Trans fluid/ filter
 

Consensius please: Need a trans fluid and filter change, which I could do myself, but as I think is first change, want it done by indy. He will use 6 quarts Redline. He wants $400..... Reasonable? Thanks

More important than the cost is using the proper fluid and filter. You may want to do your research before agreeing to use Redline.

Recommend you ask your mechanic to use actual ZF fluid, and an OE filter, not generic fluid. There have been enough issues that many recommend using the right parts. You don't need to get it from BMW, go to ZF. Others have used generic fluids such as Redline OK, so it is your call.

Yup, check the specs, I just did a change on an 03 4.6is and spec was ZF Lifeguard 5.

Where does one check/verify the spec from?

Just toolin' around the web honestly.

After confirming it's a ZF 5HP 24 on there, I just searched around and found a few references to the correct fluid.

Here's one straight from ZF:
http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/u...omendation.pdf

If it is a ZF transmission (4.4/4.6/4.8) then it is either Lifeguard 5 (5 speed) or Lifeguard 6 (6 speed). BMW put their own part number on this fluid, but it is probably one of the most expensive places to purchase it. VW and others did the same, and may have it cheaper than BMW.

ZF doesn't make fluid, they just wrote, and control, the spec. ZF have a list of many oil suppliers who certify their fluid to the various ZF specs. Any one of those is fine. The confusion comes when some oil suppliers make a multipurpose transmission fluid, don't certify it, and claim that it is "suitable for applications calling for xxxx spec". ZF call for four or more different fluid specs, depending on which model transmission it is, in which vehicle, from Dexron III to Lifeguard 5/6/8, and so on. If someone is selling a fluid and saying it is good to go in all BMWs with ZF transmissions, and the GM transmissions as well, then it leads to debate about whether it is the optimum fluid, or if it is simply cheaper for them to stock only one fluid and they are driven by that factor more than the performance spec.

Note that doesn't these suppliers don't typically say they meet the spec, they say use it anyway. And it may be fine. But with all the issues associated with these transmissions, and all the debate about fluid changes, I always figured that adding another variable to the mix (non certified fluid) was just a risk not worth taking. But it is your transmission, so make your decision.

been searching and researching this to ad nauseam. What i've gathered with the 5HP24 trans, if LT71141 is on the label then go for it. Even if it doesn't, some premium brands like RP, Redline, and Amsoil works.

I'm either going with Valvoline Multi-import full syn since it's easy to find but what I'm really looking for is the M1 Full Syn ATF in the GREEN bottle, not the silver one if I had a choice.

Where to get the filter and gasket.... well, haven't gone that far yet.

Please also look at the tag on the trans....different colors also mean different oil.

If it were me I would take a picture of the trans tag and email it to the parts dept of your dealer to verify the fluid needed and don't just look up the year and model.

Again if it were me I would buy all parts at the dealer...yes you can buy them cheaper if you have the time to search for the correct parts. Maybe ECS Tuning can tell you the OEM fluid to use by the tag.

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