Trans, Diffs, TC oil change. Dealer trying to rip me off on the oil?
 

Hey all,

For years I have been using a local indy for all my service and maintenance, and most of the time I have been happy with them. They have been readily available, always come off ass decent people, and always been giving me fair prices. However, recently I've started suspecting that they aren't doing too well. Over the last year or two, they have less and less customers, and the owner(s) have become a bit gloomy and less friendly.

Now to the point...

I'm looking at doing an oil change on by 3.5D X6 (yes sorry, I know this is the E70 board, but the E71 section doesn't see much action, so I thought if I post here I'd at least have a chance of getting a timely reply), but the volume of oil quoted seems quite high to me. Basically I am suspecting that they are trying to rip me off by quoting a lot more oil than they'll actually will be using, rather than increasing the labour cost.

I have been quoted the following which amounts to roughly $500:
Tranny: 8 litres ($32/l)
Front diff: 1 litre ($57/l)
Rear diff: 3 litres ($55/l)

I am told that the above would include the transfer case oil as well, and that only OEM oil will be used.

Worth clarifying is that we're looking at a tranny oil change, not a full flush. It is my understanding that while draining the tranny, the TC will retain a large percentage of the oil, so when topping up nowhere close to the full amount will be used?

I'm not really concerned about the cost, as much as my relationship with the indy. If they start being dishonest with small things like this, I'm not sure I can trust them with my car moving forward. :dunno:

Can someone with experience in the area please share their thoughts?

Many thanks,
CrashworkZ

I'm doing the same fluid changes on my 2012 X35i this week. The only difference between our two vehicles is that you have a 6 speed ZF and I have the 8 speed ZF trans, I believe.

The transfer case fluid is dealer only, and cost like $75 a liter. Expensive stuff.

The front and rear diff takes GL5, which is common stuff. I got, after reading many posts regarding the diff fluid, the Red Line 75w-90 synthetic. They are like $17 a quart, and it takes 3 quarts to do both front and back.

The trans fluid....that's where we differ. The fluid for my 8 speed runs like $80 a quart from the dealer, but I got the ZF fluid from FCP for like $20 a quart. Big difference in cost when you have to buy 7 quarts.
As I understand, and you would have to verify for your 6 speed, is that you can use the stuff that Ford used in their ZF 6-speed tranny...I believe the stuff is called Mercon SP, which only cost like $8 a quart.

So the quote from your Indy seems a bit high, unless the costs quoted include the work to put them in.

Thanks MadJap!

Yes the prices quoted are only for the oil itself, not including labour. However as I'm in Europe that could explain the price difference. Once you've had your oil changed, can you let me know how much oil they ended up using for the transmission?

All the best,
CrashworkZ

i can comment on the transmission fluid usage. I have the M57 diesel engine in both our 2011 E90 335D AND 2013 E70 X5D. They both use the ZF hp26 6 speed transmission. The trans casings vary externally a little but basic same internal guts.

To the point, when i did a drain and fill on the 335D, it took a total of 5.5 L. I'm told that 6L is plenty to cover the X5D id you only pull and replace the pan (to get new filter in). If you do anything with the sleeves or other stuff where you need to pull the valve body off, I'm told 7L is a better amount to plan for. Come over to the E90post M57/N57 forum for several trans stories that are diesel hp26 specific.

I'm here reading about the transfer case and diffs as this is new territory for me. We bought a 2013 X5 one month ago. I have done diff fluid work on my E90 that now runs a Wavetrac LSD. I run Motul Gear 300 75W-90 to intentionally NOT have friction modifiers in it. Doesn't pertain to you though.

Those quantities look accurate, more or less. Only quibble might be the ATF: most ATF fluid change kits for a ZF6 use 6 liter. The trans holds (as I recall) 11 L, but when you drain and fill it only needs 6, MAYBE 7 if you are sloppy.

What is the general cost of ZF Lifeguard6 fluid in whatever country you live in??

(And this is all based on the assumption your Trans is a 6 and not an 8!)

Oh, your title says "dealer"...this isn't a dealer. ;)

You can get the fluids from bavauto.com. Original fluids and great prices.