[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by jgX3

Thanks Thomas. I’ve contact Foxwell for confirmation. As yet no reply. I am also going to call my indy / BMW specialist shop next week and confirm if they have the software to perform the reset at a reasonable price (like throw them a bone for $50). I love my Foxwell tool and it has saved me countless $$$. (Schwaben purchased from ECS tuning on sale - same thing) But unfortunately although it points to various VTG functions (VTG control Module Reset?) there is nothing called “fluid change” or “adaptation reset”. I’ll post if I get a definitive answer.

Any news jgX3?

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Sure, it's possible. But then I would counter with, why just change the specification for the front diff and not both front and rear diffs altogether?

The other interesting thing is the part number that shows up in BMW ETK/RealOEM.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=31_0932

If you click on Item 14, it lists the following as the front diff oil for your VIN:

83222413511
Hypoid axle oil G2
0,5L
BMW Group

Oddly enough, it doesn't say any history on BMW Synthetics OSP 83 22 9 407 768 used in the past and it being switched out to Hypoid axle oil G2 which it normally would if a fluid spec/part number was changed/updated.

Polo,

I wrote Redline an email asking what they recommend for these part numbers. Here is the response I got:

Thomas,

Thank you for contacting Red Line Oil, sorry at this point we don’t have a cross for that product as we are unable to determine the exact viscosity.

Regards,

Dave Granquist
________________________________________
P: (+1) 707.751.2914 |
O: (+1) 707.745.6100 |
6100 Egret Ct | Benicia, CA 94510
Red Line Synthetic Oil


So I fired off a letter to every BMW email address I could find, some even with a bmw.de address. I ask to forward the email to the appropriate contact in each email if the contact reading the email is not. I'm hoping for a informative response.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by ThomasR

Polo,

I wrote Redline an email asking what they recommend for these part numbers. Here is the response I got:

Thomas,

Thank you for contacting Red Line Oil, sorry at this point we don’t have a cross for that product as we are unable to determine the exact viscosity.

Regards,

Dave Granquist
________________________________________
P: (+1) 707.751.2914 |
O: (+1) 707.745.6100 |
6100 Egret Ct | Benicia, CA 94510
Red Line Synthetic Oil


So I fired off a letter to every BMW email address I could find, some even with a bmw.de address. I ask to forward the email to the appropriate contact in each email if the contact reading the email is not. I'm hoping for a informative response.

Thanks for reaching out and looking into it further. Let us know what BMW has to say.

[BIG_KID]

How about this

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...CABEgJAbPD_BwE

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by BIG_KID

How about this

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...CABEgJAbPD_BwE

That's the exact equivalent to the Redline I put in mine and is the pre 2011 BMW recommendation.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Thanks for reaching out and looking into it further. Let us know what BMW has to say.

Got a hit from one of them!

Dear Mr. Reynolds,

Thank you for your e-mail.

In order to facilitate your request, we kindly ask you to send us the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the license plate number of your BMW as well as a phone number we can reach you at during the daytime.

If you have further questions or inquiries, we kindly ask you to include your customer ID.

Many thanks in advance for your efforts.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

Keep us posted on the ATF change. I'm going back and forth on whether or not I want to do it. Keep reading at the tricky procedure with having to get the fluid up to temp to get exactly the right amount in.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...p-50130-en.pdf

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by ThomasR

Got a hit from one of them!

Dear Mr. Reynolds,

Thank you for your e-mail.

In order to facilitate your request, we kindly ask you to send us the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the license plate number of your BMW as well as a phone number we can reach you at during the daytime.

If you have further questions or inquiries, we kindly ask you to include your customer ID.

Many thanks in advance for your efforts.

So follow up. I'm getting the run around but am not giving up yet.

Here is the correspondence so far:

So I waited 2 days and no phone call. So I wrote them back:

Hello again. Do you know when you are planning on calling me? Thank you.

I then get a response from the BMW 'Not Genius' Team:
Hi Mr. Reynolds,

Thanks for contacting the BMW Genius Team.

The BMW Genius is a product expert in the features and technology of the vehicle. We have limited mechanical technical information at this location regarding your request on Axle Oil. This information has been allocated to the service teams at authorized BMW centers. Our apologies for the inconvenience that your information was forwarded to our team and we are unable to assist.


Useless...passing the buck.

They also respond directly again:
Dear Mr. Reynolds,

Thank you for your e-mail.

The BMW Kundenbetreuung can only provide support for matters concerning the German market. We have forwarded your e-mail to the responsible department for international matters to avoid any delay. Please be patient until your request is processed.

Kind regards,

BMW Kundenbetreuung

My response:
I received the message from the 'responsible department' which was bmwgenius@bmwusa.com as they copied the email I sent you. This was their response: ' Our apologies for the inconvenience that your information was forwarded to our team and we are unable to assist.' So it is back to you to resolve the issue.

