X5 4.4 - Sludge in engine and oil filter housing... help!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

Do you realize his advice came back in 2002?

I sent him an e-mail in December asking for his maintenance recommendation document and that is in the document he sent me. Since he is quite emphatic that he does not want his maintenance document posted on the internet as he does not want any out-of-date copies floating around, I assume what he sent me in December is still an active recommendation of his... at least as of December, 2009.

P.S. I just checked the document he sent me, from which I took that quote. It has a "revised" date of July 2009.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I sent him an e-mail in December asking for his maintenance recommendation document and that is in the document he sent me. Since he is quite emphatic that he does not want his maintenance document posted on the internet as he does not want any out-of-date copies floating around, I assume what he sent me in December is still an active recommendation of his... at least as of December, 2009.

P.S. I just checked the document he sent me, from which I took that quote. It has a "revised" date of July 2009.

The point is it's based on dated information. Whether the current document says essentially the same thing is irrelevant. His opinion on the matter was formed over seven years ago.

Meanwhile the manufacturer has since changed their policy and now recommends the fluid be changed every 100K miles.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

The point is it's based on dated information. Whether the current document says essentially the same thing is irrelevant. His opinion on the matter was formed over seven years ago.

Meanwhile the manufacturer has since changed their policy and now recommends the fluid be changed every 100K miles.

Well, at the end of the day, I'll still take Mike Miller's opinion. From what I have seen, he knows his stuff. Frankly I think it is unjustifiably insulting to him to flatly state that his opinion was formed seven years ago, is based on dated information, and that "Whether the current document says essentially the same thing is irrelevant."

Aren't all the opinions stated in this thread based on the same "dated information," since we obviously do not have long-term statistics on the newest transmissions?

Are you seriously suggesting that posters on this thread have more data, feedback, or information on BMW transmissions than Mike Miller?

In any case, when I do not have enough information or experience to make a definitive analysis on my own, I have to pick someone to believe. And in this case, I pick Mike Miller.

Others can choose someone else if they feel they know more than Mike in this area.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Well, at the end of the day, I'll still take Mike Miller's opinion. From what I have seen, he knows his stuff. Frankly I think it is unjustifiably insulting to him to flatly state that his opinion was formed seven years ago, is based on dated information, and that "Whether the current document says essentially the same thing is irrelevant."

Aren't all the opinions stated in this thread based on the same "dated information," since we obviously do not have long-term statistics on the newest transmissions?

Are you seriously suggesting that posters on this thread have more data, feedback, or information on BMW transmissions than Mike Miller?

In any case, when I do not have enough information or experience to make a definitive analysis on my own, I have to pick someone to believe. And in this case, I pick Mike Miller.

Others can choose someone else if they feel they know more than Mike in this area.

I am thinking this:

1. The manufacturer recommends the fluid be changed at 100K miles.
2. My mechanic recommends the fluid be changed. Though I don't know what his recommend interval is.
3. JCL and Mr. Miller both say there's slight/minimal risk.
4. I have seen no supporting data to show a correlation between changing the tranmission fluid and subsequent transmissions failure.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

I am thinking this:

1. The manufacturer recommends the fluid be changed at 100K miles.
2. My mechanic recommends the fluid be changed. Though I don't know what his recommend interval is.
3. JCL and Mr. Miller both say there's slight/minimal risk.
4. I have seen no supporting data to show a correlation between changing the tranmission fluid and subsequent transmissions failure.

Did you actually read the Mike Miller quote I posted? Mike said he RECOMMENDS that the fluid be changed at least every 60,000 miles.

Mike also states:

"It is risky to drain a previously un-maintained automatic transmission with high mileage, even though if it were my car I would probably chance it."

I guess I don't understand why you are seemingly disagreeing with Mike Miller's advice.

Are you arguing that the AT fluid should not be changed?

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Did you actually read the Mike Miller quote I posted? Mike said he RECOMMENDS that the fluid be changed at least every 60,000 miles.

I read the link provided by BMWvoid. I assumed it was the same information.

Mike also states:

"It is risky to drain a previously un-maintained automatic transmission with high mileage, even though if it were my car I would probably chance it."

I guess I don't understand why you are seemingly disagreeing with Mike Miller's advice.

Are you arguing that the AT fluid should not be changed?

I believe I've completely misunderstood your argument. Too used to seeing posts about Mr. Miller being used as support as to why the fluid should not be changed. I now realize you're using it in support of changing the fluid. My apologies.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

I read the link provided by BMWvoid. I assume it's the same information

I think that's from 2002.

P.S. An interesting note... in comparing the 2002 document of Mike Miller with the 2009 version, it appears that, unlike your earlier contention that Mike "formed his opinion seven years ago," Mike has changed his position on changing ATF on a high-mileage AT transmission. In 2002 he said, "under no circumstances" would he do it, but in the latest document he says that while risky, he himself would choose to do it.

I think you owe Mike an apology more than me, as he clearly modifies his position over time when he feels it is appropriate.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Are you seriously suggesting that posters on this thread have more data, feedback, or information on BMW transmissions than Mike Miller?

I hear that there is a mechanic in Denver Colorado who is pretty good.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by JCL

I hear that there is a mechanic in Denver Colorado who is pretty good.

If I knew him personally, I might go with his opinion.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I sent him an e-mail in December asking for his maintenance recommendation document and that is in the document he sent me. Since he is quite emphatic that he does not want his maintenance document posted on the internet as he does not want any out-of-date copies floating around, I assume what he sent me in December is still an active recommendation of his... at least as of December, 2009.

P.S. I just checked the document he sent me, from which I took that quote. It has a "revised" date of July 2009.

Damn, I guess I am a slow typer as well.

My copy is even more recent...