N63 Transmission, TC, and Diff Fluid change

[ard]

Originally Posted by blackhatal

Thanks for the info! I found a transmission fluid change kit with all the parts on turnermotorsports for $289 and free shipping. Called a different indy and they said they could do transmission service and tc flush for 1 hour labor each, which is much better than the first place I called. I am sure I could have done this myself but don't have access to my old garage and tools while I live in Chicago downtown for the next year.

The car started developing a slight shudder on mild throttle in full lock turns. No errors or warning lights (haven't scanned it though). There seems to be some disagreement in the community over whether that means the tc needs to be replaced or whether a fluid change can save it. I am keeping my fingers crossed that in my case it'll be the latter.

I'll take the car in for the service next Wednesday and report back with the findings here. I know many others have posted about doing this but I think more data points will be useful.

That kit does not include the correct ZF6 fluid.


1 hr labor?! Good luck.


I see a cluster.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by ard

That kit does not include the correct ZF6 fluid.


1 hr labor?! Good luck.


I see a cluster.

Ravenol is good stuff and he has the 50i so he has the ZF8HP70 8 speed transmission.

1 hour labor is a bit light though I agree but doable if they have done ZF8HP's before.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Ravenol is good stuff and he has the 50i so he has the ZF8HP70 8 speed transmission.

1 hour labor is a bit light though I agree but doable if they have done ZF8HP's before.

Its all 'good stuff'. Still shouldn't mix fluids. IMO being a cheerleader for half assed work isnt a great attribute.


1 hr to toss the car on a trans flush machine is 'doable'. Did OP have a detailed "drop the pan, change the ban, reinstall, fill, bring to temp, MEASURE temp, top off" conversation?


Well OP...did you?




Finally, its amazing how people see the ATF maintenance god only after they have shift issues...you wonder where the "ATF fluid change causes tranny issues' old wives tale came about




My bad on the ZF8 vs ZF6 oversight...thx

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by ard

Its all 'good stuff'. Still shouldn't mix fluids. IMO being a cheerleader for half assed work isnt a great attribute.

1 hr to toss the car on a trans flush machine is 'doable'. Did OP have a detailed "drop the pan, change the ban, reinstall, fill, bring to temp, MEASURE temp, top off" conversation?
Well OP...did you?
Finally, its amazing how people see the ATF maintenance god only after they have shift issues...you wonder where the "ATF fluid change causes tranny issues' old wives tale came about
My bad on the ZF8 vs ZF6 oversight...thx

Whoa easy there buddy, not sure whats up with the attitude but nothing "half-assed" about using Ravenol.

It meets and exceeds ZF's specs, it is not "mixing fluids" You know what is half-assed though? Not doing your homework and Telling him to to get the wrong damn fluid, had he listed to you he would have put in ZF6 fluid and smoked his transmission.

The fault is not with people but with BMW's jerk move of telling everyone the transmission fluid is "lifetime". ZF themselves tell you around 70-80K to change it. People of course dont know that and are just following BMW's crap advise which is nothing more then a marketing move.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Whoa easy there buddy, not sure whats up with the attitude but nothing "half-assed" about using Ravenol.

It meets and exceeds ZF's specs, it is not "mixing fluids" You know what is half-assed though? Not doing your homework and Telling him to to get the wrong damn fluid, had he listed to you he would have put in ZF6 fluid and smoked his transmission.

The fault is not with people but with BMW's jerk move of telling everyone the transmission fluid is "lifetime". ZF themselves tell you around 70-80K to change it. People of course dont know that and are just following BMW's crap advise which is nothing more then a marketing move.

Ravenol?


First, coulda sworn OP was referencing a "Vaico" ATF. Seems one of the never ending "its german so must be good for German Car" products we see. Is Vaico= Ravenol? Or is the turner item I was finding for 289 different?


https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-5...rvice-kit-8hp/





But importantly, we dont have zf6 nor zf8 complete specs, so how do you know that ravenol 'meets or exceeds'? Every tom dick and harry claims their ATF 'meets or exceeds'....but zf doesnt publish complete specs.....then you have the folks that think since ZF6 meets a Shell spec that any other ATF that meets that Shell spec therefore means it is equivalent to ZF6. (People that need to go back to 5th grade and study there Venn diagrams and word logic...) Yes, there are a TON of vendors and sites that claim fluids "meet the ZF spec". Doesnt make it true.



You want to mix fluids, go for it. It isnt a best practice. Simple as that. People do it. People run all sorts of fluids. Doesnt make it right.



FWIW: BMW stopped with the 'lifetime' claim on the x5 a few years ago. now 100k



Finally (robnitro) I did a 2x drain fill- but didnt wait a month in between, only a drive cycle to get it hot. why a month? Oh, on BITOG there does seem to be some scientific evidence around mercon and its equivalence... i havent spent the time researching, ZF fluid is cheap enough that it isnt worth it.

[Ron07x5]

Crazy they have no fill pipe or way to measure the level.
I used the way expensive BMW fluid and something I rigged up to plug into the the drain hole.

I measured the fluid that came out and sought to put as much back in. I was probably a quart less. A private bmw mechanic told me later about some complicated procedure of running the motor trans and it taking in the last bit.

The fluid was dark brown and clearly needed changing at 100K and 7 years on the X5. I have also changed the fluid in the differential, it was a pain for access I had to buy a special wrench I found online for $30.

I have 140K on the car no sign the transmission isn't working well so guess I did the job well enough. This is a job to be very careful about, if you end up with a trashed transmission that might cost more than the car is worth.

[blackhatal]

Originally Posted by ard

Ravenol?


First, coulda sworn OP was referencing a "Vaico" ATF. Seems one of the never ending "its german so must be good for German Car" products we see. Is Vaico= Ravenol? Or is the turner item I was finding for 289 different?


https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-5...rvice-kit-8hp/





But importantly, we dont have zf6 nor zf8 complete specs, so how do you know that ravenol 'meets or exceeds'? Every tom dick and harry claims their ATF 'meets or exceeds'....but zf doesnt publish complete specs.....then you have the folks that think since ZF6 meets a Shell spec that any other ATF that meets that Shell spec therefore means it is equivalent to ZF6. (People that need to go back to 5th grade and study there Venn diagrams and word logic...) Yes, there are a TON of vendors and sites that claim fluids "meet the ZF spec". Doesnt make it true.



You want to mix fluids, go for it. It isnt a best practice. Simple as that. People do it. People run all sorts of fluids. Doesnt make it right.



FWIW: BMW stopped with the 'lifetime' claim on the x5 a few years ago. now 100k



Finally (robnitro) I did a 2x drain fill- but didnt wait a month in between, only a drive cycle to get it hot. why a month? Oh, on BITOG there does seem to be some scientific evidence around mercon and its equivalence... i havent spent the time researching, ZF fluid is cheap enough that it isnt worth it.

Ard, you're right, the kit I ordered has the Vaico ATF 8HP. Tbh I didn't do any research into the trans fluid before ordering and just went by the ECS and Turnermotorsport recommendation (they both have the same kit). I'll look into it more now. Thanks for bringing it up. I found the right kit on CTSC and it's actually cheaper than the ECS one but comes out to roughly the same after shipping. Seriously considering returning the ECS kit and ordering from CTSC now. Just hate putting this off for another week

I haven't had any issues with the transmission so far. Still shifts as well as it did when I got the car at 54K miles. Just figured its a good time to change the fluid since I'm doing the TC as well. I did talk to the shop about the procedure. They know its not a transmission flush and that they have to replace the pan. It's a fairly reputable shop that only does BMWs.