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.