E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > All-Wheel-Drive (Xi / xDrive) Talk > Transfer case fluid change



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-21-2013, 06:36 PM   #45
jacobsed
Lieutenant
23
Rep
463
Posts

Drives: 2006 330xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by madbill683 View Post
Update: Yesterday I began the chore, got the front diff fluid changed, and the stuff that came out was not that bad. I was not successful in removing the TC crossmember, so that will wait for another day.

I've re-thought the tranny fluid change, and think I will do a gradual drain & fill. I'll drain the pan, and add 2-3 quarts at a time. The filter can probably wait.

I wish everything was as accessible as the front diff.
When I changed my diff fluid at 100K miles it looked almost new. The manual tranny and TC fluid did not.
Appreciate 0
      01-21-2013, 06:39 PM   #46
jacobsed
Lieutenant
23
Rep
463
Posts

Drives: 2006 330xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ozzy1 View Post
It was not super easy (without removing it) but you do not need to remove the cross member. I used a ratching 14mm wrench, and a hammered out 14mm allen head. Hammering it out is quite easy. Flat head and a hammer. Ratcheting helps with what minimal movement we have because the member is not removed. If you get the wrench and the allen paired up and stick it through the limited space, you should be able to place the allen key on the fill bolt. Then since its ratcheting, things are little easier. Obviously, first attempt to loosen the bolt will be the tough part. Hope I am making sense.
I purchased an allen wrench off of ebay delivered for $6 and cut a piece off about an inch long if I remember correctly. Stuck it in the plug and turned it with an open ended wrench tiny bit by tiny bit. Worked great.
Appreciate 0
      01-22-2013, 05:30 PM   #47
madbill683
New Member
0
Rep
14
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW 328xit
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SE Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Well, I gotta hand to you guys, you have some skill and patience. I may get an allen wrench and mod it. My TC is very tight. And I think my front jacking point is different, too, since it's a wagon.

Then I was reading the Bentley manual, that also and it said to "use BMW diagnostic tool to carry out Repair service function and complete transfer case programming/coding."
Appreciate 0
      01-22-2013, 06:38 PM   #48
ozzy1
Private First Class
ozzy1's Avatar
7
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: e90 - 328xi
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by madbill683
Well, I gotta hand to you guys, you have some skill and patience. I may get an allen wrench and mod it. My TC is very tight. And I think my front jacking point is different, too, since it's a wagon.

Then I was reading the Bentley manual, that also and it said to "use BMW diagnostic tool to carry out Repair service function and complete transfer case programming/coding."
If your car is a keeper, definetly invest in a BT tool. It will save you money, from things like battery replacement, TC, and couple of other things. Diagnostics and live logging is pretty cool. Was playing around with Brake Pedal Pressure metric with my daughter the other day (live measurement of applied force to the brake pedal). Extremely detailed product.
Appreciate 0
      01-23-2013, 04:38 PM   #49
madbill683
New Member
0
Rep
14
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW 328xit
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SE Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Will have to consider the BT tool. This is my wife's daily car, and she loves it. She's worried BMW will stop bringing the wagons over, when she's ready for a new one in ~5 years.

I'll get an allen wrench and attempt the TC fluid job. Funny, the dealer quote was reasonable, except they quoted 2L of fluid at $55 per liter (it only holds less than 1L) and the labor was $75. Cheaper than the BT tool right now....

What did you think of my drain & fill idea for the tranny?
Appreciate 0
      01-23-2013, 05:58 PM   #50
ozzy1
Private First Class
ozzy1's Avatar
7
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: e90 - 328xi
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by madbill683
Will have to consider the BT tool. This is my wife's daily car, and she loves it. She's worried BMW will stop bringing the wagons over, when she's ready for a new one in ~5 years.

I'll get an allen wrench and attempt the TC fluid job. Funny, the dealer quote was reasonable, except they quoted 2L of fluid at $55 per liter (it only holds less than 1L) and the labor was $75. Cheaper than the BT tool right now....

What did you think of my drain & fill idea for the tranny?
If you mean, just draining and refilling, thats what I did. Pan/filter will be next time (depends on how oil looks). Quick pointer on that, you refill it first with engine off. Then turn engine on. Then pump more in, takes more. Then do not shut engine off prior to replacing the plug. I did that, without knowing and paid for it. Ton of oil came out. Good thing I had bought extra. So, with engine on, fill until it comes out, put the plug back on then shut engine off. you should be good to go. Also do tranny reset. There is a very simple procedure. Can't remember the routine but it's in here someplace.
Appreciate 0
      01-24-2013, 06:41 PM   #51
madbill683
New Member
0
Rep
14
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW 328xit
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SE Virginia

iTrader: (0)

ozzy1,

Thanks for the tip. I read a post that mentioned to start and run the engine until the trans got to temp...I didn't know the fluid would pour out if you shut off the engine, tho. My theory was to introduce the new fluid gradually. I wanted to see how bad the fluid looks at 63,000 miles, and thought the filter could wait.