The same differentials (BMW X3 F25) are all assembled in South Carolina and then shipped to my market and those overseas including Germany are they not? I know they are because I took a tour of the plant when I purchased mine. These were designed in Germany for ALL markets. The German answer to my question is the same. So please answer it. Thank you.

[ejw2011]

ThomasR, does that pump fit the red line bottle? If so what pump is that? Most fluid pumps don't fit the red line bottles and curious you have pictured fits.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by ejw2011

ThomasR, does that pump fit the red line bottle? If so what pump is that? Most fluid pumps don't fit the red line bottles and curious you have pictured fits.

No it does screw on the Redline bottle but I just drop it in and started pumping. Pumps fine, you just have to take care not to tip it over. I put a bright light behind the bottle so that I can watch it go down as I pump as well.

[ThomasR]

So more run around:

Dear Mr. Reynolds:

Thank you for your reply.

As previously stated, technical information, such as you are requesting, is allocated to the trained service and parts teams at our authorized BMW centers. The parts and service teams at our authorized BMW centers are the mechanical and technical experts with the knowledge for repairing and maintaining our vehicles. Because of this, we recommend speaking with the parts or service manager at your BMW center as they are in the best position to assist you.

Unfortunately, BMW Customer Relations and Services is unable to forward your e-mail correspondence to BMW Germany, as they are only able to provide assistance with inquiries and concerns related to European specification vehicles serviced within Germany.

For your convenience, the BMW Customer Relations and Services Department is available Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. You can reach us at 1-800-831-1117.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Customer Relations and Services
Representative



My response:

Again, I have spoken to 'authorized BMW centers' including the managers. They have the same information I have as I pulled it from the same source. All they can advise is what the factory tells them through their documentation. They didn't design, plan, research and develop these machines. All they do is receive orders from who do. I'm not sure why I'm having to explain this to you as it should be obvious. Also again in my original email I explained that I did in fact speak to BMW dealers. By the nature of the exact technical part numbers lifted from the very databases that the dealers have access to you should have also surmised that as well.

The answer to my question will not come from a dealer, or even from anyone in BMW North America unless they got it from where it was designed and tested in Germany.

[ThomasR]

Ok so I gave up on BMW and instead wrote to Fuchs oil who made the oil that's in our differentials from the factory:

Hello, I own a 2015 BMW X3 xDrive35i SUV. According to the latest BMW technical information, the rear differential gear oil BMW recommends is part number 83222413512 Hypoid Axle Oil G3 which they say is also Fuchs Titan EG 4218. The front differential gear oil they recommend is part number 83222413511, called Hypoid Axle Oil G2. Is that also produced by Fuchs? If so what is it? Could you provide more technical details regarding these oils? I have searched for days on the Internet, spoken to BMW dealers, etc and cannot determine what API service class (GL-5, GL-6, etc) or even what SAE Viscosity Grade (75w90) these oils are. All I could find on the Titan EG 4218 was an MSDS sheet.

Thank you,
Thomas Reynolds

His response:

Hi Thomas,

TITAN EG…. are a range of oils only for first fill applications. They are sold in bulk to BMW and other OEM’s. They are not made available for the service fill on the same names.

We produce service fill products under more consumer friendly names and packaging. TITAN SINTOPOID LS SAE 75W-90 (PI Sheet Attached) is the product for your BMW axles as per the following link to our oil chooser https://www.fuchs.com/de/en/products...s/oil-chooser/.

Please let me know if you have any other questions?

Best Regards,

John Anderson
Product Manager – Automotive & OEM Fluids
e-Mobility co-ordinator North America

FUCHS LUBRICANTS CO.

Using their oil chooser I did confirm what he wrote. I emailed Redline to ask if that oil is the same.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by jgX3

Thanks Thomas. I’ve contact Foxwell for confirmation. As yet no reply. I am also going to call my indy / BMW specialist shop next week and confirm if they have the software to perform the reset at a reasonable price (like throw them a bone for $50). I love my Foxwell tool and it has saved me countless $$$. (Schwaben purchased from ECS tuning on sale - same thing) But unfortunately although it points to various VTG functions (VTG control Module Reset?) there is nothing called “fluid change” or “adaptation reset”. I’ll post if I get a definitive answer.

jgX3 did you get your VTG oil changed?

[jgX3]

Originally Posted by ThomasR

jgX3 did you get your VTG oil changed?

Have not changed the oil yet - may tackle this weekend. Still not clear on the Foxwell Tool how to reset the adaptations. The drill down to the function is different on every BMW model. Reply from Foxwell on how to access was poor at best.

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by jgX3

Have not changed the oil yet - may tackle this weekend. Still not clear on the Foxwell Tool how to reset the adaptations. The drill down to the function is different on every BMW model. Reply from Foxwell on how to access was poor at best.

Ok thanks for the update let us know what you did when you do. If you reset yours with your tool I'm buying one the next day. Otherwise I'm going to the dealer.

