No reason to use anything other than fluid recommended on the transmission pan. Don't guess at amount of refill. Use proper refill process.

Agreed. An X3 is like an X5. But an X5 3.0i is like an X5 4.4i, and I know those AT's are completely different. Look it up exactly. Don't make a mistake on something as simple as this. I would start by getting under there and looking at the label on the AT.

That's what I did for my 2001 X5 3.0i. And ...
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superseded by BMW 83220397114, which is Dexron VI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

So in MY case, for my 5L40-E/GM5 (A5S 390R) 5-speed auto transmission made by GM, I just need real, certified Dexron VI. And the "certified" is to clarify against using things that have less formal promises that it's good enough to work in cars that call for Dex VI (which is exactly the sort of thing they'll say).

So if you get under your X3 and the sticker says to use BMW 83220024359, then that translates to Dexron VI. But check the sticker, or the spec, but careful about advice from ZF (unless of course your X3 has a ZF AT).

Since the design of a transmission includes using a certain fluid, I never use anything other than what is specified on the pan.

Could someone please explain me this necessary step in the refill process:


Apply the parking brake. With your foot firmly on the brake pedal, shift the car through each gear position, pausing briefly in each gear.


When putting the system in manual mode, with foot on the brake, the highest gear I can reach (for a couple of seconds before it automatically returns to gear 1) is the 3rd one.


How can you shift trough all the gears when the car is standing still?


The BMW service information states this process and every other DIY on the web... am I missing something?

The shifting thru the gears is reverse/neutral/drive. Not 1st,2nd etc.

Thanks! Well, I guess in this case it would probably make more sense to call it "put the gear lever in every position for a couple of seconds" then shift trough all the gears:dunno:

Great question whizzkid23.

I had always wondered myself what they really meant. Trying to manually shift (on my 2001 3.0i) up through each gear, I similarly found that once I got to 3 or higher it would immediately shift back to 2. I had asked on here way back then and got wrong answers that I did not believe. I think others infer that the proper way is to have all 4 wheels off the ground, freely spinning (on a lift / jack stands / etc.), and to actually manually shift up to gear 5. I'd never think of trying that myself.

As usual, I think Crowz has the answer here. From my BMW documentation source, reading it again now, I see it does fit with Crowz's answer.

"3. Step on the brake firmly, apply parking brake fully and move the selector lever through each gear position, pausing briefly in each gear."

I infer that it means to shift into each "gear position" (P-R-N-D), not literally every gear (P-R-N-1-2-3-4-5).

I'll try to attach the whole PDF document, which includes specs on the ATF, etc., but only up to about 2002.
Attachment 74416

This is some great information. Actually the way they describe it in the BMW Bulletin makes perfect sense!

Putting it on Jackstands and accelerating until you are able to shift trough all gears is hilarious :)

Performed the oilchange yesterday night. Changed the oil twice in the progress, to get at least 90% of the oil changed.

Driven the car today for 30km and also checked the oil level once more to be 100% sure. The oil that came out is beautiful, picture speaks for it self!
Great success!