[07lilredwagon]

Sorry if this has been asked and covered before....but I would love a definitive answer as to what options there are for Transfer case fluid...I see that specs call for BMW part number "we dont want to tell you what it really is", though I have seen the plastic bottle with "75wt" on the label.....but what does that mean?...can I swap it with Castrol Diff fluid? (SAF-X0 75/90)...probably not, right?

so does the 75wt oil mean that its a straight 75wt? (like your garden tractor takes 30wt oil....not 10w30, or 10w40, ect.....)

Im sure its a synthetic product meant for "lifetime" of the component...but if the oil gets played out and the component fails...then thats the lifetime...

any help would be appreciated.....Im going through the car and changing all the fluids I can think of for peace of mind.....(100,000 miles)

thanks

ps 07 328xi wagon automatic GM tranny

JP

[ctuna]

No substitute as per Mike Miller schedule
Google Mike Miller BMW for the old school maintenance schedule.
There is not that much fluid in it . Somebody was saying one can from BMW is good for 2 fills . I thing the capacity is .6 liters.
Also for BMW lifetime fluid means when the cars out of warranty 100k with cpo.
As per Mike Miller old BMW schedule is pretty much like all the typical schedules for cars before free maintenance which means as little as the manufacture can get away with . (which means changing them at 30 to 60k)
Redline oil is good stuff they have and app at there website that will tell you what you can use .
Be sure to use Pentosin for the power steering fluid the type is indicated on the fill cap.

Also there are sub boards here for DIY , maintenance and a bunch of other stuff.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

[07lilredwagon]

Originally Posted by ctuna

No substitute as per Mike Miller schedule
Google Mike Miller BMW for the old school maintenance schedule.
There is not that much fluid in it . Somebody was saying one can from BMW is good for 2 fills . I thing the capacity is .6 liters.
Also for BMW lifetime fluid means when the cars out of warranty 100k with cpo.
As per Mike Miller old BMW schedule is pretty much like all the typical schedules for cars before free maintenance which means as little as the manufacture can get away with . (which means changing them at 30 to 60k)
Redline oil is good stuff they have and app at there website that will tell you what you can use .
Be sure to use Pentosin for the power steering fluid the type is indicated on the fill cap.

Also there are sub boards here for DIY , maintenance and a bunch of other stuff.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16

Thanks!...I know its a well covered subject...but I am trying to boil things down and be a smart shopper if at all possible....Transfer case seems to be the only one with just one choice for fluid!....

appreciate the response.

JP

[ctuna]

I wouldn't skimp on the cost of fluids.
Its a 50k plus car new and anything you can do
to prevent major problems and breakage is worth doing.
Especially if you are DIYing . The big cost for you will
be the Auto transmission fluid and filter if you do it.

[07lilredwagon]

Originally Posted by ctuna

I wouldn't skimp on the cost of fluids.
Its a 50k plus car new and anything you can do
to prevent major problems and breakage is worth doing.
Especially if you are DIYing . The big cost for you will
be the Auto transmission fluid and filter if you do it.

thanks, Ctuna

Yes, Im in the middle of it all now and decided to do all the fluids at once....

Stopped in at our local parts store and am getting the good stuff throughout
redline, pentosin, castrol....and yes, BMW for the transfer case!

Tranny service with filter and gasket did get pricey....best price I could find was through ECS buying separate filter and gasket and sourcing fluid locally.
Castrol is roughly 8-9.00 per quart.....x 6 quarts plus the 120.00 I spent for the filter and gasket (plus the 2 jacking points the car needed!) and it does start to add up. Ill be doing a drain and fill sometime in the spring too....another 50.00.....


I will follow a more frequent drain and fill schedule so I should be good...

what do you think?

JP

[fun2drive]

You are correct there is no other substitute for the transfer case fluid and I am the one that posted about the 1L that allows you two refills. I have done it so this isn't arm chair discussion. If your transfer case is at 100K miles and has not been changed until now this will certainly help. You will find it easy to do and at 70 bucks a 1L container doing the change at every 30-50K miles will certainly prolong its life.
Transfer cases are a BMW weak point if not frequently changed.

Sounds like your change cycle will make the rest of the car last a long time...

[ctuna]

better to change the transmission fluid than change the transmission.

The dealers and Indys are charging between 300 and 600 for that I believe.