[AllBlackBimmer]

OK, so my car is creeping up in mileage, at 70k now.. and want to keep my car in good service as i think i may just keep this thing until it dies...

but, what is the general consensus on MANUAL transmission fluid changes?

I have read numerous horror stories of people with AUTO trans that had their fluids changes when they had no problems, and then it caused their trannys to slip - possibly due to dislogging some buildup with the new fluid or something

are there the same type or other worries when changing manual trans fluid?

what should I watch or be aware or before doing this?

I will go with Redline trans fluid as that seems to be the best stuff around that everyone uses.... is there a particular type I should be using for my car?

'08, 328i 6MT.

Manual transmissions F-T-W

[Surly73]

Always change fluids. Assuming that a grossly incorrect fluid wasn't used, most of the AT "horror stories" are crap. Only an AT on its last legs already would be "killed" by fresh fluid.

Redline MTL or Amsoil MTF should be the proper weights. Redline may also recommend D4ATF or D6ATF if you use their application guide.

[N8N]

The thing with the automatic transmissions is only true if it wasn't changed at regular intervals... I've never heard of a transmission being damaged by a fluid change with good quality (factory spec or Redline etc.) fluid at a reasonable interval like 50K miles or so - it's only when you've already got 150K miles and the fluid's never been changed that you need to worry. (I've done it before and got away with it though - changed the fluid in my F*rd truck's tranny at 130K+ and I'm sure it was for the first time and shifting actually improved. I figured that I'd either roll the dice and lose or it'd be fine and then I could continue maintaining it properly. I won. Yay!)

I'm not aware of any similar considerations for a manual transmission - changing the fluid can only help. I personally would change it; I don't believe that any fluid is "lifetime." Only points really worth debating in my mind are what the right fluid is to use and at what interval.

[AllBlackBimmer]

Since bmw fills are "lifetime" , what do they spec for exact fluid changes? Street driven, not tracked.

[Efthreeoh]

If you look carefully in the maintenance manual in the set of manuals that comes with the car, you'll find that "lifetime" means 100,000 miles. The diff, trans and coolant have 100,000 mile service intervals. I changed my trans oil the first time at 89,000 with BMW OEM trans oil. Changed the diff around 75,000 with BMW OEM oil. I did a second round at 160,000. I'm at just over 200,000 and no problems so far.

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

If you look carefully in the maintenance manual in the set of manuals that comes with the car, you'll find that "lifetime" means 100,000 miles. The diff, trans and coolant have 100,000 mile service intervals. I changed my trans oil the first time at 89,000 with BMW OEM trans oil. Changed the diff around 75,000 with BMW OEM oil. I did a second round at 160,000. I'm at just over 200,000 and no problems so far.

"Lifetime" has recently been replaced with 100,000miles in the schedule. It was TRULY lifetime for many years in the 2000s, much to the chagrin of E46, E39, E38 etc.... owners (and used car shoppers).