transmission fluid

[Baber9310]

i was wanting to know has anyone found a transmission fluid thats not 27.00 a liter from bmw? i work at a nissan dealership and we had valvoline maxlife transmission fluid and now we are a mobil 1 dealer and both reps said that i could use both of the synthetic trans fluid in my 05 bmw x5 4.8is. is that true?

[HPIA4v2]

Originally Posted by Baber9310

i was wanting to know has anyone found a transmission fluid thats not 27.00 a liter from bmw? i work at a nissan dealership and we had valvoline maxlife transmission fluid and now we are a mobil 1 dealer and both reps said that i could use both of the synthetic trans fluid in my 05 bmw x5 4.8is. is that true?

Why bother with "better" aftermarket fluid when you can buy the exact one used in ZF trans like from this place:
Kits: The CTSC - ZF Parts

[SlickGT1]

Yup that's where I got my fluid. I still have 2L left over after dropping the pan two times.

[SF2000x5]

I used this when I dropped the pan and change the filter and it's still running. I think I poured in 7.5 qts.

[ECS Tuning]

The kits we have for the E53 4.8 either use RedLine D4 or Shell M1375.4 fluid both of which meet all the requirements for the transmission found in the X. HERE is a link to the kits if you would like to check them out.

[JCL]

I think it is a really bad idea to use a generic multipurpose fluid like the Castrol Transmax Multi-Vehicle formula or Redline D4 fluids shown above.

[SF2000x5]

Appreciate the input, but why not? IIRC, the Castrol bottle says it meets BMW specs. Running better than since I bought my used X5 after 5 months ago.

I do plan on draining as much fluid through the drain plug since its been about 5k miles after the first time I drained it.

Castrol USA - Transmax Import Multi–Vehicle

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by JCL

I think it is a really bad idea to use a generic multipurpose fluid like the Castrol Transmax Multi-Vehicle formula or Redline D4 fluids shown above.

100% agree. I would not screw around with fluid for German slushbox that wasn't designed for it specifically.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by SF2000x5

Appreciate the input, but why not? IIRC, the Castrol bottle says it meets BMW specs. Running better than since I bought my used X5 after 5 months ago.

Because it doesn't meet the spec. The text was carefully written to make it appear that it meets the spec. Lawyers then checked so they couldn't be sued. Read what it says.

CASTROL TRANSMAX IMPORT MULTIVEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IS FOR USE IN MOST HONDA, TOYOTA, NISSAN AND OTHER IMPORTED VEHICLES.

Recommended for use in vehicles that require:

Honda, Acura — ATF–Z1 (except in CVTs)
Toyota, Lexus — Type T, T–III, T–IV
Nissan, Infiniti — Matic–D, Matic–J
BMW — LA2634, LT71141
Mitsubishi — Diamond SP–II, SP–III
Hyundai — SP–II, SP–III
Volvo

Also meets requirements of

ATF+3®, ATF+2®, ATF+®
Ford MERCON®, MERCON® V (Not for use where MERCON® SP is required).
General Motors DEXRON®–III H and prior (Not for use where DEXRON®–VI is required).
Allison C–4
Available in quarts and gallons

It is 'recommended for use in' some vehicles but 'meets the spec of' other vehicles. That means that it doesn't meet the spec of the first group. Subtle but legal. It isn't just Castrol, as Redline D4 and others are exactly the same.

Some of have an advantage in picking up on this c**p as we know from the formulations that those fluids are mutually exclusive in many cases. Makes it easy to spot misleading labeling. Another tip off is that the specs they are certified to are shown with the trademark symbol. That is the rule of the trademark holder when they licensed the fluid. They dont have to include the trademark symbol for the first batch since they don't actually say they meet it. You have to think like a lawyer unfortunately. They rely on people just looking for their vehicle brand (ie BMW) on the label and not picking up on this. Pretty sad.

[RRPhil]

I think you guys with the 6HP26s should do some research on the Ford Mercon SP fluid which Ford use in their Lepelletier transmissions.

It may turn out to actually be Shell ATF M1375.4 (i.e. ZF Lifeguardfluid 6) but, because it’s made by Shell in Texas instead of Shell in Europe, it’s a fraction of the price to those of you on that side of the pond.

So is Ford Mercon SP fluid pretty inexpensive over there?

Phil