Transmission Experts Weigh In

[Clavurion]

If the box is still working normally with those miles I would be considering dropping the gearbox and renewing/refurbishing the torque converter. TC is the known weak link in this gearbox and when the locking clutch surface wears off metal debris will very soon destroy the rest of the box.

If you are going to change the oil why not flush change the whole content. You can do this by disconnecting the line going to oil heat exchanger. Guiding the fluid from there to a a drain reservoir and filling the oilpan with drill pump or similar while engine running. Dexron III -H is the specs. I've used Petro Canada ATF D3M.

Here are some pictures from 2007 when I did this first time to my E39 530d with the same gearbox. It had a new TC at about 300t km (preventative) and now running 400t km without a problem.

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1Q...5o-PwXajFVf-pc

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by Clavurion

If the box is still working normally with those miles I would be considering dropping the gearbox and renewing/refurbishing the torque converter. TC is the known weak link in this gearbox and when the locking clutch surface wears off metal debris will very soon destroy the rest of the box.

If you are going to change the oil why not flush change the whole content. You can do this by disconnecting the line going to oil heat exchanger. Guiding the fluid from there to a a drain reservoir and filling the oilpan with drill pump or similar while engine running. Dexron III -H is the specs. I've used Petro Canada ATF D3M.

Here are some pictures from 2007 when I did this first time to my E39 530d with the same gearbox. It had a new TC at about 300t km (preventative) and now running 400t km without a problem.

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1Q...5o-PwXajFVf-pc

Thanks Clavurion, but that might be a little difficult for me to replace the TC in my garage on my back and certainly no money to have it done. I will just pray to the BMW Gods to have mercy on me and not destroy my transmission because of a clutch surface.

I have seen the Dexron III-H, I think AC Delco offers one. I wonder if I should stay with the non synthetic or move to the synthetic Dexron VI

[Clavurion]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Thanks Clavurion, but that might be a little difficult for me to replace the TC in my garage on my back and certainly no money to have it done. I will just pray to the BMW Gods to have mercy on me and not destroy my transmission because of a clutch surface.

I have seen the Dexron III-H, I think AC Delco offers one. I wonder if I should stay with the non synthetic or move to the synthetic Dexron VI

I would still do the oil change by flushing the whole content especially if you are going to Dexron VI which is also compatible and has better wear abilities. This can be done if you have the vehicle on stands. Personally I think these myths about dangerous oil changes are mainly based on cases where someone has tried to rectify an already faulty gearbox with an oil change or the oil change was done wrong and there was too little oil in the sump (not filled while engine running).

[haigha]

Originally Posted by Clavurion

I would still do the oil change by flushing the whole content especially if you are going to Dexron VI which is also compatible and has better wear abilities. This can be done if you have the vehicle on stands. Personally I think these myths about dangerous oil changes are mainly based on cases where someone has tried to rectify an already faulty gearbox with an oil change or the oil change was done wrong and there was too little oil in the sump (not filled while engine running).

I agree. My N62 was leaking at 16 years, with only 40k miles, at the mechatronic sleeve. I was experiencing some harsh shifts out of first gear.

I replaced the sleeve with my mechanic friend and we did three drain and fills with Valvoline MaxLife. It shifts great now and I hope I caught it before the low ATF due to the leak caused serious damage. The original fluid looked good. We decided to drain and fill it anyway. ZF recommends a maximum of six or eight years on the life of the fluid, I forget which. BMW says lifetime which has worked for some too.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by haigha

I agree. My N62 was leaking at 16 years, with only 40k miles, at the mechatronic sleeve. I was experiencing some harsh shifts out of first gear.

I replaced the sleeve with my mechanic friend and we did three drain and fills with Valvoline MaxLife. It shifts great now and I hope I caught it before the low ATF due to the leak caused serious damage. The original fluid looked good. We decided to drain and fill it anyway. ZF recommends a maximum of six or eight years on the life of the fluid, I forget which. BMW says lifetime which has worked for some too.

Valvoline Max Life is on my short list right now. Claims compatibility for ZF LT71141 and GM ETL 8072B

[haigha]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Valvoline Max Life is on my short list right now. Claims compatibility for ZF LT71141 and GM ETL 8072B

But not certified, as others have pointed out in previous threads. For me, the savings over the ZF fluid was worth the risk. Something like a sixth or eighth of the cost. I bought mine at Walmart. I had read other posts where people had success with MaxLife before choosing it.