Transfer case fluid change - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

ozzy1 · 08-15-2012, 10:36 AM

Can someone please confirm that you do not need to reset electronics if the transfer case fluid is changed?

So many different answers are out there, none confirmed (that I can find).

Thanks!

-----
07 328xi 10/06

ritjeff · 08-25-2012, 03:51 PM

I have been chasing that answer all week. One dealer said no, but they wouldn't even recommend changing the fluid. Another dealer said yes, that it was just a matter of resetting the fault (I wasn't talking about a fault). An indy shop had never heard of it. Then they came back and said they checked into it and it was actually necessary. A bunch of people here say not to bother with it, but others say to do it. This is very frustrating. I have a 2009 LCI 335xi, in case anyone on here can help.

bula · 08-25-2012, 07:08 PM

You do not need to reset anything. Just did it (see my post) and no problems at all however if you have a convinience package I will lock car and wait to go to sleep prior to do any work on it - just as a precation.

kavadarci · 08-26-2012, 09:57 AM

i did mine and no reset was required. question can not be answer properly even at the dealership.

tomtom11 · 08-26-2012, 10:03 AM

you dont need to reset it but you can.

bula · 08-27-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavadarci

i did mine and no reset was required. question can not be answer properly even at the dealership.

Maybe TC was emptied out when car was live. (?)
I always lock it and wait 10 min prior to performing any work on it.

nomile · 09-03-2012, 11:35 AM

I have done this on two cars, one required a reset (transfer case went into limp-mode / opened up the clutch after 2 miles of driving) and the other one did not (only 10 miles since change).

ritjeff · 09-03-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomile

I have done this on two cars, one required a reset (transfer case went into limp-mode / opened up the clutch after 2 miles of driving) and the other one did not (only 10 miles since change).

I have driven about 45 mi since changing without reset. So far, so good...

ozzy1 · 09-04-2012, 07:16 AM

Thats exactly my point, I dont want to save a few bucks, do it home then have to limp to the dealer. Heard something about pre and post 09/07 builds. Pre didnt throw any errors while post did. Mine is pre so thats good but need more input.

By the way, is that 'car going to sleep and doing work after that' a myth or reality. Never really paid attention to it before.

nomile · 09-04-2012, 07:33 AM

The pre/post 09/07 is pure speculation at this point (I posted that) since the two cars I did happened to fall in that category.
If anyone with a post 09/07 car did this and did not have to reset, that pattern is not worth noting.

ozzy1 · 09-04-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomile

The pre/post 09/07 is pure speculation at this point (I posted that) since the two cars I did happened to fall in that category.
If anyone with a post 09/07 car did this and did not have to reset, that pattern is not worth noting.

Fair enough...

ccraig13 · 09-04-2012, 10:19 AM

Mine's an '07 and had the transfer case and both diffs changed last thursday, by an indy. Been driving it ever since with no issues.

ozzy1 · 09-04-2012, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccraig13

Mine's an '07 and had the transfer case and both diffs changed last thursday, by an indy. Been driving it ever since with no issues.

Mileage?

ozzy1 · 09-07-2012, 10:32 AM

Ok gathering more info on this, if you did reset it what value did you reset?

Question is with the BT tool, would anyone please chime in on which parameter needs to be reset/deleted? Transfer case options in the BT tool include:

- Delete HO integrators
- Reset resistor class of gearbox
- Delete calibration

Thanks.

AWD Addict · 09-07-2012, 12:30 PM

Mine was replaced at 50k, and needed the reset.

nomile · 09-07-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzy1

Ok gathering more info on this, if you did reset it what value did you reset?

Question is with the BT tool, would anyone please chime in on which parameter needs to be reset/deleted? Transfer case options in the BT tool include:

- Delete HO integrators
- Reset resistor class of gearbox
- Delete calibration

Thanks.

I approached with "reset things until it works" attitude, and started with "HO integrators". Worked after that. HO sounded to me like a "base" i.e. my assumption was that the ph of the fluid is changing, and since I put new fluid in, it freaked out and would want to be reset. Don't know if that is the real reasoning behind it, but no problems since I reset it...

Bossimo · 12-16-2012, 12:11 PM

Has anyone done this on a post 10/07 build 335xi? Does it need reset?

ritjeff · 12-16-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossimo

Has anyone done this on a post 10/07 build 335xi? Does it need reset?

Mine is an 09...see comments above

Bossimo · 12-16-2012, 03:15 PM

Good to know. Gonna go do it soon. Thanks

Bossimo · 01-06-2013, 10:19 PM

Didn't have to reset. Waited 15min for ECU to sleep before starting.

ozzy1 · 01-07-2013, 08:30 PM

Finally got around to do mine today. Fairly simple job (turned sort of sour for me).

Hammered out the bit from a 14 mm hex socket. Worked perfectly. Both bolts were on pretty tight. Took some effort. Old fluid was nice and dark. As we tend to say here, lifetime my arse. I have 110k on the car.

During refilling tipped the bottle spilled 300 ml or so but had enough to complete the job.

Without taking chances reset HO integrators via bt tool. Car seems smoother but it may be my imagination. Mostly the same, that's probably a good thing.

madbill683 · 01-11-2013, 05:01 PM

ozzy1,

This is good news. I started with the project to change all fluids, have only completed the rear diff. I was worried about the TC throwing a code after I changed the fluid, since our '07 328xi wagon is the wife's DD. I called another local dealer, and they don't recommend changing fluids, and of course the SA does not know if anything has to be reset after the TC fluid is changed. The nearest dealer wants $505 labor to change the trans fluid alone, and the dealer I called today recommends not changing it, and they "suck" out the old fluid. I have all the parts, I'm dropping the pan and replacing the filter.

