Has anyone done a Transmission filter and fluid change and caused more issues?
 

I just took my car in yesterday to do a fluid and filter (x5 4.4i 200k) and the owner once opened opt not to replace the fluid as he has seen to many cars / suv's have total failure a month or two later down the road. Stated the worst is flushing the entire system? So he just swapped out the filter and threw in the old oil and topped it off. Ive read somewhere if you keep up with the fluid changes its ok to change out but if you haven't kept up with it its not recommended as the new fluids can cause issues.

Curious has anyone encountered total failure from replacing the fluids on a car that's never been done or at higher miles? The lifetime fluids BMW state is a joke. If I owned this from day 1 I would have done it in increments but since its new to me I figured it was never done.

I changed at 100K and so far no problems.
BTW, I've had trans failures on GM cars when I have changed fluid. Of course, it was many miles after the change...

Im sure at 100k the fluids aren't nearly as bad as 200k so Im sure your trans oil was better condition than mine. Plus since you are maintaining it regularly it will be even better! In my situation Im sure the owners never changed it. So in my situation Im pretty screwed. :(

Lots of threads on here that you're welcome to search and read.

In summary, two schools of thought:

- Change it regularly. If a problem does appear post fluid change, it was probably something that was going to occur anyway. A lot of people claim that a failure was caused by the fluid flush, but fail to mention that the reason they were changing the fluid in the first place was because they were experience issues.

- Don't touch it at all. If your transmission is shifting fine, leave it alone. This is line of reasoning is usually adopted by people who believe that flushing transmissions causes issues.

So, you decide which kool-aid you want to drink:
Preventative Maintenance is Best VS If it Ain't broke, Don't Fix it

My thoughts are,

If you are having no issues but can afford a new transmission tomorrow if things go bad, I'd flush it and hopefully it gets you many more trouble free motoring.

If you're having no issues but can't afford a new transmission tomorrow, I'd just leave it alone.

If you're having issues and can't afford a new transmission - flush it and hope it rectifies the issues.

If you're having issues and can afford a new transmission, decide whether you can afford to throw money at a possible fix (ie flush) vs a certain fix (reco'd trans).

I think that's a more rational approach than a bunch of anecdotal evidence!

Most trans suppliers to BMW recommends a fluid change for their trans.

I've done a drain/replace filter/fill on a 2004 3.0 GM trans at 45k and just did the same on a 2003 4.6is ZF with 40k.

Both shifted fine before the change. Both had dark fluid and magnets coated with gray stuff. No chunks of anything in the pan though, thankfully.

Seeing the condition of the fluid at that mileage I would definitely not follow the lifetime recommendation.

Better do not touch it.Many people complain failures occur after changing it.

Did those people that suffer failure after a fluid change use approve atf or use some other type of of ATF. ZF the maker of trans for V8 X5 warns of problems with their trans if non approved fluid is used. Wi t h the cost of the fluid from ZF many owners might have opted to use something cheaper.

I believe the shop took the correct approach in reusing the old fluid.

2002 X5 3.0 273,920 miles (Transmission has never been touched)
2004 325i 118,500 miles (Transmission has never been touched)

I see where you are coming from. Its just on the forums and outside its really hit and miss and I wanted to get a head count of people on here who did do it at a higher mileage with no problems or did have issues. I trust the shop that did mine as he's been in the business for years and he technically could have screwed me and made even more money on me by doing the drain, etc but didn't.

Reason I wanted to do it in the first place is at cold starts not warming it up for a few minutes and driving it I would get the slam into 2nd gear. Ive read that can be due to dirty filter or low on fluids. Only happens on cold starts when warm everything is fine! That's why I was looking into this. If not I would have just left it alone. As stated if Ive owned this earlier with lower miles I would have maintained it.