Replacing e70 35D Transmission Pan with Ford 6R80

[boredincl]

I wanted to make future transmission oil changes easier and found a great solution. I have posted the steps in the following PDFs. Sorry there are so many files, but the complete pdf exceeded the upload limits.

[Price]

but why??

[boredincl]

Originally Posted by Price

but why??

To avoid having to replace $100+ plastic ZF pan because the filter is built in. This way I replace just the filter, fluid and have 1 extra liter Fluid capacity.

[Price]

OEM pan is less than $100. But even if you get it for $200 from a dealer, saving of 50...150 bux over 100,000 miles?

[boredincl]

Yup, worth it to me.

[bawareca]

Someone else still thinks Ford parts are equal to BMW parts? Even if the quality is very close the design will differ most of the time. Ford wants cheap, BMW wants cheap and well performing
Seriously, ZF transmissions in BMW are known from many years to not perform well with aftermarket filters. They need huge fluid flow and always get choked and noisy with anything but original filter.

[boredincl]

ZF specs the filter for the trans it licenses to Ford just as it does for a BMW. Replacing the filter with a good quality unit every 50-60k is in my opinion a much better bet then waiting 100k for the "lifetime fill" with the BMW pan
I'm not getting hung up on the fact that it's a cheaper ford pan, it's that this pan allows me to use a replaceable filter of my choice and hold addition volume to help keep the fluid cleaner longer and running cooler.

[Price]

I'd wager unless you tow heavy equipment most of the time, there's no difference whatsoever b/w 60 and 100k filter replacements... and fluid too. But knowing the lower portion of the pan is now closer to the ground and is somewhat exposed to the elements is surely very comforting.

[Davidf]

Yes, all this is fine. The transmission are virtually the same for both BMW and Ford. Also, if you think the Ford pan is fine for the BMW, why not use the "SP" fluid that Ford specifies for the transmission and stay away from the Lifeguard fluid? Same logic right?

For me, I stay with the BMW pan as I don't want confusion for the next person that may work on the car. And, I use the "SP" fluid or equivalent.

Each to his own.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by boredincl

and running cooler.

Just FYI, the heat is not a problem anymore in our transmissions. By deafult the TC is always locked, i.e. no slipping, i.e no heat. It only unlocks briefly when the engine output is below the required and doesnt produce any measurable heat. This why i believe that 75-100k fluid change intervals would equal 50k replacement intervals in a conventional, old school, transmission.