What ATF to use - X5 E53 2001 3.0i
 

Hello all. I have been searching the internet for hours and have not found a definitive technical reference / answer on what ATF to use for a Transmission drain and refill for this car - X5 E53 2001 3.0i
I am located in Australia.
Thanks to all. :confused

Dexron III was what the trans came with. If you can find it, I would use it for a drain and fill. I bought a case of it when it was still available.

It actually came with Texaco ETL-8072B which dex 3 should be compatible with.

This is what bmw recommends to use now to replace the Texaco ETL-8072B :

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-2...8072b-1-liter/

Since about 2010 I have been using AMSOIL Signature Series ATF Fluid in my E46 330Xi and since 2014 in my E53 4.4i without any issues.

https://www.amsoil.com/shopres/products/900px/ATF.jpg

https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...ullDescription

I did a multi drain and fill 4X on the E53 to insure that I got all or most of the 80K mile fluid out of the beast.

https://www.amsoil.com/lit/databulletins/g3110.pdf

Full synthetic rated to meet Dexron III specs.

In conjunction with changing a couple of solenoids (to solve a nagging cold slippage transmission issue that has baffled me for several years) in the E46 just recently, I did a drain and fill of about 6.5 qts and filter change and was lucky to find the AMSOIL fluid on sale at Farm & Fleet for $6/qt.

Mike

I have a 2001 3.0i as well. I searched extensively trying to get a definitive answer on this when I decided to change the fluid.

Short answer is that DEXRON VI is what BMW currently specifies. More info below, from the notes I took at the time:

5L40-E/GM5 (A5S 390R) 5-speed auto transmission made by GM
A = Automatic (vs. S = Standard)
5 = 5 forward gears
S = top gear is overdrive (vs. D = top gear is direct drive)
390 = Max input torque rating in Nm
R = manufacturer is Hydramatic (GM Powertrain - Hydramatic in Strasbourg, France) (vs. Z = ZF or G = Getrag)

ATF capacity: 10.1 quarts/9.1 quarts (capacity for the X5 is 0.5 liters/quarts greater than for the 5 series with the same AT). But another BMW doc says "5L40-E/GM5 (A5S 390R) FOR X5 - WITH TORQUE CONVERTER - 9.6 LITERS - WITHOUT TORQUE CONVERTER - 8.6 LITERS"
Blue sticker on bottom of AT pan says use only BMW 83220024359
which appears to be Texaco ETL 8072B, which was Dexron III
superseded by BMW 83220397114, which is Dexron VI
So as of Dec 2014, the correct replacement fluid is Certified Dexron VI


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Also - note that the answer for the 3.0i is completely different from what it would be for the V8's. Completely different transmissions.

Looks like they went all fuel efficiency on us :D

AMSOIL's Dexron VI would be the "Fuel Efficient" ATF offering

https://www.amsoil.com/shopres/products/270px/ATL.jpg

https://www.amsoil.com/lit/databulletins/g3110.pdf

https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...?code=ATLQT-EA

Maybe next time I'll go with the Dexron VI spec.

Mike

I mostly focus on my own 3.0i, but I think your 4.4 means it has a ZF AT (completely different) which specifies liquid gold for ATF. Nothing as low-brow as Dex VI.

Some ZF owners have reported success with Mercon ATF.

Likewise for me Zulu95 :thumbup:, going back to the 80's :D

However, last year I researched engine oils and the fact that I only drive my vehicles about 6K miles each/year and switched to Rotella T6 5W-40 for all my automobile engines.

The T6 has a high TBN and anti-wear package and is a little over $5/quart in 1 gallon containers at WalMart vs. about $8.30/quart for the AMSOIL AMO 10W-40 I was using. I really wasn't using the 25K mile service life of the AMSOIL AMO like I had been when I was running it in company cars as a salesman.

I still use the AMSOIl tranny fluids and gear lubes for all my automotive needs.

Mike