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  #1  
Old 03-31-2009, 01:14 AM
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Question Changing Transmission Fluid - 2004 X3

I recently purchased a pre-owned 2004 X3 with 60K miles on it. Conventional wisdom tells me to change the tranny and differential/transfer case fluids--normally at 30K mile intervals. The BMW tech told me during the Inspection II just completed that I don't need to change these until 100,000 miles. WHAT!!!!????

Synthetic or not these fluids need to be changed, correct? I want to drive this vehicle for several years and this doesn't make any sense. Any advice? Is it imperative I use the synthetic fluids BMW recommends or will conventional do (if I change every 30K miles)?
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Old 03-31-2009, 05:49 PM
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No, they don't need to be changed. You are certainly free to do so, and many owners decide they want to do more frequent changes, but 100,000 miles is the design point for most of the driveline fluid changes.

Recommend you use BMW fluid. Transmission models vary, and typically there is a tag on the transmission telling you what fluid to use in your specific transmission.

There are lots of threads on here (on X5World in the E53 section more so than in the X3 forum) so search and see what you find.
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Old 04-01-2009, 12:16 PM
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It's because they want you to buy a new car. That's the only reason anyone in their right mind would wait 15,000 miles to change engine oil as well. That is way too long. I have a BMW mechanic who no longer works for the dealer and says to change it every 5,000. It may not be free, but if you plan to keep the car for a long time then maintain it. Worth paying a few bucks in my opinion.
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Old 04-01-2009, 01:16 PM
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There are lots of opinions on this on the board, for each side. Probably not a good idea to tell some of us that we are not in our right minds, although you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am still waiting to see a documented engine failure resulting from oil change intervals that follow BMW recommendations. I have previously posted pictures of a 100,000 mile engine that did follow those recommendations. We aren't driving our grandfather's Oldsmobile here, as sump capacity is double, we are using much better oils, and the engines design and manufacturing is improved.

Anyway, welcome to the board!
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Old 04-01-2009, 01:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL
There are lots of opinions on this on the board, for each side. Probably not a good idea to tell some of us that we are not in our right minds, although you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am still waiting to see a documented engine failure resulting from oil change intervals that follow BMW recommendations. I have previously posted pictures of a 100,000 mile engine that did follow those recommendations. We aren't driving our grandfather's Oldsmobile here, as sump capacity is double, we are using much better oils, and the engines design and manufacturing is improved.

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Old 04-01-2009, 05:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL
There are lots of opinions on this on the board, for each side. Probably not a good idea to tell some of us that we are not in our right minds, although you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am still waiting to see a documented engine failure resulting from oil change intervals that follow BMW recommendations. I have previously posted pictures of a 100,000 mile engine that did follow those recommendations. We aren't driving our grandfather's Oldsmobile here, as sump capacity is double, we are using much better oils, and the engines design and manufacturing is improved.

Anyway, welcome to the board!
Haha ok point taken. I will change my fluids more often. How bout that.
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:13 PM
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Yes, there is a happy middle ground in this debate.

The downsides of changing oil too frequently:
- additives in oil may only just be reaching full effectiveness
- "dry" startup after oil change might be harmless but it can't be beneficial

On the other hand, many people think "normal usage" is daily short commutes and a Sunday drive to church, with no highway trips.
Far from being suitable for 15K intervals, this is where a "severe service" schedule should be followed.

Oil might well be good for 15K of fast highway use, but I'm not convinced that oil filter technology has progressed to keep pace, so this is now the weak link.
At least in the X3 it is easy to do a mid-term filter-only change if you feel so inclined.
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:25 PM
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The reason for the annual or 24 month oil change is to deal with low mileage usage. Short trips, particularly in very cold ambients, are brutal on a vehicle. When I lived in -40, I religiously followed manufacturer's severe service recommendations, particularly for engine oil.

With a blend of highway and urban driving, I am now doing 12,000 miles in 15 months, so that is when I change it.

With respect to automatic transmission fluid, the original question, I wouldn't touch it, but that is just me. I haven't seen or read of problems with burnt fluid, more so failures of sensors and actuators, and those aren't going to be fixed by early fluid changes. With diffs, I wouldn't change them based on normal usage, but would do so if I was wading across streams (just as an example).

All that said, people are certainly free to change their fluids more frequently if it makes one feel better. After hundreds of threads on the subject, that is pretty much the bottom line. Do what feels good.
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Old 04-01-2009, 09:40 PM
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Wow! thanks for the feedback. This is certainly a hot topic for many. I'm going to change the tranny & diff fluids. I already change oil every 5K miles & have all my life. I've never had a vehicle fail for these reasons and the cost to replace a tranny or x drive is not something I want to do. Seems like money well spent given the color of the fluids & viscoscity comparisons before & after. I just wanted to make sure the Munchen Boys didn't come up with some Holy Grail/fountain of car youth formula that can actually last 100K. Sounds like the same group of engineers that came up with the 100K tune up & spark plug recommendation...rrriigghhtt...
I like my BMW, but momma didn't raise no fool.
Cheers!
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Old 04-04-2009, 11:38 AM
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Hahahaha. This certainly is a hot topic. A hot topic on any car forum. Let's consider that tractor trailer trucks don't have regular oil changes shall we? They simply get an oil analysis every so often and those engines last hundreds and hundreds of thousands of miles. To say that the guys at the oil change shops know more than the engineers who designed the engine is a stretch. Both are trying to make money off you of course.

Myself, I change according to the manufacturer recommendations or when I notice a problem. I had Amsoil transmission fluid in my last car and it lasted 90,000 miles. And I'm going to use Amsoil synthetic fluid in the X3 when the warranty runs out. It has a one year/25,000 mile life span, but only when used with their Ea series filters which are not available for the X3. : (

To each his own, but don't get offended by other's opinions. : )

Cheers.
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