[TDIwyse]

Thanks for posting and sharing.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

Just finished the maintenance on my transmission and wanted to post some things while I remember them.
Tools needed:
8mm, 10mm Socket
T27 with tamper hole (for panels)
Drain Plug: 10 mm allen wrench (8 Nm, not needed because new sump has it already installed)
Filler Plug: 8mm allen socket (35 Nm)
Sump bolts: T40 (10Nm - be sure to have a torque wrench that goes that low)

I filled about 2.5 liters of Lifeguard 6 oil when it started to poor out, then started engine and got up to 4.5 liters. Had to wait until next day because Tranny was too hot (>50C). Next day shifted through all gears and started filling at 30C and filled up to 5.4 liters until it started to poor out. It kept running with a constant small stream and I caught about 250ml until 40C and then closed up.

Reset adaptions and relearned components for EGS with Rheingold (ISTA). By the way, Rheingold gives you tranny and engine oil temp as well.

With a change at 92,500 miles, that amount of stuff on magnet is actually not that bad. Had you done a change before OR is this the first time?

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Ok amigos you convinced me I decided to the changes on my tranny and differential fluids I went the AMSOIL way and plan to do it next week car still in the shop for blown steering pump

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

Ok amigos you convinced me I decided to the changes on my tranny and differential fluids I went the AMSOIL way and plan to do it next week car still in the shop for blown steering pump

Amigo, i recall you saying that your car was close to 50,000 miles, right? I would say get on the trans fluid soon.

Mike Miller's BMW maintenance recommendation is diff fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles. I'm told he doesn't like his pdf to be posted to forums. Go google it yourself. It is a quick find.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Amigo, i recall you saying that your car was close to 50,000 miles, right? I would say get on the trans fluid soon.

Mike Miller's BMW maintenance recommendation is diff fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles. I'm told he doesn't like his pdf to be posted to forums. Go google it yourself. It is a quick find.

He was also quoted as saying that with the E9x it may be more cost effective to just replace it when it fails instead of doing a dif fluid change.

[Hoooper]

How expensive is our diff fluid?

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

How expensive is our diff fluid?

It's not terribly expensive, but it would take a long time for a diff to fail and they are not that expensive.

[BB_cuda]

I think I will stick changing the fluid. I have control of it not going bad in middle mountains or desert that way. My truck's diff broke during trip and it was Christmas holidays. Luckily it was covered under power train warranty. It would have cost $1300.

If you had a quafe, I bet you would change the fluid as opposed to spending $2500 again. To each his own.

[BB_cuda]

To be fair, I had changed fluid at 35,000 miles and it broke at 53,000. A sensor tip broke off into pumpkin and got ground up by ring and pinion.

I've changed the fluid once since then.

[Hoooper]

I was thinking that even with extremely expensive fluid, a diff doesnt take much fluid, it must take dozens of fluid changes before you even out on the cost of a stock diff. The oem fluid is as much as $35/qt, call it two qts to fill which is probably more than it takes, $70 per change. OEM diff is $1400 per real oem, so 20 fluid changes? The ring and pinion are probably worn out before you get to 20 changes unless you just love to change it

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

With a change at 92,500 miles, that amount of stuff on magnet is actually not that bad. Had you done a change before OR is this the first time?

I bought the car with 89,000, but I believe a transmission fluid change was not performed before as they guy rode the car from Dallas to Houston every week = minimal wear. With the general condition the car is in, this all checks out. I will post my analysis results when they are in.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

I was thinking that even with extremely expensive fluid, a diff doesnt take much fluid, it must take dozens of fluid changes before you even out on the cost of a stock diff. The oem fluid is as much as $35/qt, call it two qts to fill which is probably more than it takes, $70 per change. OEM diff is $1400 per real oem, so 20 fluid changes? The ring and pinion are probably worn out before you get to 20 changes unless you just love to change it

IIRC the context was that the design of the diff (no drain, plastic cages) probably didn't necessitate the need for a change as it should last about 200k miles. For the average owner the hassle outweighs the benefit.

You never hear someone complain about a noisy diff unless it's an M. Besides a scrap diff can be had for cheap!

Mike isn't a fan of maintenance for maintenance sake. His schedule is designed to avoid catastrophic failures and not failures of convenience.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Thanks cuda next week ill be performed

For those interested 2 quarts is the amount of needed as per AMSOIL guidelines for the differential and of course i purcahsed it The Amsoil guy told me that after this change I would never need the diff change again but he told me that every 50k for the tranny IF I DONT race it but at 35k if I do race it!!

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

Thanks cuda next week ill be performed

For those interested 2 quarts is the amount of needed as per AMSOIL guidelines for the differential and of course i purcahsed it The Amsoil guy told me that after this change I would never need the diff change again but he told me that every 50k for the tranny IF I DONT race it but at 35k if I do race it!!

I thought you'd go with the AMSoil . Which one are you taking? The premium or good? I'm a fan of AMSoil myself but decided against it for the tranny because I think there are simply more additives and specific materials involved than in an engine. I was even debating Shell M-1375.4 (OEM fill) and the ZF Lifeguard which both are approved by ZF.
This might be a matter of beliefs, but I believe the manufacturer should know best what to put into their own products. Let them have the extra buck.

[GreekboyD]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

I thought you'd go with the AMSoil . Which one are you taking? The premium or good? I'm a fan of AMSoil myself but decided against it for the tranny because I think there are simply more additives and specific materials involved than in an engine. I was even debating Shell M-1375.4 (OEM fill) and the ZF Lifeguard which both are approved by ZF.
This might be a matter of beliefs, but I believe the manufacturer should know best what to put into their own products. Let them have the extra buck.

To each their own. I personally think it comes down to whomever throws the money hats towards BMW. Some people will only use Castrol engine oil because BMW says to. Well, BMW is ditching Castrol for someone else in the very near future for more money elsewhere. Might be Pennzoil.

Will they also send me a Pennzoil oil cap?

[taibanl]

Yes but when it comes to ZF i doubt fluids are that much of a profit center. They make money buy selling the trannys to oem. That said. Im def gonna trust their fluid over an unknown. Even if brand name

[GreekboyD]

Originally Posted by taibanl

Yes but when it comes to ZF i doubt fluids are that much of a profit center. They make money buy selling the trannys to oem. That said. Im def gonna trust their fluid over an unknown. Even if brand name

I agree about the ZF. I'd go the same route.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Mik I'll tell you next week since im flying out tonight and oil is my van w my other mechanic

[Mik325tds]

Yet, I'm very interested in PR's experience with the AMSoil. Let's talk again when we change oil next time and have the analysis done.
PR, do you have any chance of visiting a CAT dealership?

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Mik wont be able to please u w the Cat stuff but will provide BUTT reviews on the oil

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

Mik wont be able to please u w the Cat stuff but will provide BUTT reviews on the oil

How about if I send you a sample bottle ($14+shipping)? Is it possible to ship oil samples across the border, ord would it be considered dangerous goods?

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Got an email with the fluid analysis results.
.

Got my results back this week. Strange though, my analysis says "No Problems" even though my copper levels are almost tripple of TDI's CU levels, which was noted a concern there.