Let's talk Transmission Maintenance...

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by JCL

I was referring to many documented failures, swissfranks being only one of them. While some are snap rings, others are temperature sensors, wiring, actuators, or broken metal pieces that are static, ie not dependent on lubrication. What these failures have in common is a lack of connection to fluid condition. One could make a case that the various o-ring failures are related to the fluid condition, but it would be only a guess.

I hear your point on the filter, but do you have data that suggests that clogged filters are causing transmission failures? I equate fluid failures with burnt clutch plates, and clogged filters with low fluid pressure, again often appearing along with burnt clutches and evidence of overheating. The overheating failures we have seen documented have been linked to mechanical failures that resulted in overheating, ie the burnt components were a result, and not a root cause.

I do agree with you however that there will always be cases of transmission failure that are the result of a bad internal parts failing unrelated to fluid condition, although I would tend to believe that they would show up earlier in the vehicles service life than later on and would be likely during the warranty period.

This can and does happen unfortunately with any type of part on the vehicle. There have been at least one case of catastrophic engine failure in the M57 due to the injector going haywire (sensor) and washing down the cylinder walls causing the piston to seize in its bore. Does this mean that I should change my engine oil at the prescribed 11k mile intervals instead of 5500 miles? BMW says its ok, so why not? I mean if it might grenade on me anyway due to the injector sensor, why spend extra money on it?

I personally just can't seem to enjoy car ownership if I adopt a defeatist attitude and allow the car to degrade and wear out by following a bare bones-I-will-if-I-have-to maintenance schedule. I am not trying to offend you, but whatever happened to taking pride in your machine?