ZF 6HP26 Transmission Oil Pan Filter & Gasket Kit BMW

Searching for a fix for an ATF drip under a BMW 550i, 750i, X5 4.8i or 335d, or for a transmission service on a car that has never had its fluid changed? On the ZF 6HP26 the filter lives inside the pan, so this kit is the part you actually need: a new oil pan with the filter molded in, a molded rubber gasket and 21 replacement bolts. It does not include fluid, so plan on buying that separately.

What the oil pan and filter do in the 6HP26

The pan is both the fluid reservoir and the filter housing. The pump draws ATF through the integrated element on its way to the mechatronic valve body, so whatever the filter cannot hold back ends up in the solenoids and shift valves. ZF's oil change kit bulletin draws the line by material: plastic 6HP pans carry the filter as one piece with the pan, while aluminum and steel pans use a separate filter. This pan is glass-filled PA66 nylon (65 percent nylon, 35 percent glass fiber), the plastic integrated type.

Symptoms that point to the pan and filter

• ATF seeping along the pan rail, often worse after a hot drive
• Pump whine that climbs with engine rpm
• Slow engagement into Drive or Reverse on a cold start
• Flaring between gears once the original fluid has broken down
• High fluid temperature readings on a scan tool under load

A wet case is not always the pan. On BMW 6HP units the mechatronic connector sleeve weeps too, and BMW's own bulletin treats light wetness there differently from real fluid loss. Find where the drip starts before you buy.

How to confirm it before ordering

Clean the underside and drive the car, then look at where the fluid first appears. A leak that starts at the pan flange is the gasket; fluid running down from the connector area above the pan is the sleeve. When the old pan comes off, check the fluid smell and the magnet before going further. Our ZF6HP pan and filter service guide covers both checks, and the BMW 5 Series ZF6HP problems guide helps sort a fluid issue from a solenoid issue on E60 cars.

Fitment

This pan is listed for the ZF 6HP26, 6HP26X, 6HP28 and 6HP32 in BMW E60 and E61 5 Series (525d through 550i), E63 and E64 6 Series, E65 and E66 7 Series (745i, 750i, 760i), E70 X5, E71 X6 and the E90, E91, E92 and E93 diesels, plus Jaguar and Land Rover units sharing the same transmission. It replaces 24152333903, 24117571227, 24117522923, 24117519359 and 24117571204. ZF made 6HP19 and 6HP26 pans that look close and do not interchange, so read the number on your old pan before ordering. Not sure? Send us your year and VIN. The rest of the family is on our ZF 6HP parts page.

Install notes

• Warm the transmission briefly, then loosen the old bolts crosswise. The factory Torx heads strip easily on a stuck pan, so use a good bit and steady pressure. The replacement bolts have larger heads for next time.
• Scrape the old gasket residue off the case rail and wipe it dry. Do not add sealant to a molded gasket.
• Seat the pan and tighten all 21 bolts crosswise from the center out. ZF lists 10 Nm for plastic pans; an impact gun will crack the flange.
• Refill with an approved fluid, such as ZF LifeguardFluid 6 by the 6-liter case, through the fill port with the engine idling, and set the level by temperature between 30 and 40 C.
• If shifts stay harsh on clean fluid, the next step is the solenoids; our 6HP26 solenoid kit covers the common electrical side.

Does this kit come with transmission fluid?

No. The kit is the pan with filter, the gasket and 21 bolts. A pan service usually takes roughly 5 to 7 liters, so order a 6-liter case of an approved 6HP fluid with it.

Which fluid does the 6HP26 take?

ZF's List of Lubricants assigns LifeguardFluid 6 to the 6HP26 family, with some application codes carved out for a different grade. Check the code on your transmission ID plate against the list before you buy fluid.

Will this fit my 6HP19?

No. The 6HP19 and 6HP26 pans look similar but do not interchange. Compare the part number on your old pan against the numbers on this page, or send us your VIN.

Why is my pan leaking on a car with low miles?

Heat cycles harden the gasket and the plastic flange can distort if it was tightened unevenly or out of sequence. Tightening crosswise to the correct torque with a new molded gasket fixes it.

Can I just change the filter and keep my pan?

Not on this design. The filter is molded into the plastic pan, so the whole assembly is the replaceable part.

What torque do the pan bolts take?

ZF's oil change kit bulletin lists 10 Nm for plastic 6HP pans, tightened in a crosswise pattern from the center outward with a hand torque wrench.

• ZF6HP Filter and Pan Service Guide: Pan Material Decides the Torque
• ZF6HP BMW 5 Series Common Problems and Fixes
• ZF6HP BMW 5 Series Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• ZF6HP BMW 3 Series Common Problems and Fixes
• ZF6HP High-Mileage Service Checklist: What to Check, in What Order, Before You Touch the Fluid