Shift Selector Shaft Seal - Help please!

[BimmerHeadBri]

Ok, I have searched all the archives and someone mentioned to lower the rear of the tranny to change the Shift Selector Shaft Seal. I changed it a while ago (but did it wrong - it didn't sit right and is leaking worse than before) but I also was changing the CSB and guibo, so I had the exhaust and the driveshaft off.

Now I really don't want to take all that crap off again to change this stupid little seal. I like the idea of lowering the rear of the tranny, but not sure how much is safe, ie. before I break something.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Oh, and one more thing, what can I use to make sure the seal does not leak? I am pretty certain where it sits is now scored by the tweaked seal and will leak again even with a new one. Is there a sealant I can apply once the new seal is in to make sure I NEVER have to do this again?

Cheers.

Brian in Calgary
'86 325e
'81 528i

[AdamF 88iS]

Did you scour the selector shaft or the tranny housing? If it's the housing you can silicon it. If you scoured the shaft you're SOL.

[BimmerHeadBri]

I'm pretty sure I only scored the tranny housing.

So what, just regular silicone after I put the seal in?

Thanks.

[AdamF 88iS]

Get a small dab of silicon on the housing first so it fills the mark in when you pop the seal in.

[BimmerHeadBri]

Thanks Adam

Appreciate the advice. Now I just have to find the time to do it.

Cheers.

[bootlegskate]

for future searchers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkTzhZxBYaw

[jeffnhiscars]

Personally, I keep silicon away from anything that has gears, bearings and oil passages since bits of it do and will wander, it never breaks down and the damage it can do can be catastrophic ( I feel the same about RTV).

For seals use anaerobic gasket sealer (Permatex makes some) on the outer rim and if at all possible don't drive the new seal to the same depth as the old one so the lip rides on a fresh surface.

Note to self...check dates of thread before posting :)