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Quote:

Originally Posted by Purplefade

It isn’t the worst thing you could have poured in there... when I first brought mine home the prior owner had used ATF in the PS and it had no ill affect.

Being anal retentive though I promptly siphoned it out when I got home and refilled with PS fluid, I did that dance a few times to make sure I got as much as I could out - been driving it for 6 years sense and she’s all good https://emoji.tapatalk-cdn.com/emoji106.png

Ummm...the e53 PS system uses ATF...not power steering fluid. Did you mistype and turned it around?

BMW's use either ATF or Pentosin CH 11S (hydraulic) fluid in its PS reservoir:

http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/ori...20S%20Lids.png

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qsilver7 (Post 1157170)

Ummm...the e53 PS system uses ATF...not power steering fluid. Did you mistype and turned it around?

Very valid point, I bought mine in a shiny silver bottle from local BMW Dealer her in Cbus, being new to the car they had convinced me that I needed BMW power steering fluid... when I took it in for its new to me check up. I stopped using them right after I found this forum and for my foxwell.

2005 X5 4.4i (04/05 build date)
Titanium Silver w/Black Interior

ATF is used in power steering for a lot of cars anyways. Honest mistake.

That's why I chimed in. Figured I would make sure you were actually checking the trans fluid and not the power steering :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggy (Post 1157163)

Our research indicates that your vehicle does not have a transmission fluid dipstick. These types of transmissions are designed to be maintenance free. In order to check the transmission fluid, your vehicle likely has check valve on the bottom of the transmission on the bottom of your car. Your car must be level when the fluid is checked and we therefore recommend having a mechanic with a hydraulic lift or underground bay check your transmission fluid. Any fluid leaks for this type of transmission should be treated by a mechanic.

The plug to check the level of the transmission fluid is on the side and is also the fill hole. The fluid should be check at operating temp. At the proper level there should be a very small stream of fluid coming out. The vehicle should be level but not a problem with jack stands. Extremely easy DIY.

I disagree that the fluid is good for the lifetime of the transmission. I change the trans fluid and filter every 40,000 to 50,000 miles with brand specified by transmission MFG.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowz (Post 1157185)

That's why I chimed in. Figured I would make sure you were actually checking the trans fluid and not the power steering :)

I actually appreciated that (after my initial irritation wore off :D)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner (Post 1157199)

Thanks. I might risk a fluid change soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner (Post 1157199)

The fluid should be check at operating temp.

Maybe the V8's are different, but the 3.0 trans should not be at full operating temp when checking the level. I don't recall the range off the top of my head, but it's when the fluid is only slightly warm.

I run it for only a few minutes until the pan is just slightly warm. The lower end of the range is something like 85 degrees F, so you could not run it at all on a summer day and be in range.

AM.

The temp for testing the transmission fill is quite specific eg 55c/130f. (that number pulled from my butt cheeks look up the actual value but it is not full operating temp).