Poll on Transmission Flush at High Miles

[m5james]

Originally Posted by sfcl

Another good question would be: How many X have more than 100K with the original fluid and never got transmission problems?...

Good question because that ties into what I said about people and their driving habits, cold engine procedures, etc. While my E34 M5 doesn't have the cool engine RPM's light that the E39 M5 has, the owner's manual gives basically the same procedure that only certain RPM's should be reached until the engine is up to a certain temperature. This also helps the transmission just as much. I don't even get close to redline in ANY of my cars till their at least to 1/2 or more of their normal temperature.

[dipstick]

As all auto trans will fail at some point, I think the question should be, "how long in both miles and months was it before the trans failed?" Would it be fair to say if it has been a year and/or 12k miles since the fluid change that changing was not the cause of the failure?

I ignored the advice about not changing and had a very competent indie change all driveline fluids at the 100k when I bought this car. He is a big promoter of changing the fluids even though they say lifetime. It has been about 10k and 10 months and it shifts fine.

Rich

Originally Posted by JCL

Urban legend? I beg to differ. One of the challenges with reading discussion boards, which are full of great information, is discerning the quality of that information. Technicians, mechanics, and other experts or professionals in the business write in just about the same way as those who have never overhauled a transmission but who have a strong opinion. You have to figure out who to listen to. Why not check and see what various BMW techs (Weasel, killcrap), other professional techs (The Cleaner), and some others on this board with experience in the industry say?

An X5 Outpost thread worth reading on transmission fluid changes

Another X5 Outpost thread on transmission fluid changes

For the record, I don't think it is fair to say that transmissions will fail if you change the fluid. Obviously that is not true, as most don't fail. However, I think it is fair to say that changing the fluid increases the chance of transmission failure. A better poll question would be: "If your transmission failed, have you ever changed the fluid?" Instead, the poll focuses on fluid change practices, and includes all those who haven't had a failed transmission. For that reason, the poll has limited statistical value.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by dipstick

As all auto trans will fail at some point, I think the question should be, "how long in both miles and months was it before the trans failed?" Would it be fair to say if it has been a year and/or 12k miles since the fluid change that changing was not the cause of the failure?

I would have stated it as "contributed to the failure" and not as "the cause of the failure" but yes, I think if it goes a year then the fluid change likely did not contribute directly. It is all opinion, that is just mine.

[TheGodfather]

This is a problem (or at lease a perceived and debated problem) with the W163 ML's as well. Mercedes recalled their "sealed for life" transmission procedure and started recommending tranny fluid changes circa 2002.

[ernaldamerican]

I have to agree with anyone who suggests changing the fluid. Fluid isn't made to last forever. Second and this is the biggest issue is the fluid gets dirty. That's the killer. I went to a BMW dealership today to get parts and starting talking with a tech there. I asked about the "Lifetime" statement for the tranny fluid and he commented that to BMW that was 100,000 miles. He was emphatic that you need to get it changed. Second on most automatic transmissions you have a dipstick and can fill thru that. This allows you to get the correct amount of fluid into the tranny (including whats in the torque converter. My 3.0I doesn't have dipstick. He stated that if you just fill from the torque head bolt on the tranny pan, you won't get all the fluid in that you drained out. Not sure as I have never done this but for those folks who have or those who are BMW technicians is this true? he commented they had a special hose that allows them to get into the trainy to get the correct quantity in there.

Any thoughts?

[dipstick]

I do lots of DYI stuff, but this one I paid a real pro to do. First, a lift is very helpful, then no contamination and my tech's shop I would eat off his floor and I cannot say that about my work area, then there are many types of fluids and you need to make absolutely sure you have the correct stuff and there are tags on the trans to help with this, and then you have to take the temp of the fluid as you fill it, and make sure you change the filter. The $300 I paid was so well worth it to me.
I just got back from a trip out in the huge snow and I had a real gear head interagate me about the car. He wants one too. I had to use the controled decent function again, and it works so well.
Rich

[JCL]

Originally Posted by ernaldamerican

on most automatic transmissions you have a dipstick and can fill thru that. This allows you to get the correct amount of fluid into the tranny (including whats in the torque converter. My 3.0I doesn't have dipstick. He stated that if you just fill from the torque head bolt on the tranny pan, you won't get all the fluid in that you drained out. Not sure as I have never done this ...

You pump it in from underneath, you don't just fill it to the level plug on the side of the transmission. And, as dipstick notes, you need to monitor the transmission fluid temperature as the level has to be precise, at a certain given fluid temperature. There is a documented procedure in the manual, and probably reproduced on this site if you do a search.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by JCL

You pump it in from underneath, you don't just fill it to the level plug on the side of the transmission. And, as dipstick notes, you need to monitor the transmission fluid temperature as the level has to be precise, at a certain given fluid temperature. There is a documented procedure in the manual, and probably reproduced on this site if you do a search.

While I'm assuming the ZF trans is different between the X5 and the 3/5/7 cars, www.e38.org has a couple of nice writeups w/ warming techniques that I used when doing drain & fills on a handful of the 7's that I've done for customers.

[DoubleA]

Flushing the tranny fluid when due can only be beneficial, unless you put some cheap or not recommended oil or perhaps you dont put the require amount. How in the world a tranny flush could destroy it ? Guys please wake up and get yourself a coffe before making assumption that make no sense at all.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by DoubleA

Flushing the tranny fluid when due can only be beneficial, unless you put some cheap or not recommended oil or perhaps you dont put the require amount. How in the world a tranny flush could destroy it ? Guys please wake up and get yourself a coffe before making assumption that make no sense at all.

If you read the links provided by JCL, he as well as two reputable BMW techs (Weasel and killcrap) give pretty good reasons why changing the fluid can have adverse affects. Especially at higher mileage when no previous services were performed.

Also, I read the poll wrong. There should be one less vote for "all good and no issues so far" and one more for "never changed and I am not going to".