Overhaul gaskets, seals, O-rings, friction plates and steel plates in one box for a full teardown of the ZF 6HP19 six-speed used in BMW models.
A BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, 1 Series or Z4 with a tired ZF 6HP19 usually tells you in the same few ways: a soft flare on the 2-3 or 5-6 upshift, a long pause before Reverse bites, or a slip under hard throttle that gets worse as the fluid heats up. When the pan shows dark fluid and friction debris, resealing the valve body will not save it. This master rebuild kit combines three kits in one box: the overhaul gasket and seal kit, a friction plate kit and a steel plate kit, so the soft parts and every clutch pack are replaced in the same teardown.
Inside the 6HP19, five shift elements do all the work: three input clutches (A, B and E) and two brakes (C and D). Each forward gear holds two of them at once, so wear in one pack shows up across more than one shift. The clutches are applied by hydraulic pistons, and the pistons only hold pressure if the lip seals, square-cut rings and O-rings that feed them are still sealing. After years of heat on the original fluid, those seals harden and the frictions glaze. The overhaul kit in this box covers the case and pump gaskets, the metal-clad lip seals, the square-cut and round sealing rings and the full O-ring set, while the plate kits replace the wearing surfaces themselves. Together they bring clutch clearances and apply pressure back to where the control module expects them.
Start with the inexpensive checks. A wet case connector from a leaking sealing sleeve, a low fluid level or worn solenoids can mimic clutch failure, and none of them needs a teardown. Our BMW 3 Series 6HP common problems guide covers those faults, and the 5 Series shift problems guide explains how to read the adaptation values before you commit. If the fluid is burnt and the slip is real, the clutches are worn and this kit is the right repair.
This kit is for the ZF 6HP19 six-speed used in BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and Z4 applications from the mid-2000s on. The 6HP19 is ZF's lighter-duty six-speed, rated for about 400 Nm, while the 6HP26 and 6HP28 behind larger engines carry more clutch plates and will not take this plate set. Read the ZF ID tag on the case and confirm it says 6HP19 before ordering, or send us your year and VIN. Other parts for this family are on the ZF 6HP transmission page.
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Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. The 6HP26 and 6HP28 behind larger engines use different clutch counts, so this plate set will not fit. Confirm the ZF ID tag on the case reads 6HP19 before ordering.
No filter is listed in this kit. It contains the overhaul gaskets and seals, the friction plate kit and the steel plate kit. The 6HP19 filter is built into the pan, so buy the pan and filter separately or choose our 6HP19 master kit with filter.
BMW used the 6HP19 behind many of its gas engines from the mid-2000s on, including 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and Z4 applications. Some models also used other units, so check the case tag or send us your year and VIN.
ZF LifeguardFluid 6. Fill through the side plug and set the level at operating temperature; the factory lifetime-fill schedule is a big part of why these units wear out, so plan on regular changes after the rebuild.
A flare happens when the oncoming clutch does not apply fast enough. Worn frictions, hardened piston seals or a pressure problem in the valve body can all cause it. Check fluid, connector and solenoids first; burnt fluid with debris points to worn clutches.
