I almost ordered that exact kit. But I did not want to use the LG6. It's too thin for my liking. I actually have 6 liters of LG6 sitting on the shelf that I don't know what I am going to do with. Bought it off craigslist a long time ago for this trans service before I had any experience with the different fluids. Going to use the Valvoline Maxlife Multivehicle. Here's what my order ended up looking like:

Attachment 80558

I thought you only had to replace the pan bolts on the plastic pans - with the metal pan you re-use the bolts? :dunno:

I don't know. They mentioned it in the service kit on FCP so I bought them. Will return if unnecessary. Will check TIS later. You know the saying, "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." :thumbup:

Fair enough. :thumbup:

Gotta say, that must be handy, being able to return stuff like that. Can't do that here... if you buy it, you own it (unless it's faulty).

It does come in handy. FCP usually treats people pretty well though. Possibly me particularly because I've spent tens of thousands (yes tens) with them over the years. Gotta love having a bad BMW habit. :rolleyes:

Hah, I once caught a listing error they had up for 15 meter rolls of Tesa tape. It was listed as a roll for $1.38. I ordered 10 of them. Of course only one roll of 15 meters arrived. Let them know about it and they sent me the other 9 rolls right away. The $1.38/roll was supposed to be $1.38/meter as all other sites had the rolls >$20/roll. :D

I think they are still way in the black on me though. :D

I may just copy your order. The additional parts you have listed are also in my cart.

From reading your posts, I will follow your advice on the trans fluid. But I do have a question. How did you come to the conclusion that the viscosity is too thin?

This is our first X and I am still bringing it back to it's former glory by spending a lot of time reading here. We have had 5 other bimmers and I was taught to stick to OE products for the most reliable and trouble free experience and have had great success with that regimen. On the other hand, I am also open to listening to folks who have experimented with and had success with brands outside of the BMW norm. After all, I am sure the engineers that are formulating and building products for bimmers are not wanting to waste anyone's time with inferior products but, alas, we know that these products do exist and I am glad that there are folks like us who do a bit of research and trial to weed these products out!

I too, CW, am in the Presidents Club with FCP. :rofl:

It's an expensive membership eh? :D

As to the fluid. It's only through reading/watching the interweb mechanics and my recent experience with ZF transmissions. The viscosity issue was through observation of the different fluids and the behavior of the transmissions with each fluid. Our E70 (a saga documented on that section of the forum) had an E clutch bearing/bushing failure and wouldn't hold pressure in gears above 3rd. The Valvoline Maxlife was the only fluid able to get that transmission to go into 4th gear at all. And this is after a full valve body rebuild and doing all the seals between the VB and trans. So nothing scientific, but enough to have convinced me. Of course, YMMV (though two more ZF6hp's are getting the Valvoline on Saturday). :dunno:

Edit: For the record, of the 4 ZF transmissions I am running right now (3 6HPs and 1 8HP), 0 of them got/will get ZF fluid put into them during trans service. Our E61 has Liqui Moly (~9k miles since change @ ~190k miles), the E70 has Valvoline (only ~250 miles since change @ 88k miles), the F15 has Pentosin (~2400 miles since change @89k miles), and the E53 is getting Valvoline this weekend (~126k miles on vehicle).

With FCPEuro, if you buy it and it breaks, you buy a new one, return the old one and get your money back for the new one you bought - no questions asked (what's wrong with it, did a professional mechanic do the work etc). If you don't like it or it looks at you with a bad eye (:rofl:), return it for your money back. And if you bought it and didn't install it, like for years, you can return it for your money back. It sounds like a crazy business policy but if you think of it, it's a matter of volume sales and the statistical unlikely hood of a return- ask Amazon! Suppliers will love you to death and give you lots of credit and you make da money-ye like them;) ...

Oh, I understand the operating principal, X5only - but unfortunately there are not many domestic markets in the world large enough to sustain such a business model - and certainly not NZ! :rolleyes:

Their website indicates they also ship internationally, but now you have international shipping to take into account and custom/duty rules on your end, in addition to vehicle fitment as their parts are for USA vehicles.