OK I did transmission fluid flush on my 02 4.4i

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Draconian

Care to elaborate?

I can't share any experience in using their products in a BMW but all my subarus and many of the guys in the local subaru community have been running Amsoil for quite some time with 100% satisfaction.

Amsoil is a whole lot of marketing hype for 10 bucks a quart if you ask me.


It's kinda like the Patron or Grey Goose of the automotive world. Are there better tasting, smoother, tequilas and vodkas out there for less money? Absolutely, but societal influence has you thinking that only the best and coolest people order Patron/Grey Goose, that's marketing dollars at work right there.

Hell, get me Stolichnaya, Russian Standard, Ketel One, etc any day over that overpriced French garbage Grey Goose. I actually did a blind taste test with Stoli and Grey Goose in my house with my in-laws, who used to SWEAR by Grey Goose as being the best vodka they've had. Put the blindfold on, and both picked Stoli as better tasting without hesitation.


My point? Amsoil may be big in the "community" but just how much advertising and sponsorship money has been spent to get that reputation?

[Draconian]

From our local standpoint I couldn't give you an accurate number. I don't know of any sponsorships with the local guys except for one guy with an STI track car that took first place at the NASA event at Miller Motor Sports park last weekend. I know he uses their products but cannot say if he has an active sponsorship with them.

Other than that its been all word of mouth.


Although I just remembered something interesting on the Subaru side of the fence as well. Their 4EAT transmissions (4 speed AT) have 2 AT fluid filters. One resembles an oil filter and the other is an internal filter. Subaru advises AGAINST changing either filter. In fact the dealerships won't even touch unless the external filter becomes damaged or the customer demands it be done. They also recommend against 'flushing' but do advise a drain and fill at certain intervals but cannot remember the mileage of the top of my head.

The funny thing is, in the suby world their AT transmissions are the bulletproof trans while their 5MT trans have the nickname 'The Glass Transmission'

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Draconian

The funny thing is, in the suby world their AT transmissions are the bulletproof trans while their 5MT trans have the nickname 'The Glass Transmission'

The funny thing to me is that every BMW transmission post isn't about a BMW automatic transmission at all. All of the same discussion, problems, solutions, opinions, fluid debates, etc, apply to the other automatic transmissions out there. Automakers don't make their own automatics most of the time, and you could take out the automaker's name and have the same conversations about any other automatic.

Yet it is suggested that all of this is a BMW issue. Strange.

[Draconian]

Originally Posted by JCL

The funny thing to me is that every BMW transmission post isn't about a BMW automatic transmission at all. All of the same discussion, problems, solutions, opinions, fluid debates, etc, apply to the other automatic transmissions out there. Automakers don't make their own automatics most of the time, and you could take out the automaker's name and have the same conversations about any other automatic.

Yet it is suggested that all of this is a BMW issue. Strange.

Not suggesting this is a BMW only issue. Just sharing my experience

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Draconian

Not suggesting this is a BMW only issue. Just sharing my experience

Sorry, wasn't picking on you. I was referring to the thousands of posts on this board.

[Draconian]

Originally Posted by JCL

Sorry, wasn't picking on you. I was referring to the thousands of posts on this board.

My apologies for the misunderstanding on my part.

But I can also share my experience with changing trans fluid in a BMW, it was a 528i E39, and was slipping rather bad and leaking trans fluid. I bought a new gasket and filter from EAC, and about 8 quarts of I want to say Castrol ATF fluid but i can't recall accurately. Any way, dropped the pan and the bottom was covered with a grey/black sludge especially around the magnets, cleaned the inside out of the pan til there was not a single trace of gunk on it. The magnets looked new so i left them alone. put the car on jack stands, and using a hand pump, pumped the fluid in the highest 'fill port' I could find. Then started the car and put it in drive and let the wheels roll while my room mate pumped more fluid in. Re-installed the fill plug, got the car off jack stands and she was good to go. I had the car for about a year before selling it and had no issues whatsoever. However I may not have drove it enough for something to pop up either.

[e30cabrio]

You guys talked me into CTSC. I went to buy the filter kit & oil but I need 10 quarts to approximate a drain but they want 17.00 per for loose quarts vs 14.50 in the 6 pack. No problem, I'll call and ask for 10for 145.00. Click contact and get a webform to email and there is no number.

I do not like to do business with companies that hide their number. I found several places that had the alternator but had no number so I kept looking.

Silly in this age to do that IMHO.

[e30cabrio]

You guys talked me into CTSC. I went to buy the filter kit & oil but I need 10 quarts to approximate a drain but they want 17.00 per for loose quarts vs 14.50 in the 6 pack. No problem, I'll call and ask for 10 for 145.00. Click contact and get a webform to email and there is no number.

I do not like to do business with companies that hide their number. I found several places that had the alternator but had no number so I kept looking.

Silly in this age to do that IMHO.

[SlickGT1]

dude Klaus is one guy. He gets like 300 calls a day, he used to have the number but asked to email because he couldn't keep up with demand.

[e30cabrio]

I'm sorry if offended you by not having any knowledge of a company I never heard of prior to an hour (or so) ago lighten up dude.