[335Newbie]

I have 51K miles on my car and want to know approx. how much I can expect the dealer will want to charge me for the fluid change , filter, etc. This is not a project I would feel comfortable doing as a DIY. I have any indy who quoted me $537 + Tax. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Golde90]

I paid $270 for a drain and fill at a BMW dealer in the LA area recently. I was quoted closer to $1k with a filter replacement.

I did this at 41k on my own nickel as a preventative measure and it markedly
improved the smoothness of shifting in both modes. It also had the trans shift at a somewhat lower rpm in sport mode under medium throttle which I really liked. Before it had a tendency to hang on before shifting up (not using paddles) just enough to be annoying.

Just make sure independent uses approved fluid. Good luck

[fun2drive]

Assuming you use an indy here is a source for LifeGuard6 which is what this ZF 6 spd takes. You will need 6L because it will take at least 4-5L.
No need to replace the pan/filter at that mileage.
http://www.thectsc.com/index.php?p=p...d=184&parent=0

or you can use Mercon SP which is the only other fluid I know that works for that ZF transmission. O'Reilly has this for 5.99 a qt while the other fluid is 19 bucks a L.

All the indy will do is to drain what he can and then refill with the new fluid. LG6 smells bad and when used smells worse while Mercon SP doesn't have that awful odor at all.

Remove the fill plug, remove the drain plug reinsert the drain plug and pump new fluid into the transmission until it comes out then put the plug in. Then start the car and allow it to run in park remove the plug and as long as the fluid is between 80-120F fill until it weaps out. Reinsert the fill plug and you are done.

Just so you know what will happen.

You can now figure if you are getting a good deal or not. Most dealers will charge a huge sum for LG6 and labor at over 110 per hour for a job that takes less than an hour even if you go real slow...

[millerb7]

I'd do it yourself for those prices.

On a side note, that mileage is pretty low to be changing the "lifetime" (read: 100k mile) fluid.

[Josh1a1h]

40k miles or so is a little early. When would you say a filter/sump change is needed?

[taranonline]

So im at 40k miles. Planning to replace the gear as well diff oil.

Can i do it without changing the filter in auto tranny.

Car is2010 e90 320d.

[fun2drive]

For US 335's you most certainly can. I don't plan to replace my integrated pan/filter until I hit 120K miles.
I did mine at 37K miles and will do another drain and refill at 70K miles. I keep BMWs a long time. My current M3/4 is a 97 and I bought from the dealership so going overboard on preventative maintenance has allowed this car to run flawlessly.

When to change the LG6? I would suggest 50K miles if you are draining and refilling and every 50K miles thereafter...

[taranonline]

Im out of warranty and the indy shop recommended xado auto trans oil. I am going to do the gear n diff oil only. no pan filter replace. Would that be good?

[taranonline]

All right i replaced the auto tranny oil with zf lg6. Lucky to find it in India!! I had to keep the engine running to put back the exact amount amount of oil drained from zf tranny. It just kept coming out of the hole.

Gear shifts are even better than a new car .

I was against doing it before but I recommend doing oil drain n fill at 40k and full filter n oil at 80k miles.

[fun2drive]

Glad all went well. I was not sure thus the reason I never commented on what transmission the 320D has...

[wwc310]

Originally Posted by Golde90

I paid $270 for a drain and fill at a BMW dealer in the LA area recently. I was quoted closer to $1k with a filter replacement.

I did this at 41k on my own nickel as a preventative measure and it markedly
improved the smoothness of shifting in both modes. It also had the trans shift at a somewhat lower rpm in sport mode under medium throttle which I really liked. Before it had a tendency to hang on before shifting up (not using paddles) just enough to be annoying.

Just make sure independent uses approved fluid. Good luck

Can I ask what dealership you went to?

[taranonline]

Originally Posted by fun2drive

Glad all went well. I was not sure thus the reason I never commented on what transmission the 320D has...

Yep. First I thought i had gm tranny but with more research, I found out it it was zf 6hp

[jclassboat]

Originally Posted by 335Newbie

I have 51K miles on my car and want to know approx. how much I can expect the dealer will want to charge me for the fluid change , filter, etc. This is not a project I would feel comfortable doing as a DIY. I have any indy who quoted me $537 + Tax. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

2007 328i, 64K GM auto Trans. was quoted $ 800. at Indy.

I am going to DI myself. ordered 12 quarts of Redline, Pan gasket and Filter.

[jclassboat]

Originally Posted by taranonline

So im at 40k miles. Planning to replace the gear as well diff oil.

Can i do it without changing the filter in auto tranny.

Car is2010 e90 320d.

2007 328i 64K, The filter is too important not to change, I just bought Filter and Pan gasket, 12 Quarts of Redline ATF and will do a partial flush.

At 60K I did a DIY on the rear dif using AMSOIL gear oil.

[taranonline]

I have already done it without the filter. Read above.

[VMRWheels]

Amsoil

[07lilredwagon]

I am in the middle of changing all the fluids on my 07 328xi....110,000 From what I have been reading....doing a tranny service before 50-60,000 miles is a great idea. I am doing the filter on my tranny....of course at my mileage...but I would think you would want to change the filter no matter what after say 40,000. Think about break in periods...this is when the most metallic particles are released into the filter and pan magnet. Your probably safe waiting till 70,000 or so on the filter, though.....but since you are under the car anyway....its just a pan gasket and filter if its a GM tranny, and the whole pan/gasket/filter if its the Z......its not hard to do...just a bit awkward without a lift!.....I made a drain pan out of a garbage can lid that I cut a hole in the center of and the bottom portion of a 5 gallon bucket....works great, no spills or drips at all!....

Oh, about 5 quarts comes out of the GM tranny.....3 or so stays in the torque converter and other areas....so I plan on doing a simple drain and fill in the spring.


JP

[fun2drive]

Changing out your transfer case fluid is way more important at 50K miles than anything else on your car.
Suggest you add that to your drain and refill list.
1L of BMW special sauce will allow you to do two changes since the case holds 0.6L and you can only get 0.5L out.