BMW E28, E32, E34 Valve Body Cleaning (ZF 4HP22)

In this video I briefly go over the process of cleaning up the valve body on the 4-speed ZF 4HP22 EH (electronic-hydraulic) transmission. This applies to the following BMW platforms: E23, E24, E28, E30, E32 and E34.
Parts list
Separator plate gasket: CobraTrans 69320EA

[@lanzengineering5272]

thank you very much for the Video! it's very appreciated and many people can learn a lot how to service the mechatronic!

[@jederzeit9449]

Thanks always for your detailed content and the effort you put in everything. Helps me a lot to maintain my '92 730i ☺️👍

[@1983dmd]

Superbe boulot !!! Bravo! Intéressant et bien filmé .

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Merci bien!!

[@aptoscomputer7324]

The whine is normal. My 92 735i does it (With a rebuilt transmission only 30k miles old) and my two 1986 L7's also did it. I always thought it was a curious sound. Don't know what causes it.

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

That's good to know, thanks for your comment! I wonder if the Land Rovers and other cars with the 4HP22 transmission also exhibit this strange sound. Personally I can live with it but I still wish the transmission would be silent...

[@aptoscomputer7324]

@@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec Really? I like the sound. Kinda sounds like there's a ghost in the car. But I can assure you, they all make that sound. After I made this comment I checked around YT for videos of other people driving 735i/735iL and you can always hear this sound on acceleration from stop. I'm not mechanically inclined and don't know about the inner workings of cars, but I know these specific cars for whatever reason make that specific sound.

[@aptoscomputer7324]

@@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec Let me know if you definitely figure out what causes this sound. Would love to watch a video.

[@MrIgorash]

I have the same sound on my E32 1994, also 1st and 2nd gear. Also i like that sound ))) So maybe there's nothing wrong is just how it is! Great video man !

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

@@MrIgorash Thanks! Yes the sound isn't too bad, it's really only in the first gears.

[@Resq28]

Dude, you amaze me!! 😂👏👏👏

[@leecallaghan2202]

Just thought I would mention you should try and find the BMW book by the factory called the seven years of the 7- produced in 1986. It shows the development and manufacture of the 7 e32 and is a two book package in a large oversized box. See if you can find one- it’s fascinating.

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Hi Lee, I have this book already! A fellow E32 owner showed me his copy and I searched for it. Found a copy on eBay for a decent price. It's an excellent book I agree.

[@connerchampion5656]

Not just those bmws also Jaguar and Land Rover models too. 1987-1997 Jaguar XJ40 and XJ300’s, 1987-2002 Range Rover’s, 1994-2004 Land Rover Discovery’s, and 1986-1997 Peugeot 505’s

[@AlCabanas]

Do you feel lockups on each gear? I've got 3.0v6 Citroen with 4hp20. On 2nd and 3rd gear I feel like slipping the torque converter and then lockup. Should be that so noticeable?

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Hmm I can't say I feel the lockup, no. I only feel the gear shifts.

[@Second.Q]

Bro!! I believe there’s sort of modifying chart specs and issued long ago from BMW describing who to drill tiny thouinch holes both in valve body and reverse bearing case but ain’t quite sure is it for 4hp-24 or 4hp-22?

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Yes you are right. On the 4hp22 there used to be a common fix for the A-clutch pack which was to install a teflon o-ring (instead of metal) as well as drilling a tiny hole for oil to escape. I don't know all the details but if you google "4hp22 teflon ring drill" you'll find some good threads that address this issue. I haven't done this fix on my 4hp22 myself.

[@rolandomoser9962]

Hello, I would like to clear up a doubt that I have. I have a 735i that I am repairing. The starter motor is not working and there is my doubt, the space to remove the nuts is in a very complicated place, do I need to remove the intake manifold to be able to remove it? Greetings from Paraguay

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Hello, sorry for the late response. You should not have to remove the intake manifold to remove the starter. Search on the forum "mye28.com". There the guys discussed how to remove the starter on a M30B35 engine.

[@sondo2996]

More videos plz❤❤

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

I'm working on that :) Thanks for your patience!

[@yellowjoe.2000]

Amazing video. thank you. i have a e32 730i with 140k km on the 4hp22 transmission. Would i need a valve body refresh such as yours? thank you

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Hi, most cars of this vintage could benefit from a general cleaning of the valve body. But it's not a required maintenance item. It's more important to change the transmission oil and filter.

[@yellowjoe.2000]

@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec amazing. thanks. do 4hp22 transmissions require a full rebuild kit or they can last a lifetime?

[@sonnykaledi9278]

Hi there Hope you are well and thanks always for the passion and detail in your videos. * please help me. I have an E32 730i recently acquired with no gearbox/transmission. Do you know if the ZF5HP19 would fit in it. Am struggling to source the ZF4HP22 original one.* Thanks in advance for your advice 🙏

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Sorry I don't know about the 730i and gearbox compatibility! Good luck with your search!

[@shuttlemanjack]

My 89 E24 has a longstanding issue with not consistently downshifting into 1st gear at a start. When accelerating it sometimes starts in 2nd gear and then kicks down into first. There is no slipping.

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

I wish I could help you but I don't know the solution, sorry.

[@RicardoMartinez-kr5qk]

well done

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Thanks Ricardo!

[@johnfloore9799]

Man! what a labor of love! if you EVER want to sell this car, please let me know! (I'm serious.)

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Thank you for the kind words! I don't plan on selling the car, but I will keep your offer in mind. :)

[@johnfloore9799]

@@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec No problem. I have a black w126 Mercedes that I bought in good shape (really a garage queen) and spent the last three years perfecting --very similar to what you've done here: (had it all apart and in a million pieces, etc.) The goal was to have a reliable daily driver so every rubber or plastic part had to be replaced. Now that I've achieved that, I'll probably never sell it either.

[@abdkalaf9231]

السؤال هو لماذا فتحت الكنترول؟ انه عمل مضني وجبار احسنت

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

مرحبًا ، حاولت أن أجعل النقل أكثر سلاسة. أيضًا لأنه بعد 30 عامًا ، يجب تنظيف كل شيء في السيارة.