01 x5 tranny fluid?

[stackz]

was looking online and it looks like equivalent fluid for an 01 3.0 automatic transmission is dextron VI??

I had to replace the transmission reservoir this weekend as it had a hairline crack along the bottom and I wanted to obviously make sure its topped off....but I want to use a correct equivalent fluid. just looking for confirmation is all.

[Zulu95]

I have been driving on Amsoil Synthetic Auto Transmission Fluid since 2004. Did a second change in 2009.

[squidzilla]

It used to be Dex 3. But they(BMW NA) do not make that anymore so now they say to use Dex 6. Pick a Dex 6 and run it with it. Any Dex 6.

You can even use Mobil ATF D/M if you can find it. The spec is slightly higher than Dex 3 and lower than Dex 6.

[bcredliner]

There is a sticker on the transmission pan advising type of transmission fluid to use. The design of the transmission included type/brand fluid to use.

The suggestion is from a ZF repair specialist. I had a long discussion with him about ZF transmissions and upgrading my transmission. I would like to be less concerned with how much stress I put on it due to mods. He said even with transmission upgrades he would not use anything other than ZF fluid. Many folks use other fluids and swear by them and sometimes based on other experts though using what the designers recommend seems logical.

[stackz]

Originally Posted by squidzilla

It used to be Dex 3. But they(BMW NA) do not make that anymore so now they say to use Dex 6. Pick a Dex 6 and run it with it. Any Dex 6.

You can even use Mobil ATF D/M if you can find it. The spec is slightly higher than Dex 3 and lower than Dex 6.

ok cool, so dex 3 is minimum equivalent then? in that case anything dex 6 and below to dex 3 will work as they are all backwards compatible. I've got two quarts of dex 5 in the garage.

[oldskewel]

A few things:

The comments on DEXRON VI are correct for the 2001 3.0i's AT, which was made by GM. When doing it myself, I started with the sticker on the actual AT on my car, followed the fluid specification there, using only BMW information (no web hearsay or 3rd party claims) and doing that, you end up with DEXRON VI as the current BMW spec. Note that there is a difference between a DEX VI "certified" fluid and an ATF that says it meets the requirements of DEX VI, or works with vehicles that take DEX VI, or smells like DEX VI, or costs about the same, or has a similar-looking font on the bottle, or something less specific.

As far as I know there is no such thing as dex 5, so I'm not sure what that is that you have in the garage.

Very different story for ZF. I would probably follow bcredliner's advice if you have a ZF (came on the 4.4i).

Sorry if I'm reading this wrong, but you refer to replacing the ATF reservoir. The ATF reservoir is the pan at the bottom of the AT. Could it be that you replaced the Power Steering Fluid reservoir, which says ATF on it, since the PS system takes ATF (DEXRON III is spec for that; DEXRON VI should work fine in that)?

[Scott ZHP]

Originally Posted by stackz

I had to replace the transmission reservoir this weekend as it had a hairline crack along the bottom and I wanted to obviously make sure its topped off....but I want to use a correct equivalent fluid. just looking for confirmation is all.

reservoir or the pan itself, underneath the transmission? The round black plastic thing in the engine bay that says "ATF" on it is the power steering reservoir.

[stackz]

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

reservoir or the pan itself, underneath the transmission? The round black plastic thing in the engine bay that says "ATF" on it is the power steering reservoir.

actually, after further looking up the parts on realoem to get a new o-ring for the cap, what I replaced was the power steering reservoir this weekend guys haha. idiot moment but I guess thats what happens when you see something leaking and immediately run to the u-pull and grab one that isnt cracked.

I guess the fact that it says "ATF fluid" on the twist cap and atf came out instead of power steering fluid which is normally off amber colored just had me hyper focus.

[upallnight]

Even though Dexron III is no longer being manufactured under license from GM, you can still buy Dexron III on eBay and perhaps Amazon. Bought a case of Genuine GM Dexron III for the X.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Even though Dexron III is no longer being manufactured under license from GM, you can still buy Dexron III on eBay and perhaps Amazon. Bought a case of Genuine GM Dexron III for the X.

Dexron VI is backwards compatible in transmissions is there some reason why that does not apply to power steering?