I changed the transmission fluid this past weekend. You definitely want to have the engine running when refilling it. I also used some spare under hood heat barrier I had to wrap the exhaust which is right next to the fill hole so I wouldn't burn myself.

I followed these procedures:
https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...p-50130-en.pdf

We have steel bolts on our pan so it's 10Nm for those 13 bolts, 35Nm on the fill plug.

I printed this pic and taped it to the bottom of the pan to make the tightening easy:

[PDM5]

Originally Posted by jgX3

Have not changed the oil yet - may tackle this weekend. Still not clear on the Foxwell Tool how to reset the adaptations. The drill down to the function is different on every BMW model. Reply from Foxwell on how to access was poor at best.

Hi jgX3, did you have a chance to tackle the transfer case fluid change this weekend? I need to tackle both diffs (shouldn't be an issue), but I'm hesitant on tackling the transfer case. I too have the Schwaben tool and hope it can do the reset successfully, but I haven't gotten a definitive answer in my searches. Thanks!

[jgX3]

Originally Posted by PDM5

Hi jgX3, did you have a chance to tackle the transfer case fluid change this weekend? I need to tackle both diffs (shouldn't be an issue), but I'm hesitant on tackling the transfer case. I too have the Schwaben tool and hope it can do the reset successfully, but I haven't gotten a definitive answer in my searches. Thanks!

Yes, the job was completed on Saturday. Changing the Diff fluid front and rear was straightforward. As has been posted here previously, at 58K mikes the rear Diff fluid wasn’t too bad but the old front Diff fluid was BLACK, BLACK BLACK. “Lifetime Fluid” my arse! Glad I changed it.

Left the transfer case for last. In hindsight, I probably should have done it the following day because that case is a bear to get at and reaching the pump hose up the the fill hole is a tight fit. Mind you I did not remove the transmission support bracket and had I done so access would have been much easier. I used the Schwaben specially drain plug tool but had to use a grind wheel to shorten the Allen wrench to make it fit in the space. No way can you use a socket wrench without removing the transmission bracket. It simply won’t fit. That fluid was also dark and glad I changed it.

As for the Schwaben / Foxwell scanner reset. There is not a reset adaptation function on the tool. What is on the tool is a CALIBRATION function that I ran instead. Afterwards the car did throw a error code because it disengages the 4X4 during the calibration process. But then I simply cleared that error code and was good to go. I have driven for several days and checked the VTG module and the DCS module. No error codes - good to go!

Again, Dif fluid changes were easy relative to the transfer case. You may want to break up the tasks into two separate events. My .02 cents to save wear and tear on your body.

If you have any questions let me know and I’ll answer as best I can. Good luck!

[cookiesowns]

How did you guys lift the car on all fours? Jack up the sides first to put it on rear jack stands, and then used the front puny jack pad?

[ThomasR]

Originally Posted by cookiesowns

How did you guys lift the car on all fours? Jack up the sides first to put it on rear jack stands, and then used the front puny jack pad?

I drive the front on ramps and then put a hydraulic jack under the rear differential (the only rear approved central jack point). I jack it until the rear is level with the front.

[PDM5]

I completed the fluid change on the front/rear diff and transfer case as well as spark plug change with my buddy (well, I held the tools ) yesterday. Total time was around 3 hours and I'd say 1.5 of that was for the fluid change. Jacked the rear up by the diff (not the cover!), threw stands under the rear, then jacked the front up by the jacking point and threw stands under the front. To get easy access to the front diff, remove the belly pan (around ten or so 8mm screws and a couple 10mm) and the support brace (four 18mm bolts). From there, it's pretty easy access to the fill plug. The Schwaben tool with a couple mm's shaved off of each end worked wonders for all plugs, especially the transfer case. The tool got up in the cramped space around the transfer case with minimal fuss. I have the Schwaben (rebranded Foxwell) tool and I'm not sure if I reset the transfer case correctly as I didn't have a calibration function available, but I "activated" a reset, so I guess it worked. Threw some codes, but I've cleared those and they didn't come back. No issues and I don't know if it's a placebo effect, but everything seems smooth now.

Now I just have to decide if I want to have the transmission fluid changed. Half the people say "don't touch the ZF" while the others (myself included) like to change ANY drivetrain fluid at regular intervals. It's been a no-brainer for all the manual transmission cars I've owned.

[BIG_KID]

I did a drain/refill at 85,000 miles and then drove for 1000 miles then did a drain/refill with new pan/filter. Disconnected battery to reset adaptations with no problems.

[Papa Smurf]

Hey guys I am tooling up to do the fluid changes in our 2011 X3 35i at 148k KM it is 4wd and came with GA8HP45Z transmission (same as ZF?). Read this entire thread and just looking for guidance as far as tools needed, pictures? what is the Schwaben tool? metric allen key? There is a youtube vid on changing transmission fluid on an X5 E70 would it be the same as our X3?