If you trans is not leaking any fluid the best method to determine how much fluid to put back in, is to put in the same amount that came out. There a variation in the temperature range that the fluid is allowed, I believe it's from 30C to 50C. ATF contract and expand with temperature, that is why they advise you not to check the fluid level when the engine is at operating temp because the fluid in the trans will have expanded. If you open the fill plug to check the level the ATF will flow out and when it cool down it will contract and the trans will be low on fluid.

The issue will be that BMW will have to acknowledge that the ATF is not lifetime and should be changed according to the transmission manufacturer's (ZF or GM) recommendations.

This will increase the cost to the dealers since now all the BMW with less then the warranty mileage must have the ATF fluid replace as part of the "FREE MAINTENANCE" program offered by BMW.

Life time fluid is just deferred maintenance which BMW is banking on will break after the warranty period. Do people actually go 15,000 miles between oil changes?

So is it better to buy a one owner car in which the car was serviced by the book at the dealer, or from multiple owners in which case the "FREE MAINTENANCE" program was no longer offered?

I am finally finished changing my transmission fluid and filter, I had some issues along the way, three of the pan bolts broke off, I tried taking them out without the correct tool and that caused more issues, but I did complete the job flushing the oil twice, the car does work better shifting into gears, so I am happy, next change I will make sure I have all the necessary tool to do it without any issues, Thanks for all the help.

BTW I got the fluid (which is Dexron vi) from my local dealer for $45.00 for 4L.

Great to hear you finished it up Neil i'm sure the truck is much happier with fresh fluid regardless of what BMW says

What is the necessary tool you needed? i've broken way too many bolts in my day haha

I needed a center tap and bolt extractor, I had an inexpensive one from harbor freight which broke inside the bolt, that took most of the time trying to remove it.


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I just bought a 2002 4.4 from a Sewel Mini dealer, does anyone know if BMW will give me a maintenance report for this vehicle? Its a one owner and supposedly been serviced at the dealer its whole life. It has 140 on it and want to know if the tranny has ever been serviced??

From what I learned BMW do not service the transmission they replaces it with a new one, and if the vehicle was serviced by a BMW dealer I think the info will be in the key fob.

new to the forum, i'm about to change transmission fluid on my 2002 4.6is 105k, got oem fliter kit and was going to use castrol import atf or valvoline maxlife what are your thoughts?, i see that 1 or 2 have used non oem fluid on here with good results. I am currently having the rough down shift once fluid is at operating temp.

I used Redline D4-ATF. I have about 45k miles on it, no issues.

I used Pentosin ATF1. So did my tranny mech. Google BMW part # 83229407807. Pick your poison. Much better price than dealer price. BMW Seattle wanted $42.00 per liter. Local VW dealer was $24.00 per liter. Same exact fluid.