BMW E90 330Xi N52 ZF GA6HP19Z ATF

BMWSource · 07-01-2019, 04:25 PM

Hello fellow E9X owners, I have a 2006 E90 330Xi with the 3.0 litre N52B30 I6 with the 6 speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission in my car is the ZF GA6HP19Z. I bought the car last year in June 2018 with 107,358 km on it. I have owned the car for 1 year now, & I now currently have 114,670 km, & put 1,000 km on it for a year now. My question is the transmission shifts fine, but my main concern is that BMW says that the transmission fluid in these cars are lifetime fluid, & you don't have to change it, however, I did research about the E90 automatic ZF 6HP transmission, & found out that most transmissions will make it to 241,401 km, is this true? Also, whats the life span, & how long do these ZF GA6HP19Z transmissions last? If anyone has an E9X with the same transmission as myself please I need feedback, & also should I change the automatic transmission fluid, & filter? I don't rely on BMW telling me that it's a lifetime fluid, & not having to change it, & I'm the 3rd owner on my car, & I don't know when the last time the transmission was serviced.

Also, what is the best transmission fluid for my ZF GA6HP19Z? ZF has lifeguard (83222305396) Febi Bilstein has an alternative, & BMW Genuine as well. Which one is better?

rjahl · 07-01-2019, 07:40 PM

That transmission is good for several hundred thousand miles.....

I put 205,000 miles on mine and all it required was good fluid/filter changes. Don't let the fluid get older than 60,000 miles. I'm sure you can find the ZF recommendations if you look hard enough. Life Long fluid is a BMW myth...

I found that the fluid friction modifiers do not last past 60K and the clutch packs will tell you, if you listened well enough. They "Bark" on the 4>3 shift under load.

There are some seals inside the magatronics unit that fail with age. You need to replace them before the loss of fluid pressure causes damage to your clutches. I never change mine but their are plenty of people that have.

Best Fluid is the ZF Fluid, it's pricey but worth it.

Don't worry about flushing, it's over rated.

My two cents.

Saico · 07-05-2019, 12:16 AM

Thats very strange what you are saying BMWSource. I have 330xi too and my transmission did exactly 240 000 km before major repair.

BMWSource · 07-05-2019, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saico

Thats very strange what you are saying BMWSource. I have 330xi too and my transmission did exactly 240 000 km before major repair.

When you got to 240,000 km, did you change the fluid?

Saico · 07-05-2019, 06:40 AM

It was the previous owner who did the rebuilt at 240k just before the sale - i can't say if the fluid had been changed regurarly, but looking at service log of the previous Swiss owner everything was done according to BMW guidelines = no fluid changes.

07-01-2019, 04:25 PM	#1
BMWSource Member 29 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW E90 330Xi Join Date: May 2016 Location: Toronto ON Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330Xi Pre LCI [0.00]	BMW E90 330Xi N52 ZF GA6HP19Z ATF Hello fellow E9X owners, I have a 2006 E90 330Xi with the 3.0 litre N52B30 I6 with the 6 speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission in my car is the ZF GA6HP19Z. I bought the car last year in June 2018 with 107,358 km on it. I have owned the car for 1 year now, & I now currently have 114,670 km, & put 1,000 km on it for a year now. My question is the transmission shifts fine, but my main concern is that BMW says that the transmission fluid in these cars are lifetime fluid, & you don't have to change it, however, I did research about the E90 automatic ZF 6HP transmission, & found out that most transmissions will make it to 241,401 km, is this true? Also, whats the life span, & how long do these ZF GA6HP19Z transmissions last? If anyone has an E9X with the same transmission as myself please I need feedback, & also should I change the automatic transmission fluid, & filter? I don't rely on BMW telling me that it's a lifetime fluid, & not having to change it, & I'm the 3rd owner on my car, & I don't know when the last time the transmission was serviced. Also, what is the best transmission fluid for my ZF GA6HP19Z? ZF has lifeguard (83222305396) Febi Bilstein has an alternative, & BMW Genuine as well. Which one is better?
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07-01-2019, 07:40 PM	#2
rjahl Colonel 996 Rep 2,287 Posts Drives: Z4 35is Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 Z4 35is [0.00]	That transmission is good for several hundred thousand miles..... I put 205,000 miles on mine and all it required was good fluid/filter changes. Don't let the fluid get older than 60,000 miles. I'm sure you can find the ZF recommendations if you look hard enough. Life Long fluid is a BMW myth... I found that the fluid friction modifiers do not last past 60K and the clutch packs will tell you, if you listened well enough. They "Bark" on the 4>3 shift under load. There are some seals inside the magatronics unit that fail with age. You need to replace them before the loss of fluid pressure causes damage to your clutches. I never change mine but their are plenty of people that have. Best Fluid is the ZF Fluid, it's pricey but worth it. Don't worry about flushing, it's over rated. My two cents.
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07-05-2019, 12:16 AM	#3
Saico Private 30 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: May 2018 Location: PL iTrader: (0)	Thats very strange what you are saying BMWSource. I have 330xi too and my transmission did exactly 240 000 km before major repair.
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07-05-2019, 06:40 AM	#5
Saico Private 30 Rep 85 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: May 2018 Location: PL iTrader: (0)	It was the previous owner who did the rebuilt at 240k just before the sale - i can't say if the fluid had been changed regurarly, but looking at service log of the previous Swiss owner everything was done according to BMW guidelines = no fluid changes.
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