Transmission Fluid Change DIY

[RevJunky]

Originally Posted by alpac

This a great DIY Thanks for sharing. As you indicate we can only drain a part of the transmission fluid capacity. I am not 100% sure for the X5 but the following statement was true with most BMW's automatic transmissions in the past. Most of the transmission fuild is in the torque convertor which cannot be drained without dissassembling the transmission. The entire fluid can be refreshed though by flushing the transmission. To do that the fuild needs to be drained several times with new fuild and by running the car for few minutes each times. That will consume more than the full capacity of the transmission but it is a good way to replace the entire transmission fluid.

That's a good way to try and change out more than 45% of the fluid but at $17 a bottle for the tranny fluid, if you do the whole procedure twice, you'll be spending close to another $100 and theoretically only be changing out about 70% total after both flushes.

[RevJunky]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

This is an excellent write-up! Does anyone know where the filter is and how to change it?

You need to removed the transmission oil pan to get to it. The oil pan has a bunch of torx bolts holding it on and you'll need to replace the gasket once you remove it. It should be able to see the filter once the pan is off.

Item 10 BMW part # 24341422673 and retail for about $40.

[RevJunky]

Originally Posted by justintmn

RevJunky,
Great write up! I want to change my transmission fluid too but I want to clarify one step: after you drain, fill and run the engine, do you lift your car above ground to have access to the transmission oil fill hole while your car is running or do you leave your car on the ground and try to get access to the oil fill hole? Thanks.

Justin

You should be lifting the car up to get to the fill and drain bolts in the first place.

[RevJunky]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

hayaku, what fluid did you use when you did your change? I'm thinkin about either using Amsoil or Redline for all the driveline fluids (different weights of course).

You should try to use the Esso or VW fluid because you will be mixing it with what it already in the transmission. The VW fluid isn't much more expensive than Amsoil or Redline and it's probably even more readily available.

[chubyball]

RevJunky,

I just take a look under my transmission of X5 (2003 4.4i), I see that I have a similar green sticker as your, my assumption that I have to buy the oil that match with sticker spec, because I have not been able to read anything from the stick yet, the wording are too small.
What are you planing to do with the gear oil MOBIL 1 75 90w? Change the gear oil? Where can I order Esso or VW?

[RevJunky]

Originally Posted by chubyball

RevJunky,

I just take a look under my transmission of X5 (2003 4.4i), I see that I have a similar green sticker as your, my assumption that I have to buy the oil that match with sticker spec, because I have not been able to read anything from the stick yet, the wording are too small.
What are you planing to do with the gear oil MOBIL 1 75 90w? Change the gear oil? Where can I order Esso or VW?

I used the Mobil 1 Gear Oil to change out both differential fluids. I wasn't able to track down the OEM fluid but since I was able to drain out most of what was in there already, changing to Mobil 1 should be ok.

[JCL]

Good write-up, nice photos as well.

I know that you specified that this procedure is for a 4.4, but it may be worth clarifying the point further as this will be a reference for other X5 owners. As BMW uses transmissions from different manufacturers, the transmission fluid specs are very different. A comment to the effect that "this procedure is very similar for the 3.0, but ensure that you check your transmission for your specific fluid requirements" may save a future 3.0 owner from putting the wrong fluid in.

Good job

Jeff

[cary]

I am currently going through the fluid issue with the 3.0 tranny. There were apparently 4 different fluids use in the GM tranny with no ryme or reason with when it was used. You have to pull the PN of the fluid off the pan to order the correct one.

[woodvine]

Just changed in my 02 4.4i with 100K using the above directions, worked great very simple DIY. Used 5.0 quarts of the VW/Audi fluid. To my suprise the old fluid looked pretty clean. I have seen others that were black like motor oil. Mine was dk brown/amber and still could be seen thru. I did pump in a extra quart after draining to flush out the pan, well worth it if you are going this route, that stuff was black coming off the bottom of the pan! Trying to correct the jerky shift going down from 2nd to 1st. Well we will see how she does. Don't think I will bother with the 2nd flush for quite a while.

[Tomaz]

This is an excellent article on a complete transmission flush including the filter that convinced me to do mine.

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...smission+flush

One can see all of the sediment in the bottom of the pan and on the magnets. If you only change fluid, there is a chance of dislodging this sediment and causing transmission failure. If you are going to change fluid I recommend you drop the pan and change the filter too.