Just wanted to share my AL4 adventure ...
I drive a 206CC with the dreaded box in it, and at around 115k it started doing the dreaded THUMP into limp-home mode - usually first thing in the morning, going up the massive hill that is my morning drive into town / work. A stop-and-restart once it was warm would reset the box and fix the issue (got quite good at this while still moving in traffic - naughty I know), but it never really got any better ...
At 145k, the local auto specialist diagnosed a solenoid fault and advised replacing both solenoids ...
Not afraid of a bit of mechanicking, I drained the box, pulled the valve block off, stripped it down, flushed everything, reassembled it KEEPING but SWAPPING the ORIGINAL solenoids over, and put it all back together.
Now at 165k, never had a recurrence, and the box changes like a newbie.
And the magic 'fluid' that is recommended? Try Penrite ATF FS - it works great in my box. The label says it can be used where 'BMW LT71141' spec is recommended ... same same ... and it's easy to get your hands on.
And it's red - like all ATF should be - lol.
Cheers
I drive a 206CC with the dreaded box in it, and at around 115k it started doing the dreaded THUMP into limp-home mode - usually first thing in the morning, going up the massive hill that is my morning drive into town / work. A stop-and-restart once it was warm would reset the box and fix the issue (got quite good at this while still moving in traffic - naughty I know), but it never really got any better ...
At 145k, the local auto specialist diagnosed a solenoid fault and advised replacing both solenoids ...
Not afraid of a bit of mechanicking, I drained the box, pulled the valve block off, stripped it down, flushed everything, reassembled it KEEPING but SWAPPING the ORIGINAL solenoids over, and put it all back together.
Now at 165k, never had a recurrence, and the box changes like a newbie.
And the magic 'fluid' that is recommended? Try Penrite ATF FS - it works great in my box. The label says it can be used where 'BMW LT71141' spec is recommended ... same same ... and it's easy to get your hands on.
And it's red - like all ATF should be - lol.
Cheers