Transmission issues summary

[Doru]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

BMW says the fluid lasts a 'lifetime'. I don't recall a communication from BMW saying WARNING--Do not change the transmission fluid. I change the fluid because I believe the capability of the fluid to properly lubricate declines as miles increase.

BMW took it back (the "Lifetime" BS). On the e39 for example, the owners manual - up to 2002, this was exactly what was printed - lifetime fluid. Starting with 2003 (last model year), the print has changed with the 100,000 miles ATF change interval. My owners manual has the 100 k miles ATF change interval. However, if you attempt to do an ATF change at the dealership, I know of 2 different scenarios:

1. They don't do it, pure & simple (this was my case - I went there and asked for it)
2. Some select dealerships are doing it for a very hansom bill.

The issue why some aren't doing it (and I speculate here), is because if that tranny wasn't serviced on a regular basis, and now a client pulls in for an ATF change, and after the change, the tranny will grenade itself, the dealer is in for a new ZF (or what the case may be) unit. The proof would be that bill of sale, plus every repair made in a BMW dealership is warrantied for 1 year parts and labor (at least it is here, in my neck of woods).

Actually ZF policy is TO SERVICE the tranny every 100,000 Km or 60,000 miles. Just take a look at this post here, where a different forum member brought the BMW for a tranny service in Germany. I wish we had here in N America the same level of service for those trannies. I would go there 100% sure. The service includes more than changing the ATF. Just read on.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Doru

However, if you attempt to do an ATF change at the dealership, I know of 2 different scenarios:

1. They don't do it, pure & simple (this was my case - I went there and asked for it)
2. Some select dealerships are doing it for a very handsom bill.

The issue why some aren't doing it (and I speculate here), is because if that tranny wasn't serviced on a regular basis, and now a client pulls in for an ATF change, and after the change, the tranny will grenade itself, the dealer is in for a new ZF (or what the case may be) unit. The proof would be that bill of sale, plus every repair made in a BMW dealership is warrantied for 1 year parts and labor (at least it is here, in my neck of woods).

Two year warranty from the dealer here in Canada. And you are correct IMO on the dealers not wanting to take on the risk. They only have to look at their profit/loss statement to see how much they make doing changes, and how much it costs them in transmissions that subsequently fail. Many shops do that and just decide they don't want the business, it is too much risk for too little reward.

bcredliner commented above that BMW doesn't say not to change the fluid. This is BMW saying that, through their dealer network. They don't say it in the owner's manuals (although the technical workshop manual says to drain the fluid and reinstall it if a dealer needs to drop a transmission pan for a sensor or actuator fix).

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Doru

BMW took it back (the "Lifetime" BS). On the e39 for example, the owners manual - up to 2002, this was exactly what was printed - lifetime fluid. Starting with 2003 (last model year), the print has changed with the 100,000 miles ATF change interval. My owners manual has the 100 k miles ATF change interval. However, if you attempt to do an ATF change at the dealership, I know of 2 different scenarios:

1. They don't do it, pure & simple (this was my case - I went there and asked for it)
2. Some select dealerships are doing it for a very hansom bill.

The issue why some aren't doing it (and I speculate here), is because if that tranny wasn't serviced on a regular basis, and now a client pulls in for an ATF change, and after the change, the tranny will grenade itself, the dealer is in for a new ZF (or what the case may be) unit. The proof would be that bill of sale, plus every repair made in a BMW dealership is warrantied for 1 year parts and labor (at least it is here, in my neck of woods).

Actually ZF policy is TO SERVICE the tranny every 100,000 Km or 60,000 miles. Just take a look at this post here, where a different forum member brought the BMW for a tranny service in Germany. I wish we had here in N America the same level of service for those trannies. I would go there 100% sure. The service includes more than changing the ATF. Just read on.

I haven't read a U.S. post that reads any X5 transmission should be serviced at some number of miles. Your reference is the E34 tranny and the international info is for the E34 tranny. Do they have the same transmission as some X5s ,and, if so, what model tranny is that?

[Doru]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I haven't read a U.S. post that reads any X5 transmission should be serviced at some number of miles. Your reference is the E34 tranny and the international info is for the E34 tranny. Do they have the same transmission as some X5s ,and, if so, what model tranny is that?

No, no, no. It's also for the e39 tranny. They are equipped with the ZF 5HP19 & 5HP24 flavor, pretty much what the 3l & 4.4l engine have, up to 2003. ZF Transmission Application Chart & Specs