Has anyone done a Transmission filter and fluid change and caused more issues?

[E53inLA]

This issue first came up for me on my 1999 MB E320 with 90,000 miles which was having very slight slipping. I took it to a transmission shop, who drained the fluid, and put it back in and told me I needed a $3,500 rebuild. I opted instead to have the fluid and it helped the very slight slipping. I did it again at 110,000 miles. I got 3-4 years of near perfect driving from those 2 fluid changes before I sold the car to my mechanic who says the car still drives great.

We bought the E53 in 2005 and changed the tranny fluid approx every 3 years or 30,000 miles. It it now at 90K+ miles, however we live in a hilly area of Los Angeles so there is extra wear & tear on the car. As a %, very little highway driving.

I'm in the camp that one should change the trans fluid on a regular basis. The reports of failure shortly after a change may be true, but the trans might have failed anyway.

[kvc]

Go to the ZF site and read what the manufacturer recommends.... Change the filter and fluid on a regular basis (at least every 100,000 kms or 60,000 miles).
Would you drain the engine and put the same dirty oil back in? The same principle applies to any mechanical component, regardless of 'dislodging built up deposits', which can happen at any time IMHO.

[bestvaluestore]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Did those people that suffer failure after a fluid change use approve atf or use some other type of of ATF. ZF the maker of trans for V8 X5 warns of problems with their trans if non approved fluid is used. Wi t h the cost of the fluid from ZF many owners might have opted to use something cheaper.

I do not know what they used but this is my observation and some people told me not to change mine and I tell you my experience on the topic.

[sunny5280]

I have yet to see any scientific evidence to support the argument changing the fluid increases the chance of having a transmission issue. Until then I consider it a wives tale.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by E53inLA

I'm in the camp that one should change the trans fluid on a regular basis. The reports of failure shortly after a change may be true, but the trans might have failed anyway.

This. Unless an RCA was performed (highly unlikely) people assume one caused the other. The phrase "correlation does not imply causation" is applicable here.

[bestvaluestore]

I just believe these guys who are more experienced than me.And so far all is ok.

[spongerich]

BMW is 100% correct that the fluid is 'lifetime'.

Because once the fluid goes bad or gets contaminated, that the end of the lifetime for your transmission.

My indy has worked on BMWs for 20 years and was service manager at a local dealer for 10. He told me not to pay him the $500 for a proper flush and filter change.. said he'd rather sell me a $5000 transmission in a couple years :-)

My 4.4 is going in tomorrow. I'm at 70K and mine shifts just a little harsher than I'd like. Even if the new fluid doesn't help, seems like cheap insurance.

[E53inLA]

Originally Posted by spongerich

BMW is 100% correct that the fluid is 'lifetime'.

Because once the fluid goes bad or gets contaminated, that the end of the lifetime for your transmission.

My indy has worked on BMWs for 20 years and was service manager at a local dealer for 10. He told me not to pay him the $500 for a proper flush and filter change.. said he'd rather sell me a $5000 transmission in a couple years :-)

My 4.4 is going in tomorrow. I'm at 70K and mine shifts just a little harsher than I'd like. Even if the new fluid doesn't help, seems like cheap insurance.

HAH! My mechanic, who used to work at local BMW stealer, told me almost exactly same thing. "Lifetime" in their eyes is the life of the warranty. Back when the X5 was under the maintenence plan, I asked the SM and was told they won't even do a fluid change if requested by the customer.

Originally my E320 had the same lifetime trans fliud, but then later on MB put out a service bulletin to change it every 60K mile IIRC.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by E53inLA

HAH! My mechanic, who used to work at local BMW stealer, told me almost exactly same thing. "Lifetime" in their eyes is the life of the warranty. Back when the X5 was under the maintenence plan, I asked the SM and was told they won't even do a fluid change if requested by the customer.

Originally my E320 had the same lifetime trans fliud, but then later on MB put out a service bulletin to change it every 60K mile IIRC.

Similar thing from my indy who used to manage a BMW service department.

[admranger]

My transmission was changed under CPO warranty for the 2nd to 1st gear 'slam'. 30k miles later I did a fluid change with ZF Lifetime6 fluid. Smoother shifts were noticed by my wife (as well as me, but that could have been confirmation bias on my part). I'll do it every 30k miles from now on but it's easy for me as I have a lift in my garage.

Jeff's post, as usual, was complete and thoroughly thought out. I'd read it carefully.

BTW: What year/engine are we discussing (pro tip: signatures help eliminate people from asking this question...)? Mileage?