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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > UK Technical Forum > Transmission oil change



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      04-21-2012, 02:37 AM   #1
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Transmission oil change

Is it worth changing? BMW say it's life time but they also think oil changes every 20k are acceptable on our engines.

I'm over 400bhp & 78k miles so thinking of changing it, any downsides to doing this? Reading a thread on the USA forum and some are saying it can cause issues if you change it, apparently that came from a BMW head tech in the states.
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      04-21-2012, 04:19 AM   #2
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Auto 'box oil? Yes, it is supposed to be lifetime.

However, I'm a firm believer in preventative maintenance, and a few litres of gearbox oil every few years is less than the cost of a new 'box, should the worst happen.

All the reports I've read from people who have had it done suggest noticeably smoother gearchanges. Definitely something I'm thinking about this summer.
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      04-21-2012, 05:01 AM   #3
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It's a manual, still worth doing?
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      04-21-2012, 07:56 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 335i E92 View Post
It's a manual, still worth doing?
H,

Did mine recently (6MT) only 15,000 mls, but made changes a little smoother.

M.
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      04-21-2012, 10:51 AM   #5
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I was looking into this. In the states there is a hige debate as to wether its neccesary. Some people who have changed the oil showed it being completely dark in colour after 30k miles and others who have changed it after 90k miles showed pics of it still fresh and in good condition. things to look into.

There is no drainage plug, instead just a fill hole. In response to this Zf have for sale full kits for around £200 including oil, nuts, casing etc I think red line do a kit also for the e90 for half the price.

Also an laraming number of people have complained of slippage of gears so its a bit of a 50/50. Not really one for the amateur driveway mech. But for the more experienced and/or a proper garage.

Personally I am firm believer of if it aint broke.....

But each to their own.
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      04-21-2012, 03:44 PM   #6
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Get it changed. ZF (the manufacturer) recommend changing it and (as stated previously) have a number of service packs for both their manual and auto gearboxes. I was speaking to my local indy last week and they do quite a few gearbox oil changes. On the high mileage cars, the magnetic filters are overflowing with swarf and the excess is in the oil, slowing destroying the gearbox.
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      04-21-2012, 06:10 PM   #7
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One of you says no drain plug.
Another says magnetic plug.

Are we talking different gearboxes here?
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      04-22-2012, 05:27 AM   #8
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use the search function

several people have had this done and had no issues from it. mine cost £380 all in. did it at 86k
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      04-22-2012, 08:13 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsmallwo
use the search function

several people have had this done and had no issues from it. mine cost £380 all in. did it at 86k

Did search, read 4 pages of the same discussion on the USA forum but wanted to get opinions from the some of the UK 335i owners who I know are probably approaching the same milage and might also be considering!!
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      04-23-2012, 07:13 AM   #10
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you should see a few UK folk that have had it done aswell, might be just 335d autobox owners mind
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      04-23-2012, 09:32 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m1bjr View Post
One of you says no drain plug.
Another says magnetic plug.

Are we talking different gearboxes here?
Hey M1, whilst I am not against the fluid change. I just wanted to high light potential issues.

I will back my statement about there being no drain hole. In order to drain the fiuld you must remove the whole diff casing.

Here is a link to the DIY procedure. He mentions drain hole but later edits his thread to say there is no drain hole.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1448807

Apparently there something magentic, not sure if its a plug, but the more of a fixed part fo the diff casing. its purpose is to attract the magnetic debris within the fluid in order to keep the gearbox safe.

Note: that the ZF kit I mentioned earlier actually comes with complete with a diff housing as well as the nuts and fluid.
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      04-23-2012, 10:27 AM   #12
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I had the transmission oil changed on my manual 335i at 70k and felt that the gearbox was smoother when cold. Maybe it was a placebo effect but I think it is worth it at your mileage.

In fact I had it changed again at 78k when the new clutch was done for some Redline ATF but I didn't notice much of a difference.

Last edited by idnan; 04-23-2012 at 01:59 PM..
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      04-23-2012, 12:50 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idnan View Post
I had the transmission oil changed on my manual 335i at 70k and felt that the gearbox was smoother when cold. Maybe it was a pacebo effect but I think it is worth it at your mileage.

In fact I had it changed again at 78k when the new clutch was done for some Redline ATF but I didn't much of a difference.
I have been considering changing it for a few months now, and i felt that after reading the post of the U.S boys, that it was more of a placebo effect. Hence why I have put it off, but I am still open to doing it.

Thanks for sharing that.
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      04-23-2012, 02:43 PM   #14
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So you are talking slushbox.

You will find the manual does indeed have a drain and fill plug.

And depends upon year but most likely needs MTF-3 at £100 for five litres.
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      04-23-2012, 03:59 PM   #15
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Definitely going to do it in the next 10k I rekon. Few other little jobs that need doing 1st!!
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      04-23-2012, 04:14 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m1bjr View Post
So you are talking slushbox.

You will find the manual does indeed have a drain and fill plug.

And depends upon year but most likely needs MTF-3 at £100 for five litres.
So an auto would in theory then be less likely to need a transmission fluid change than a manual? ( and yes i was referring to a slush box as I have one)

Edit: I didnt know manual had a drain plug.
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      04-24-2012, 06:53 AM   #17
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Think an auto would need an oil change more so than a manual. There's no clutch to deal with the large changes of force involved in a gear change, its all handled in the Torque convertor which correct me if I'm wrong, uses the tranny fluid for converting the Torque etc.

When the auto goes bang, the ocst is 1500-2500 to rebuild it.
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      04-26-2012, 08:46 AM   #18
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just had a quote from bmtech in manc for an e91 335i (auto)

The gearbox oil change = £82.50 labour + £120 oil + £160 sump pan & filter = £362.50 + vat
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      04-26-2012, 09:33 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCN_Saul View Post
just had a quote from bmtech in manc for an e91 335i (auto)

The gearbox oil change = £82.50 labour + £120 oil + £160 sump pan & filter = £362.50 + vat
Have you asked Darren Wood in Stockport? They have done a massive amount of work on my car and I still travel all the way from Birmingham because of the quality of their work.
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      04-26-2012, 10:24 AM   #20
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nope, but i will now
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      04-26-2012, 10:37 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCN_Saul View Post
just had a quote from bmtech in manc for an e91 335i (auto)

The gearbox oil change = £82.50 labour + £120 oil + £160 sump pan & filter = £362.50 + vat
^ as idnan said check for other prices. If the quote you got was for the full zf 6hp transmission kit (£255 for sump/oil/plugs) its a good price.

The sump is an integrated filter and gasket and if you shop around you can pick it up for around £90 inc vat.

The ZF Lifeguard-6 fluid is around £20 inc vat per litre.

However shell M13754.4 is around £15 per litre and Redline GL-4 is around £10 per litre, both inc vat.

I still really dont see the point. However If you are interested then I thought I would pass over some info.

Let us know how you get on fella.

Last edited by A_P; 04-26-2012 at 10:46 AM..
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      04-26-2012, 10:46 AM   #22
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^ If it is any help, a full ZF kit with everything you need for £210 inc delivery and vat.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=260951318217

Obviously give him a call and double check if it is the right kit for your 335i
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