Torque Converter Replacement on a 2002 BMW 330Ci in Bowling Green, KY

Picture this, you have been the soul owner of your dream car, a 2002 BMW 330Ci convertible top. You have kept this vehicle in near pristine condition since you bought it back in 2002, keeping oil changes and services up to date on the T. All of a sudden on a nice sunday morning on the way to the golf course you hear a ticking noise and start feeling what is almost like rumble strips on the side of the road, what would you do?

Well our customer had zero hesitation in bringing their vehicle to us so we could at least take a look and see if we could figure out what was wrong. Once our most experienced diagnostician became avalible he took his trust scanner and went for a test drive. Upon startup he could hear a rattle that seem to have gotten worse when the motor had more load on it (higher RPMS). He also could see in the data streams of the scanner that the Torque Converter Slip readings were off the walls compared to normal. Since this vehicle does not have an inspection cover on the bell housing of the transmission (to look at the flywheel & torque converter) we could not inspect for initial damage. We quoted a Torque converter swap with a service to fix our customers concerns. Bar in mind the fluid for this transmission is insanely expensive compared to most, roughly $80.00 per liter!

We continued on, pulling the transmission and inspecting the torque converter. To our surpise once we pulled the torque converter bolts we discovered one of them still had a piece of the flywheel on it. Wouldn't ya know it, this vehicle has a "sheet metal flywheel" meaning the material to make it is very thin compared to most. This was the sound the customer was hearing all along, but the actual torque converter was still damaged and thus needed to be replaced.

After completing the transmission repairs, installing a new flex plate, torque converter, and a service, the customer was safe to drive his dream car to the golf course in Russellville, KY once more!

Service Date: 3/20/24

Mileage: 57,620

Location: Russellville, KY