I plan to follow the advice of Bossimo and let the car go to sleep before I do the TC.

Bill

08-15-2012, 10:36 AM	#1
ozzy1 Private Drives: e90 - 328xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MI Posts: 98 iTrader: (1)	Transfer case fluid change Can someone please confirm that you do not need to reset electronics if the transfer case fluid is changed? So many different answers are out there, none confirmed (that I can find). Thanks! ----- 07 328xi 10/06
	Tweet

09-03-2012, 11:35 AM	#7
nomile Second Lieutenant Drives: 328xi; 318ti Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lyons, CO Posts: 232 iTrader: (0)	Reset question I have done this on two cars, one required a reset (transfer case went into limp-mode / opened up the clutch after 2 miles of driving) and the other one did not (only 10 miles since change).

09-04-2012, 10:19 AM	#12
ccraig13 Private First Class Drives: '07 E92 328xi 6MT Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 133 iTrader: (0)	Mine's an '07 and had the transfer case and both diffs changed last thursday, by an indy. Been driving it ever since with no issues. __________________ 2007 328xi E92 6MT Don't believe everything you see on TV, unless of course it's on Top Gear.

09-07-2012, 10:32 AM	#14
ozzy1 Private Drives: e90 - 328xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MI Posts: 98 iTrader: (1)	Ok gathering more info on this, if you did reset it what value did you reset? Question is with the BT tool, would anyone please chime in on which parameter needs to be reset/deleted? Transfer case options in the BT tool include: - Delete HO integrators - Reset resistor class of gearbox - Delete calibration Thanks. Last edited by ozzy1; 09-07-2012 at 10:45 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-25-2012, 03:51 PM	#2
ritjeff Private Drives: E90 LCI 335xi Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: MD Posts: 67 iTrader: (0)	I have been chasing that answer all week. One dealer said no, but they wouldn't even recommend changing the fluid. Another dealer said yes, that it was just a matter of resetting the fault (I wasn't talking about a fault). An indy shop had never heard of it. Then they came back and said they checked into it and it was actually necessary. A bunch of people here say not to bother with it, but others say to do it. This is very frustrating. I have a 2009 LCI 335xi, in case anyone on here can help.

08-25-2012, 07:08 PM	#3
bula New Member Drives: 335xi Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 24 iTrader: (0)	You do not need to reset anything. Just did it (see my post) and no problems at all however if you have a convinience package I will lock car and wait to go to sleep prior to do any work on it - just as a precation.

08-26-2012, 09:57 AM	#4
kavadarci Lieutenant Drives: 335xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: canada Posts: 522 iTrader: (0)	i did mine and no reset was required. question can not be answer properly even at the dealership.

08-26-2012, 10:03 AM	#5
tomtom11 First Lieutenant Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 388 iTrader: (1)	you dont need to reset it but you can.

09-04-2012, 07:16 AM	#9
ozzy1 Private Drives: e90 - 328xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MI Posts: 98 iTrader: (1)	Thats exactly my point, I dont want to save a few bucks, do it home then have to limp to the dealer. Heard something about pre and post 09/07 builds. Pre didnt throw any errors while post did. Mine is pre so thats good but need more input. By the way, is that 'car going to sleep and doing work after that' a myth or reality. Never really paid attention to it before.

09-04-2012, 07:33 AM	#10
nomile Second Lieutenant Drives: 328xi; 318ti Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lyons, CO Posts: 232 iTrader: (0)	The pre/post 09/07 is pure speculation at this point (I posted that) since the two cars I did happened to fall in that category. If anyone with a post 09/07 car did this and did not have to reset, that pattern is not worth noting.

09-07-2012, 12:30 PM	#15
AWD Addict Chief Executive Drives: 2008 335xi 6spd Coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 2,320 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	Mine was replaced at 50k, and needed the reset.

12-16-2012, 12:11 PM	#17
Bossimo Private Drives: 08 335xi Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: autobahn Posts: 66 iTrader: (0)	Has anyone done this on a post 10/07 build 335xi? Does it need reset?

12-16-2012, 03:15 PM	#19
Bossimo Private Drives: 08 335xi Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: autobahn Posts: 66 iTrader: (0)	Good to know. Gonna go do it soon. Thanks

01-06-2013, 10:19 PM	#20
Bossimo Private Drives: 08 335xi Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: autobahn Posts: 66 iTrader: (0)	Didn't have to reset. Waited 15min for ECU to sleep before starting.

01-07-2013, 08:30 PM	#21
ozzy1 Private Drives: e90 - 328xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MI Posts: 98 iTrader: (1)	Finally got around to do mine today. Fairly simple job (turned sort of sour for me). Hammered out the bit from a 14 mm hex socket. Worked perfectly. Both bolts were on pretty tight. Took some effort. Old fluid was nice and dark. As we tend to say here, lifetime my arse. I have 110k on the car. During refilling tipped the bottle spilled 300 ml or so but had enough to complete the job. Without taking chances reset HO integrators via bt tool. Car seems smoother but it may be my imagination. Mostly the same, that's probably a good thing.

01-11-2013, 05:01 PM	#22
madbill683 New Member Drives: 2007 BMW 328xit Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: SE Virginia Posts: 14 iTrader: (0)	ozzy1, This is good news. I started with the project to change all fluids, have only completed the rear diff. I was worried about the TC throwing a code after I changed the fluid, since our '07 328xi wagon is the wife's DD. I called another local dealer, and they don't recommend changing fluids, and of course the SA does not know if anything has to be reset after the TC fluid is changed. The nearest dealer wants $505 labor to change the trans fluid alone, and the dealer I called today recommends not changing it, and they "suck" out the old fluid. I have all the parts, I'm dropping the pan and replacing the filter. I plan to follow the advice of Bossimo and let the car go to sleep before I do the TC. Bill