[ketrab]

Can you guys give me your 2 cents on risk with changing the trans fluid at 100K? Anybody performed it at that interval and can you share your opinion?

No issues with trans at this point but I'm thinking about keeping this car for some time so I wanted to do all drivetrain fluids.

At least for the trans I would probably go to BMW to be 100% sure its done correctly.

Thanks in advance.

[epiphone3]

Not that this exactly answers your question, but I had it done on my 35i at an independent shop at 82,000 km along with transfer case and differentials.

That shop used BG transmission fluid that meets the ZF8HP spec. What they did was actually to push all the fluid through the system (I believe that's 22L) through the filter to replace with all new fluid. THey recommended to do that at 80,000 km and then to replace the pan/filter element at 160,000 km.

I'm now at the 160,000 km mark so I was planning on having them do the pan/filter and fluid (that works out to 7 liters of fluid for that job, I believe) but closer to winter time since we are barley driving these days with COVID.

What I can tell you is that the transmission did get a bit smoother (not that it was ever rough at all) immediately after the change and has stayed excellent and like new through to the present. A lot of people dream up a lot of horror stories about changing the fluid at all, let alone with something that isn't the ZF branded fluid but they are all full of.... stuff. If you use a fluid that is of the right specification and have the work done by a qualified shop, all should be fine.

BTW, I went independent because it was WAY less expensive than the dealer because they charge ridiculous money for the fluid. We are talking like 40% of the cost at the independent versus the dealer.

Definitely have the transfer case and differentials done and make sure the shop knows to reset the adaptations for these properly after they do it. This made a difference in low speed smoothness getting back on the throttle in my car when exiting tighter corners. Guessing it also helps the internals last well too.

[383vett]

I usually do all the maintenance on my cars. I had an indy do the tranny, diff and transfer case fluids a few months ago on my 2012 X3 because I wasn't able to do the adaptation reset. The car had 80000 miles at the time. Cost a grand.

[Black Prinz]

For most manufacturers "lifetime" fluid means 100K mi

[pungo]

From the transmission manufacturer:

[Quickstrike]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

Not that this exactly answers your question, but I had it done on my 35i at an independent shop at 82,000 km along with transfer case and differentials.

That shop used BG transmission fluid that meets the ZF8HP spec. What they did was actually to push all the fluid through the system (I believe that's 22L) through the filter to replace with all new fluid. THey recommended to do that at 80,000 km and then to replace the pan/filter element at 160,000 km.

I'm now at the 160,000 km mark so I was planning on having them do the pan/filter and fluid (that works out to 7 liters of fluid for that job, I believe) but closer to winter time since we are barley driving these days with COVID.

What I can tell you is that the transmission did get a bit smoother (not that it was ever rough at all) immediately after the change and has stayed excellent and like new through to the present. A lot of people dream up a lot of horror stories about changing the fluid at all, let alone with something that isn't the ZF branded fluid but they are all full of.... stuff. If you use a fluid that is of the right specification and have the work done by a qualified shop, all should be fine.

BTW, I went independent because it was WAY less expensive than the dealer because they charge ridiculous money for the fluid. We are talking like 40% of the cost at the independent versus the dealer.

Definitely have the transfer case and differentials done and make sure the shop knows to reset the adaptations for these properly after they do it. This made a difference in low speed smoothness getting back on the throttle in my car when exiting tighter corners. Guessing it also helps the internals last well too.

What shop did you use? I also live in Calgary. My '13 x3 35i has around 130,000 kms on it now. Do you remember how much you paid?


Thanks.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Can you guys give me your 2 cents on risk with changing the trans fluid at 100K? Anybody performed it at that interval and can you share your opinion?

No issues with trans at this point but I'm thinking about keeping this car for some time so I wanted to do all drivetrain fluids.

At least for the trans I would probably go to BMW to be 100% sure its done correctly.

Thanks in advance.

I changed the tranny fluid and filter at 100K on an E31 I had and at 60K on my wife's GTi. In both cases, the car shifted like new afterwards, smooth up and down shifts. Glad I did it and will continue doing so. No negative impacts. I was having some vibration issues when turning lock to lock at parking lot speeds on my X3, the dealer changed the fluid in the transfer case, made a world of difference, vibration completely gone. Our cars are designed around fluid properties but these properties change over time and use and when renewed, you get your new car back

[najnad]

Originally Posted by 383vett

I usually do all the maintenance on my cars. I had an indy do the tranny, diff and transfer case fluids a few months ago on my 2012 X3 because I wasn't able to do the adaptation reset. The car had 80000 miles at the time. Cost a grand.

