looking for fluid capacities on the difs and manual transmission
 

anyone know? my car didnt come with a service manual. I did search nad find the tranfer case DIY (is it reallty necessary to have the codes reset ?)
I want to change the diff , transfer case and MT flluids. any help is appreciated.

Transfer case requires less than 1 litre. Uses the BMW fluid (x-drive). Manual says that adaptations need to be reset after changing it.

Differentials are about 1 litre each. I would buy three litres, in case you need the last bottle. 75w-90, not limited slip.

I would expect that the transmission fluid is ATF, but I would look for a tag on the side of the transmission case to confirm that. Different fluids have been used at different times.

thanks - just found info on Redline site too - Diff= 1.06 L each. I will use the RL or Mobil one. will use the bMW secret transfer oil too.

just neeed the info on the MT fuid quantity. I guess I need to examine it to see if it is tagged for ATF or MTL.

Fwiw, I watched my Indie do my '01 X5 5 spd manual trans: he used Redline MT90: about 1.3 qts +/-, and simply filled it until it started to dribble out the fill hole. He drained it first, of course, and it was kind of a long drain.

Did not look like a fun job with car on ground or even jacks; they had it lifted and used a pump gun gizmo to inject the new fluid. Anecdotal, but your X3 6spd trans has to be similar, imo.
GL, mD

I've done it before on a e36 328 and M3 from the ground. so the x3 should be eaiser. I recall they took about the same, 1.3 or so.

After you get through these fluid changes, you will get bored soon as you won't have much to do! Our 04 with 73k miles has been maintenance free for a couple years now. Pretty easy to own and I think you will love it!

thats good news.

just finished the front today.

transmission fluid was almost black. took almost the full two liters, maybe 1.8.
transaxle was pretty dark brown. about 0.9 liters
both diffs had a decent color, with the front being the clearest. front took only about 1.2 L and the rear took closer to 1.6 L.

drained them all into the same pan. after that it all went into a gallon jug to recycle. the bottom of the pan had lots of tiny metal partcles. made me glad I changed the so called life time fluids.

Mr. Overthepond is right.

I live in Europe and have a 5 speed manual 3.0 diesel and have all my fluids ready for a massive fluid session (engine, differentials, transaxle and transmission).

Officially BMW says 1 liter for each diff (use a GL-5 oil, I'm using Redline).
Transaxle is to be 0.55 liter (GL-4, use Redline D4 ATF)
Manual transmssion is listed at 1.5 liters (GL-4, use Redline D4 ATF).

Now for the fun. The transfer case does NOT have a magnetic drain or fill plug. You can buy them for a reasonable price from Cobratransmission.com in Miami.

The differential's also are lacking - the BEST are from a guy in North Carolina (MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUGS) who sells them on the internet. Lifetime oil in a compartment with no filter, very scary.

VERY SCARY: The manual transmission on the X5 (and virtually ALL BMW's after E30 / E32 / E34) do NOT have magnetic drain plugs. I grew up with the 2002 and was always used to a modest bit of shavings that the magnetics held when you changed the transmission oil.

I discovered it this Sat as I drained all these fluids (I had Dimple magnetic plugs for my diff's & engine. Cobra transmission factory magnetic drain / fill plugs for my NV125 transfer case). SO, the Redline went in the transmission, I'll buy the earlier (BMW part number 23 11 7 546 876) magnetic plug and install at a later date.

I needed nearly 3 liters / quarts of Redline ATF for my transfer case & transmission. 1-2 liters/quarts for rear diff, front will be done later - ran out of time.

I'm assuming the 3.0 5 speed transmission on your diesel is the same for the 3.0i 5 speed on my manual trans USA X5?

I'm getting my fluids ready for changing (at 60k now), tell me if this looks right (capacities). Like you I like to stick to the same brand!


3 liters/quarts total for Front/rear diffs (Redline 75w-90 Gear Oil)
2 liters/quarts of Manual Trans fluid (Redline MTL or MT-90, I may mix both)
1 liter/quart of Redline D4 ATF for transfer case



Look good?

Don't assume the oils are the same for the transmission. Transmissions are different. Could be ATF, or a heavier gear oil, depending on how it is tagged.

You don't list your model year, but if it is 2004 or later you have the x-drive transfer case, which uses a special fluid.