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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > Wrong ATF



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      05-23-2019, 03:02 AM   #1
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Wrong ATF

Hello,

I do apologize if this is in the wrong section cause the drivetrain section seems to be for modifications. Anyway, I bought an E92 with the GA6L45R a few months back(tranny shifts fine). The bad news is when I sent it to an indy to have the tranny serviced (filter and fluid change) I was told whoever refurbed the tranny filled it with ZF fluid instead of Dexron VI. What are your opinions on this matter and what would be the next course of action considering the tranny works fine.

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      05-23-2019, 07:15 AM   #2
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Asking out of ignorance. Is the "GA6L45R" the ZF transmission or the GM trans? It is my understanding that they use different fluids. So, you may have gotten the correct fluid. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
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      05-23-2019, 09:20 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phillycx View Post
Asking out of ignorance. Is the "GA6L45R" the ZF transmission or the GM trans? It is my understanding that they use different fluids. So, you may have gotten the correct fluid. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
That's the GM 6 speed BMW used in the 328i in the states (and I guess the 325i, etc. elsewhere?)

I'd change it immediately. Drain it, fill it with the correct Dextron, drive it around, drain again. Replace the filter as well.

You're probably fine- the GM 6 speed is a pretty stout transmission.

I'm also assuming its not shifting weirdly as of now?
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      05-23-2019, 12:48 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoody007 View Post
That's the GM 6 speed BMW used in the 328i in the states (and I guess the 325i, etc. elsewhere?)

I'd change it immediately. Drain it, fill it with the correct Dextron, drive it around, drain again. Replace the filter as well.

You're probably fine- the GM 6 speed is a pretty stout transmission.

I'm also assuming its not shifting weirdly as of now?
Its shifting fine. The ZF fluid had been in there for a good few years I suspect. Might be because Dexron VI and ZF's equivalent fluid have fairly similar properties(?).
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      05-23-2019, 12:59 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoody007 View Post
That's the GM 6 speed BMW used in the 328i in the states (and I guess the 325i, etc. elsewhere?)

I'd change it immediately. Drain it, fill it with the correct Dextron, drive it around, drain again. Replace the filter as well.

You're probably fine- the GM 6 speed is a pretty stout transmission.

I'm also assuming its not shifting weirdly as of now?

It wasn't used in *all* 328s in the USA. My understanding is that all X-drive 328s have the GM transmission, and the non-Xdrive models could have either.

I have a 2006 325i RWD (in the USA it was called the 325i for 2006 only; it has the N52B30, basically the same car as the 07-08 328i) and it has the ZF6HP19.
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      05-23-2019, 02:11 PM   #6
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Drain and refill the oil with cheap castrol dexron VI ATF. Spin it around for 100 miles. Drain again and replace with Redline or BMW's original ATF.
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      05-23-2019, 03:29 PM   #7
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I'd say it's the shop's problem to replace the fluid with the correct spec, and to offer you, in writing, some sort of agreed upon warranty for your transmission that may have been damaged by their employee.
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      05-23-2019, 04:41 PM   #8
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LOL! They gave you the more expensive transmission fluid in place of the cheap stuff. Usually it is the other way around.

Anyway, it is always good to have the correct transmission fluid in there. But you know the GM 6L45R is based on the ZF 6HP design right? (this is not to say they are exactly identical, as ZF is top tier and GM is not).

Looking up on Amsoil's site, they recommend their "fuel efficient" ATF (as both the Dexron VI and ZF LG6/8 are low viscosity fluids) for the GM and ZF transmissions. As you mentioned, I too would think they are very close in properties, but still I would refill with the correct stuff.

https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...mission-fluid/


Quote:
Originally Posted by Spiteful View Post
Hello,

I do apologize if this is in the wrong section cause the drivetrain section seems to be for modifications. Anyway, I bought an E92 with the GA6L45R a few months back(tranny shifts fine). The bad news is when I sent it to an indy to have the tranny serviced (filter and fluid change) I was told whoever refurbed the tranny filled it with ZF fluid instead of Dexron VI. What are your opinions on this matter and what would be the next course of action considering the tranny works fine.

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      05-24-2019, 04:09 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainbearing View Post
LOL! They gave you the more expensive transmission fluid in place of the cheap stuff. Usually it is the other way around.

Anyway, it is always good to have the correct transmission fluid in there. But you know the GM 6L45R is based on the ZF 6HP design right? (this is not to say they are exactly identical, as ZF is top tier and GM is not).

Looking up on Amsoil's site, they recommend their "fuel efficient" ATF (as both the Dexron VI and ZF LG6/8 are low viscosity fluids) for the GM and ZF transmissions. As you mentioned, I too would think they are very close in properties, but still I would refill with the correct stuff.

https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...mission-fluid/
Righto this is news to me. Thanks for the input guys. Much appreciated.
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      05-24-2019, 06:14 AM   #10
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I just have to ask, how did "someone" know the transmission was filled with the incorrect fluid after "several years of use"?
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      05-24-2019, 10:08 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
I just have to ask, how did "someone" know the transmission was filled with the incorrect fluid after "several years of use"?
Right?

Just swap the fluid and move on. CSI went off the air long ago.
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      05-24-2019, 10:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
I just have to ask, how did "someone" know the transmission was filled with the incorrect fluid after "several years of use"?
Errrmmm can still see hints of the fluid being straw coloured originally instead of red?
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      05-24-2019, 10:43 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
I just have to ask, how did "someone" know the transmission was filled with the incorrect fluid after "several years of use"?
ZF lifeguard only comes in Pina Colada flavor. That's the big giveaway.
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