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      09-09-2011, 03:20 PM   #1
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ATF Change - How many Qts?

I almost dread bring up another ATF thread but have a question. I have read probably every thread on this but am still confused on how many qts/liters are being changed. I'm back to thinking I'm going to have the pan dropped and fluid replaced. At first I thought this would be 6qts. But in the DYI it was around 4.5 I think. In other treads I see a range of 3-9 but sometimes I'm not sure exactly what procedure was used.

So if my mechanic drops the pan, can he get 8-9? 6?. I am ordering the fluid via mail so I have to pin it down.

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      09-09-2011, 05:46 PM   #2
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I believe the total capacity is about 9 liters (for the 335i it is 9.5 liters) but not sure about the 325i. But you won't get all of the fluid out because some will be in the torque converter or other places.. so you'll get at most probably 6. Just order more if they're not that expensive, because if you realize you don't have enough last minute, you're pretty screwed.

Sorry this is probably not very helpful.. hopefully someone who has done the 325i AT fluid before can provide better insight.
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      09-10-2011, 01:30 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by samchoi604 View Post
I believe the total capacity is about 9 liters (for the 335i it is 9.5 liters) but not sure about the 325i. But you won't get all of the fluid out because some will be in the torque converter or other places.. so you'll get at most probably 6. Just order more if they're not that expensive, because if you realize you don't have enough last minute, you're pretty screwed.

Sorry this is probably not very helpful.. hopefully someone who has done the 325i AT fluid before can provide better insight.
The total in mine is 8 qts best I can tell now. Maybe I'll just order 7 just in case.
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      09-10-2011, 02:00 PM   #4
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My indy mechanic changed the ATF on my 325xi, it took a little less than six liters.
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      09-11-2011, 08:29 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hurricane56 View Post
My indy mechanic changed the ATF on my 325xi, it took a little less than six liters.
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      09-11-2011, 11:02 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P2 View Post
Thanks
I forgot to mention that he used a suction pump to get the fluid out of the fill port, then pumped the new fluid back in.

I don't know how many liters you will remove if you drop the pan.
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      09-12-2011, 02:48 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hurricane56 View Post
I forgot to mention that he used a suction pump to get the fluid out of the fill port, then pumped the new fluid back in.

I don't know how many liters you will remove if you drop the pan.
If you drop the pan you will definitely get more out.. I totally recommend getting 7 qts.
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      09-29-2011, 12:51 PM   #8
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Here is how it went down. 58K on the car. I ordered the CTSC.com kit for the 6hp19 ZF trans. It had the pan and 6L of Lifeguard 6. Klaus assured me that 6 qts were enough. He was correct. I also ordered a sealing sleeve because of the high failure rate. Today may mechanic drained the ATF, dropped the pan, replaced the sleeve, installed the new pan and pumped new ATF back in. He ended up using 6L even with the little spill waste of checking the level. I checked out the old pan and there were no shavings with just a little buildup on the magnets. I'm back to butter smooth shifting. I think I will just do a drain and fill in about 30-40K and leave the pan for the life of the car. $275 parts, $175 labor, total $450.

As a side note: while the panels were off, he checked out a slight exhaust vibration thats been bugging me for 2 years. Adjusted a bracket and poof, gone. Nice.
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      09-29-2011, 04:37 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P2 View Post
Thanks for the replies everyone. Here is how it went down. 58K on the car. I ordered the CTSC.com kit for the 6hp19 ZF trans. It had the pan and 6L of Lifeguard 6. Klaus assured me that 6 qts were enough. He was correct. I also ordered a sealing sleeve because of the high failure rate. Today may mechanic drained the ATF, dropped the pan, replaced the sleeve, installed the new pan and pumped new ATF back in. He ended up using 6L even with the little spill waste of checking the level. I checked out the old pan and there were no shavings with just a little buildup on the magnets. I'm back to butter smooth shifting. I think I will just do a drain and fill in about 30-40K and leave the pan for the life of the car. $275 parts, $175 labor, total $450.

As a side note: while the panels were off, he checked out a slight exhaust vibration thats been bugging me for 2 years. Adjusted a bracket and poof, gone. Nice.
thanks for the update It's always good to know that the old pan is in good shape, but of course replacing it is even better.

BUT!! The kit you ordered is for the ZF transmission, and in your profile you say you drive 325i. I believe the 325i uses the transmission built by GM, and only 330i/335i uses the ZF transmission!
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      09-29-2011, 06:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P2 View Post
Klaus assured me that 6 qts were enough. He was correct.
I would totally trust Klaus- he is a former ZF trans engineer. A few questions though- 1. How was your trans shifting before the fluid change (just asking if it was a placebo effect or a real change?, 2. How was the mechantronic sleeve condition? Was there any evidence of deterioration? and 3. Do you really have ZF trans? or GM trans? It is imprinted on the pan. My 330i has ZF imprinted.
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      09-29-2011, 08:55 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JunkStory View Post
thanks for the update It's always good to know that the old pan is in good shape, but of course replacing it is even better.

BUT!! The kit you ordered is for the ZF transmission, and in your profile you say you drive 325i. I believe the 325i uses the transmission built by GM, and only 330i/335i uses the ZF transmission!
06 325 has a ZF transmission.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...diy+atf&page=4

Plus I checked
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do...&kind=P&arch=0

And
http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi
with my vin last 7 of pt10958

And I doubt the ZF pan would have fit

It's a ZF
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      09-29-2011, 09:00 PM   #12
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Good website for looking up fluid capacities..I have confirmed it accurate

http://www.amsoil.com/mygarage/vehiclelookup.aspx
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      09-29-2011, 09:02 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by queensfield View Post
I would totally trust Klaus- he is a former ZF trans engineer. A few questions though- 1. How was your trans shifting before the fluid change (just asking if it was a placebo effect or a real change?, 2. How was the mechantronic sleeve condition? Was there any evidence of deterioration? and 3. Do you really have ZF trans? or GM trans? It is imprinted on the pan. My 330i has ZF imprinted.
I thought it would shift firmly sometimes. I only drove for 20 min after with about 10 accelerations but I really did think it was smoother then on the way up.

Sleeve condition was good when he took it out. I saw no indication of deterioration and neither did my mechanic. But there was some discoloration of what I think were the seal rings on it.

Yes it's a ZF. I checked multiple sources, looked at the sticker on the pan before I ordered, Gave Klaus the last 7 of my Vin, it said ZF on the old pan, Stickers for the AFT was for the ZF fluid, parts fit etc.

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      09-29-2011, 09:12 PM   #14
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Looks like it's only the 323i and 328i owners that got the shaft and received GM transmissions. 325, 330, and 335i all get ZF.
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      09-30-2011, 07:33 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JunkStory View Post
Looks like it's only the 323i and 328i owners that got the shaft and received GM transmissions. 325, 330, and 335i all get ZF.
I don't know. I don't think the GM transmission is bad. I've driven 328i's and liked them.
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