Let's talk Transmission Maintenance...

[Ghost-Flame]

Ardy and JCL,This thread has been fun to read. Who has that much time? But I thank you for the different perspectives.

I'm going to change my fluid today with M1 atf. This has worked great for me in the past, every 50,000 miles. Maybe I'm deluded but I think I'm extending the life of those parts that might fail that would lead to trans failure. But, That's just me and I also believe that at the end of rainbows are huge pots of gold.

[ard]

Great emoticons!

[JCL]

Who has that much time? Among others, retired engineers who like the mental stimulation and those who travel a lot internationally and find themselves awake at 2 am. I have been both of those. It helps to be a motorhead as well. Glad you found it all helpful. There isn't a right or wrong answer. My push back on changing transmission fluid has never been that people shouldn't do it, but rather that they shouldn't do it blindly without an appreciation of the both the risks and potential benefits.

And on the emoticons, I once commented to a moderator that there were US flags, but not some of the others. That got me these two (I have dual passports) All was good for a few days, until another moderator (perhaps one who believes that size matters) added the third one.

Jeff

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by Ghost-Flame

Ardy and JCL,This thread has been fun to read. Who has that much time? But I thank you for the different perspectives.

I'm going to change my fluid today with M1 atf. This has worked great for me in the past, every 50,000 miles. Maybe I'm deluded but I think I'm extending the life of those parts that might fail that would lead to trans failure. But, That's just me and I also believe that at the end of rainbows are huge pots of gold.

Well that's all fine and dandy, and M1 is a good fluid for many applications, but I don't think the ZF unit in the X5 is one of them. Please do yourself a favor and get the proper ZF Lifeguard fluid for your tranny. Here's where I got mine The CTSC - ZF Parts

[jbond007]

...well if no one is tired yet and wants to read my saga and the fix, it's here.

Short version: 72,000 miles, partial fluid change with ZF LifeGuard6, new filter, new LURCH!, harsh shifting, mechanic reset adaptations, oil sensing settings, updated software for trans, shifts like a dream now. The end.

[ard]

Well done.

Good link: thectsc.com The California Transmission Supply Company

A

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by diesaroo

Well that's all fine and dandy, and M1 is a good fluid for many applications, but I don't think the ZF unit in the X5 is one of them. Please do yourself a favor and get the proper ZF Lifeguard fluid for your tranny. Here's where I got mine The CTSC - ZF Parts

Well Yes and no. My transmission is the GM, I have a 3.0. The fluid used by my dealer is any DEXvi. M1 is Dexvi

Also, I was reading my OEM BMW X5 manual last night. There is an owners manual that talks about owner operation, it said the trans fluid is lifetime fluid. It also has a maintenance BMW OEM manual that describes the maintenance items, It says that the ATF MUST BE changed every 100,000 miles. Yes it does. Pg 3 of the Service and Warranty Information book for 2002 X5 3.0i, 4.4i, 4.6is So for the folks that say you are doing possible damage when you change fluid, what do you say to the BMW engineers that say IT MUST BE changed every 100K.

"The following maintenance elements must be performed at the mileage/time stated(time intervals start from the production date).

-Brake Fluid... 2 years
-Engine Coolant... 4 years
-Oxygen sensor... 100K
-Spark Plugs... 100K
-Automatic TransmissionService: Change ATF every 100,000 miles"

BOOM

so If I cut that interval in half to 50K I'm doing a good thing

[autoque]

Do the dealers change the ATF if an owner brings it in? I have an '08 X5 3.0si.

I think I read somewhere X5s' automatic transmissions don't even have the flush outlet.

[ard]

^^ I've got to believe BMW has a TIS on doing a fluid change. Be precise with terminology though- a "fluid change" is what BMW recommends...a "flush" can be something very different. From (what I recommend) just a flush of the old fluid with completely new fluid, to a flush with solvent, back flow, forward flow, then new fluid.

Anytime to disturb old fluid, and disturb the debris in the tranny, bad things can happen- many dealers have learned this the hard way which is why this procedure evokes this kind of response. Just say 'nothing crazy, just want to change ATF and make sure fresh fluid is in there".

If you look at the links above you will see that many times the screen/filter is under the pan and you'll really want them to drop the pan, change the screen, new gasket, reattach the pan and new fluid- so a drain plug isn't essential.


Finally if a tranny has no drain, you can usually get at it by popping off a hose....

[autoque]

Originally Posted by ard

If you look at the links above you will see that many times the screen/filter is under the pan and you'll really want them to drop the pan, change the screen, new gasket, reattach the pan and new fluid- so a drain plug isn't essential.

It sounds so complicated. Not clear about the difference between the fluid change and the flush.

So what you recommend is telling the dealer to do the above?

And what JCL is saying is don't change the ATF at all?

I've had a transmission problem which led to a complete replacement a month or two ago, so I'm very careful when it comes to automatic transmissions and I want to extend the life and preserve the shift quality of this rather heavily abused part of a vehicle. My vehicle's AT is pretty much new at this moment, and 99% of the driving is in a stop'n go downtown city traffic, which must be a harsh driving condition for transmissions. Also 3.0 liter NA gas engine needs to be worked hard, which means staying at higher rpm ranges. But since I've already had the transmission failure, I've become so paranoid with the fear of transmission wear/tear, I'm babying the vehicle most of the time. But I'm thinking following a scheduled ATF fluid change may help prevent an early AT failure even if I drive like it's meant to be driven.