They do not do transmission adaptation reset for fluid/pan/filter change. You only do transmission adaptation reset for a new or rebuilt transmission being installed on your vehicle. The adaptation reset tells the computer that the clutches are new and adjusts the shifting accordingly. If the computer thinks the clutches are new but they are actually used, then you run the risk of bricking your transmission. At the very least, you will have a very rough shifting 1000 miles or so until the adaptations adapt to the used clutches.

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by pungo

From the transmission manufacturer:


Attachment 2339725

120k KM that is 75K Miles. Why would BMW never tell you about this? So I'm at 100K with light driving...

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

I changed the tranny fluid and filter at 100K on an E31 I had and at 60K on my wife's GTi. In both cases, the car shifted like new afterwards, smooth up and down shifts. Glad I did it and will continue doing so. No negative impacts. I was having some vibration issues when turning lock to lock at parking lot speeds on my X3, the dealer changed the fluid in the transfer case, made a world of difference, vibration completely gone. Our cars are designed around fluid properties but these properties change over time and use and when renewed, you get your new car back

Good to know. Did you do it at the dealer or independent shop?

[evilchargerfan]

Originally Posted by 383vett

tranny

diff

transfer case fluids

does anyone have a definitive place that goes over the above 3? heck, i'll even take a youtube link if it covers all 3.

the one's I've found, like the guide fcp euro has, will typically cover 1 of the 3.

looking for something that covers drain/fill locations, goes over what fluids used at each location, and which ones have a filter/pan that may or may not need replacement

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Good to know. Did you do it at the dealer or independent shop?

I did my E31 myself in my garage and my wife's Golf diesel (sorry, got confused, her current car is a GTi) was during dieselgate and VW gave us $1K gift card so I used part of that to have VW do it cause it can be a messy PITA job doing it yourself

[Aspen235]

I did mine at 120k kms in the x35, all good 10km later. Go for it.

[ketrab]

Quick question for differentials BMW told me that front uses different than back. Would that be correct?

For front - 83222413511
For rear - 83222295532

Thoughts?

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Aspen235

I did mine at 120k kms in the x35, all good 10km later. Go for it.

but that is 75K miles.

[Lee_C]

Have a 2012 x3 28i and replaced the trans fluid ~105K miles last summer. Was also nervous going into it based on the horror stories. I had it done at an indy transmission shop and he used all OEM fluid/filters cost around $500 and the car has been running as well or better than it was. Definitely do it if you want the car to last. Lifetime is not lifetime if you are looking to go high mileage.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by Quickstrike

What shop did you use? I also live in Calgary. My '13 x3 35i has around 130,000 kms on it now. Do you remember how much you paid?


Thanks.

Hi fellow Calgarian!

I used German Car Specialist. For the service I had done which was the transfer case fluid change, differential fluid change (both), and Automatic transmission fluid change (did not change the pan/filter, just pushed out the entirity of the old fluid out and replaced with new - about 22 L fluid) I believe it was about $1,100 all in. That's without going and looking at my receipts.

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Lee_C

Have a 2012 x3 28i and replaced the trans fluid ~105K miles last summer. Was also nervous going into it based on the horror stories. I had it done at an indy transmission shop and he used all OEM fluid/filters cost around $500 and the car has been running as well or better than it was. Definitely do it if you want the car to last. Lifetime is not lifetime if you are looking to go high mileage.

Thanks. Mine got actually 104k so very close. Will definitely use ZF oem parts. I hope my luck is the same as yours....

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by pungo

From the transmission manufacturer:


Attachment 2339725

Pungo - do you happen to have guide for ZF trans?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Pungo - do you happen to have guide for ZF trans?

The fluid temp range for proper fill level is critical.
ZF fluid change instructions si-zf-si-oelwechselkit-8hp-50130-en.pdf

[evilchargerfan]

Originally Posted by pungo

The fluid temp range for proper fill level is critical.
Attachment 2342038

thanks for posting that!

is there a similar guide for the transfer case, and the diff(s) ?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by evilchargerfan

thanks for posting that!

is there a similar guide for the transfer case, and the diff(s) ?

Sorry, I don't, but you simply drain them, then with the vehicle level, fill them until it runs out the fill hole and put the plug back in. Reset transfer case adaptions with your diag tool.