Successful Trans Oil change
 

E53 2005 4.4I V8 @ 193K

Gentlemen,

I've had the car a few weeks now. Bought it in auction and when i picked it up I thought I'd bought a lemon.
Bump, bump, bump noise from the front that sounded like a flattie.Whiring and droning on acceleration.Poor acceleration and bad fuel consumption.Gears slipping and sloping from one gear to the next.


I changed all the liquids, plugs and filters. Fixed up the rear boot lock which wasn't closing. Put in a new battery and this calmed thing down a little but I was sure the trans was a gonna as it was still playing up. So after a few nights on here and BimmerXXX. I though I'd give the dreaded transoil change a go.

Popped into my local VW supplies and bought 4L of G052162A2 Trans Oil @ $170.00Cracked open the 13mm allen Key at the bottom of the sump.Drained off approx 4L from the drain plug (whilst cold) and freed the coffee brown oil out.Replaced the drain plug.Pumped in approx 1.5L of fresh oil until started to flow out. Replaced the filler plug hand tightStarted the engine and went through the gears, returning to Park.Left the engine running.Opened the fill plug and pumped in another 1.5L until it started flowing out again.Took her for a ride and I now have a Bimmer that feels brand new.

I think I'l jack the back up and put in the last 300ml and see how she goes. I read somewhere that the BMW engineers over fill there boxes from factory. If it starts playing up I'll level up and drain off.

Hope that helps.

Gday mate

Welcome to the forum.

They really rape you on ATF down under in OZ. 4L over here would have been $55.00.

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Hi Mate.......I hope it works out for You , but You might of started the clock of doom..............I heard of many people that done this and in 3k tranny dies........wish You the best.

Did you drop the transmission pan and replaced the filter as well?

I did it TWICE at 70k. Then I did it at 80k. I am now at 93k, and plan on doing it again at about 110k. Every time I dropped the pan and replaced the filter. Pretty much once a year deal.

I use ZF lifeguard 6 fluid and OE filer every time. Only reason I did it that many times is because after the first 2 times, I may have dislodged some gasket shit from the filter, and clogged up my reverse solenoid.

I plan on just a simple drain and fill next time as well.

I spoke with ZF up in Connecticut , they said your would re manufacture mine for $2850,plus $85 for pick up and drop off.pretty good deal..

Our ZF 6 speeds are way more robust than the pre-facelift 5 speeds.

Have you tried any of the fixes advised on here. There are 2 that I think everyone needs to do.

1. Change oil and filter, the whole lifetime fill is bullshit in my book.
2. Software re-flash. Even if you have the updated software, do it again. People have reported improvement after updating software again. Like it gets corrupted.

3. In my case solenoids helped a shit load. But, I bet a good cleaning of those filter cups that are on the solenoids will accomplish the same thing.

I would not give into the whole reman a trans right away deal.

Welcome! Good luck with your new X5.

not yet but I am coming up on 100k[96.4k now] by late spring, I would try, I know Mike Aya changed his oil and filter and the tranny went, but He REALLY BEAT on his X5 ,snow power drives snow driffing, it's FUN but beat on the tranny.....I am going to wait for now I have a few little things I want to do, I spend a boat load in 2015,

You also have to take things with a grain of salt. You don't know how someone changed the oil, did they follow procedure or did they wing it? Did they use some funny oil, or the OE ZF fill? And yes, lot of abuse to that car.