gearbox isn't good because you'll be forver topping it up or you'll forget and mash your gearbox. Apart from that it'll make a god awful mess under the car but look on the bright side... at least it'll keep the rust away.

You're probably looking at a couple of hundred quid for a garage to remove replace the seals and refit.

[frumpy_uk]

OK guys, many thanks for all the advice. I think I'm going to leave this one - the bloke that's selling it has another buyer lined up and is pretty cool.

cheers
Paul

[Davenotouring]

Shame!

Hope you find another one soon!

Good luck.

[Geeman]

I've just had the selector rod seal and output shaft seal replaced, as mine were leaking, and I was replacing the selector rod union anyway. (great mod)

It's now worse than it was before, due to the new output shaft seal not seating right on the already worn output flange. - that's what 'wiper' seals will do for you!

So, Had to order the flange AND the replacement seal again, and it comes to Ԛ£75 or there abouts from the dealer.

At the moment, I've got oil dripping out the seal when idling, and causing smell / smoke when hot while driving... probably the oil dripping onto the hot exhaust... VERY frustrated!

Apparently only and hour job to re-replace it though... Let's hope so.

Giles.

[Hammer1]

I did the same on my old touring,replaced both seals as per instructions and the bloody new seals leaked worse than before

If its a little leak just leave it IMO.