Trans Upgrade Related Problems

[bm5bullit]

I had a local shop that I have known for a while do the SSP Spec R upgrade about two months ago. Prior to the trans work, car was running great and very eager to start some more modding. Got the car and I have taken it easy on the it so as not cause problems with the trans work. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to run it hard to see how everything was working. Car felt sluggish which I thought was due to the re-learn of the tranny ecu. I took it back to the shop and scanned for codes and could only find a low battery voltage code.

We decided to put it on the dyno and it struggled and only made a little over 400 rwhp. In the process, it gave me a Drivetrain Malfunction code. Checking this out with the ISTA software and it is indicating wheel slippage. Cleared it and tried again but more of the same. Anyone have an clues to this puzzle?

[steeve13m]

Did you have mechanic assemble it or did ssp assemble the whole clutch and discs into the oem clutch basket?

[bm5bullit]

Originally Posted by steeve13m

Did you have mechanic assemble it or did ssp assemble the whole clutch and discs into the oem clutch basket?

Honestly, I was not there when the assembly happened but I do know that they spoke to Kris at SSP to double check the install procedure. I will ask the mechanic that question.

[allmotor_2000]

Basics - exhaust vacuum lines plugged?

Try re-adapting the clutch.

[bm5bullit]

Originally Posted by allmotor_2000

Basics - exhaust vacuum lines plugged?

Try re-adapting the clutch.

We did not check the exhaust vacuum lines. Thanks, I will try that. We tried re-adapting the clutch a few times. A senior BMW tech came over and he suggested that the trans fluid level might be low enough to sense slippage and limit torque. Said that he had seen that come into the shop several times. Not sure how to accurately check the fluid level. He also said that the mechatronics gasket has to be complete, sealed properly and no part of it can be out of alignment. Checked that. Fluid level?

[Fast400]

Originally Posted by bm5bullit

We did not check the exhaust vacuum lines. Thanks, I will try that. We tried re-adapting the clutch a few times. A senior BMW tech came over and he suggested that the trans fluid level might be low enough to sense slippage and limit torque. Said that he had seen that come into the shop several times. Not sure how to accurately check the fluid level. He also said that the mechatronics gasket has to be complete, sealed properly and no part of it can be out of alignment. Checked that. Fluid level?

Did they use ISTA+ for the "DKG oil balancing"?
I wound up 400ml short without using ISTA

[bm5bullit]

Originally Posted by Fast400

Did they use ISTA+ for the "DKG oil balancing"?
I wound up 400ml short without using ISTA

How did your car act or react being 400 ml short. We did use ISTA but also used the adapting procedure provided by Kris at SSP.

[bm5bullit]

Originally Posted by Fast400

Did they use ISTA+ for the "DKG oil balancing"?
I wound up 400ml short without using ISTA

I just confirmed that we did use the ISTA for the DKG fluid balancing.

[Phatcat]

Sorry to hear, this is why I don't ever want to do clutch upgrade in Taiwan. Obviously there are many successful stories in the US where there are a lot more M cars and shops with experiences.

But I do not know any M5 in Taiwan ever done the clutch upgrade and I don't want to be the guinea pig.

Hope you get the problem resolved soon!

[bm5bullit]

The shop and the crew will hopefully get it resolved today. I will be there today part of the time to see what else we can check. I am not too concerned yet as this car is not daily driven.

[bm5bullit]

Originally Posted by allmotor_2000

Basics - exhaust vacuum lines plugged?

Try re-adapting the clutch.

I have a couple of questions for you if you have the time to answer them. Won't an open vacuum line set a code if left that way. It just so happens that I did my Corsa exhaust at about the same time as the trans. I never asked the muffler shop how they plugged the vacuum line. Checking that ASAP. The other question is - will an open vacuum line affect power that much??

[allmotor_2000]

Originally Posted by bm5bullit

I have a couple of questions for you if you have the time to answer them. Won't an open vacuum line set a code if left that way. It just so happens that I did my Corsa exhaust at about the same time as the trans. I never asked the muffler shop how they plugged the vacuum line. Checking that ASAP. The other question is - will an open vacuum line affect power that much??

1. No, it won't set a code (don't ask me why... ask BMW)
2. Yes... it has significant effect on power

Reason is that without vacuum, the vacuum tank (under motor) can't hold enough vacuum to control the wastegates (which are vacuum operated in the s63tu)

[allmotor_2000]

Originally Posted by Phatcat

Sorry to hear, this is why I don't ever want to do clutch upgrade in Taiwan. Obviously there are many successful stories in the US where there are a lot more M cars and shops with experiences.

But I do not know any M5 in Taiwan ever done the clutch upgrade and I don't want to be the guinea pig.

Hope you get the problem resolved soon!

Ship the housing to Kris... have him assemble it and then ship it back. That's the only 100% way to make sure it will work correctly!

[bm5bullit]

Thanks for the assistance. Next time I will do that. Once I get this cleared up, my next stage should be axles and then built motor.

[bm5bullit]

Thanks to all for the assistance, problem resolved. It was a combination of not clearing all the codes and the exhaust vacuum hose blowing off the cap during the dyno pulls.

[allmotor_2000]

Originally Posted by bm5bullit

Thanks to all for the assistance, problem resolved. It was a combination of not clearing all the codes and the exhaust vacuum hose blowing off the cap during the dyno pulls.

Glad to hear - symptoms seemed to indicate as such.

Need to glue or screw a cap into the vacuum hoses !

[Mcc420]

You can just leave them plugged in. I used hose clamps to keep the flaps open.

[Craze]

Would plugging the hose with cap screw with long shank and cable tie be sufficient? If its under vacuum it cant blow off??

[Used2be]

Originally Posted by Craze

Would plugging the hose with cap screw with long shank and cable tie be sufficient? If its under vacuum it cant blow off??

I used a #8 machine screw, 3/4" long, which fits the small hose nicely, then pushed a rubber vacuum cap over the head of the screw and pulled a zip tie around that to hold it all together. The tapered rubber plug supplied with the exhaust I got was a joke. It was just asking to slide out over time, vacuum line or not.

[bm5bullit]

I am not exactly sure when it turns from vacuum to positive pressure but I do know that the pressure is substantial. I folded over the hose and used a fuel injection hose clamp with rolled edges that will not bite into the hose when tightened.

[allmotor_2000]

Originally Posted by bm5bullit

I am not exactly sure when it turns from vacuum to positive pressure but I do know that the pressure is substantial. I folded over the hose and used a fuel injection hose clamp with rolled edges that will not bite into the hose when tightened.

It doesn't change from vacuum to positive pressure (it can't... its only connected to a vacuum canister). It's either vacuum or nothing. At the most its 20psi vacuum (that's what the vacuum pump can produce).