should i flush/change ATF fluid...

[Jeg Norge]

not sure why im paranoid but my 09 30i is at 30,000 miles and for some unknown reason i want to get the dealer to flush my atf fluid. i dont know if it will actually benefit anything. the job costs $500.

placebo effect?

sigh...

LOL

[ard]

$500? OMG.

I would get it done elsewhere- two reasons: Cost and I would NOT want those dicks at BMW knowing about it if I had a BMW warranty.

I commend the inclination- ~35k is my personal goal for changes. Just like all other MAINTENANCE, you should feel nothing different, just know that you've changed the odds of tranny survival to 200k miles

[JCL]

And now the counterpoint:

There is no correlation between changing the fluid and the transmission lasting any longer. That's the bad news. The good news is that if you want to change it, just because you want to anyways, you are early enough that there are unlikely to be any ill effects of doing so.

Agree with Ard that you won't notice anything different after the change.

Since you are under warranty, I wouldn't let anyone but the BMW dealer do it. Don't give them a reason to put your warranty coverage in doubt. If you introduce a third party, you create additional risk. You won't be concealing the fact that the fluid was changed by using a third party, it won't be a secret later, so it comes down to who you can hold responsible if there is a problem. Better to have OTTC (One Throat to Choke)

Yes, it is expensive. So don't do it then. Or do it, because it gives you peace of mind. Your call. There isn't a right answer.

[Naz24]

i just had my tranny replaced at 80k miles. even if there is not really a correlation between changing ATF and the lifetime, i think i will go ahead and change my fluid in 30k miles just so i know that i did everything i could to keep her going strong!

[ard]

Originally Posted by JCL

Since you are under warranty, I wouldn't let anyone but the BMW dealer do it. Don't give them a reason to put your warranty coverage in doubt. If you introduce a third party, you create additional risk. You won't be concealing the fact that the fluid was changed by using a third party, it won't be a secret later, so it comes down to who you can hold responsible if there is a problem. Better to have OTTC (One Throat to Choke).

Not without merit. If the dealer isn't making noises about "oh that is against our recommendation" then the OTTC principle may apply.

[roadkillrob]

I don't think there is any concrete evidence that changing the fluid does or does not make the transmission last any longer. If nothing else it is definitely good for the transmission to have the fluid changed once in a while and won't hurt it in any way unless it has a lot of mileage on it, then don't do it.

I am definitely of the opinion that it is worth it if you plan on keeping the car for a long time, a little insurance that can't hurt, but I would also find a good independent BMW mechanic that will probably do a better job for less money than the dealer.

[Jeg Norge]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

independent BMW mechanic that will probably do a better job for less money than the dealer.

i don't know why but i don't seem to trust independent bmw mechanics. i had my E53 serviced at one 4 years ago. the place looked very run down and just didn't offer me a lot of confidence. in the end their service wasn't THAT much cheaper than the dealer (maybe by $300).

[ard]

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

it is definitely good for the transmission to have the fluid changed once in a while and won't hurt it in any way unless it has a lot of mileage on it, then don't do it.

The issue you bring up is such irony..... how many BMW owners are told by smarmy service advisors "Sir, there is no need to change the fluid before 100k"...... only to be told, when the car is out of warranty and having shifting issues at 85k, "Sir, it is ill-advised to change fluid when you have so many miles on the car"...

(Even my good friend JCL will recommend against fluid changes on high mileage cars, as I recall. )

Originally Posted by Jeg Norge

i don't know why but i don't seem to trust independent bmw mechanics. i had my E53 serviced at one 4 years ago. the place looked very run down and just didn't offer me a lot of confidence. in the end their service wasn't THAT much cheaper than the dealer (maybe by $300).

I do my own service and think it far surpasses what the dealer does. But I will agree that most people have no way to assess a mechanic....

[Jeg Norge]

Originally Posted by ard

I do my own service and think it far surpasses what the dealer does. But I will agree that most people have no way to assess a mechanic....

yeah i do my own oil changes on the E70. it's pretty easy but that's about it. ATF change more complicated so i don't trust myself to DIY lol

[JCL]

Originally Posted by ard

Even my good friend JCL will recommend against fluid changes on high mileage cars, as I recall.

True dat. At higher mileages, I think an automatic transmission fluid change is more of a negative than a positive, as there is a clear risk of transmission failure post-change. At low mileages, ie 30,000, I think there is little negative or risk. I still don't think there is a positive benefit at those mileages, but if owners want to do it so they feel better, they should do so. Feeling better is a good thing. They just shouldn't expect that it will make their transmissions last longer.

I think it is interesting that a BMW service procedure for the transmission that I read described saving and putting the same fluid back in after draining it. That seems to me to be more work than just using fresh fluid, but BMW didn't want to shock the transmission with new fluid, the old fluid was run in and considered better for the transmission. Sort of challenges the claims that new fluid is always better.