I was not aware of the need to reset the tranny afterward, have not read that anywhere. I guess this is why the dealer wants $505 in labor to change filter and fluid. This is frustrating, I want to go back to my 90s vintage pre-computer cars.
Appreciate 0
      01-24-2013, 07:07 PM   #52
ozzy1
Private First Class
ozzy1's Avatar
7
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: e90 - 328xi
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by madbill683
ozzy1,

Thanks for the tip. I read a post that mentioned to start and run the engine until the trans got to temp...I didn't know the fluid would pour out if you shut off the engine, tho. My theory was to introduce the new fluid gradually. I wanted to see how bad the fluid looks at 63,000 miles, and thought the filter could wait.

I was not aware of the need to reset the tranny afterward, have not read that anywhere. I guess this is why the dealer wants $505 in labor to change filter and fluid. This is frustrating, I want to go back to my 90s vintage pre-computer cars.
Yeah, but it's not too bad. I was really afraid maintenance would be a hassle after my acura tsx, I was wrong. It really isn't bad(reliability helps of course). And actually Germans continue to amaze me with their engineering. Dealing with the computer for everything is a bit obnoxious but hey...
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2013, 11:12 AM   #53
Ph0zenstone
Major General
Ph0zenstone's Avatar
322
Rep
5,370
Posts

Drives: 2018 530e X-Drive
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NY

iTrader: (74)

Any updates on this? i have a June 2007 build 328xi and will likely DIY the transfer case and front/rear diffs. Do i need to do a reset? I'm afraid because i don't have the BT Tool. If the xcase goes into limp mode is it drivable?
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2013, 09:46 PM   #54
ozzy1
Private First Class
ozzy1's Avatar
7
Rep
107
Posts

Drives: e90 - 328xi
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by phozenstone
Any updates on this? i have a June 2007 build 328xi and will likely DIY the transfer case and front/rear diffs. Do i need to do a reset? I'm afraid because i don't have the BT Tool. If the xcase goes into limp mode is it drivable?
I didn't want to touch my TC without a BT tool. Bought one then did it. Would recommend the same.
Appreciate 0
      02-06-2013, 10:32 PM   #55
Ph0zenstone
Major General
Ph0zenstone's Avatar
322
Rep
5,370
Posts

Drives: 2018 530e X-Drive
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NY

iTrader: (74)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ozzy1 View Post
I didn't want to touch my TC without a BT tool. Bought one then did it. Would recommend the same.
Is the car drivable with the xcase in limp mode? My dealer is only 4 miles from me if anything goes wrong..
Appreciate 0
      02-12-2013, 05:55 PM   #56
T0NE*F32
Private First Class
9
Rep
153
Posts

Drives: SIXTYxi
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NorthEast

iTrader: (3)

Thinking about changing the TC fluid soon. but not sure bout this.. When filling up with new fluid, how to tell when its full? When it over flows?
Appreciate 0
      02-12-2013, 06:35 PM   #57
jacobsed
Lieutenant
23
Rep
463
Posts

Drives: 2006 330xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: United States

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tone*e90 View Post
Thinking about changing the TC fluid soon. but not sure bout this.. When filling up with new fluid, how to tell when its full? When it over flows?
Yes. It will take just over a half liter. Be sure to take out the fill plug first. You don't want to drain it and then find out you can't add fluid back in because of a stuck plug.
Appreciate 0
      02-13-2013, 10:07 AM   #58
T0NE*F32
Private First Class
9
Rep
153
Posts

Drives: SIXTYxi
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NorthEast

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jacobsed View Post
Yes. It will take just over a half liter. Be sure to take out the fill plug first. You don't want to drain it and then find out you can't add fluid back in because of a stuck plug.
Thanks dude..
Appreciate 0
      02-13-2013, 12:31 PM   #59
Ph0zenstone
Major General
Ph0zenstone's Avatar
322
Rep
5,370
Posts

Drives: 2018 530e X-Drive
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NY

iTrader: (74)

got my bt tool...will do the front and rear diffs and xcase tomorrow!
Appreciate 0
      02-17-2013, 09:06 AM   #60
E36graduate
Lieutenant
E36graduate's Avatar
58
Rep
512
Posts

Drives: 2013 335i M-Sport 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Southeastern MASS

iTrader: (0)

Transfer Case still works well !

Pushing 35K miles on synthetic ATF in TC with about 450+ bph of E85/methanol and finally changed out clutch this past week.

Took out tranny (picture attached). Decided to change out all fluids. Transfer case fluid looked like the day I put it in, no metal, no debris, no black stuff, no burnt smell, nothing, just nice looking red fluid. Refilled with Mobile 1 synthetic ATF, again. Will take a look in another year or two after another 30k miles.

I didn't have to reset anything? AWD light went off after a few miles.

I may be a "risk" taker, make decent money so I'm not trying to save $50 for special TC fluid, just noticed a lot of XI's have used synthetic ATF/and blends back in the early 2000's. Not saying the E90 is the same Xi TC as an E46, and that I don't suggest anyone else do this so don't be hating me.

I also was a "risk" taker with my E46 M3 and use to blend various ATF and MTF in my 6 speed to help eliminate clutch chatter....had about 120,000 miles on that car with the original clutch.

Look at the size of this transmission/TC.....impressive! I put a little MTL with my ATF in the tranny too!!!

The E90 is getting up in age so there are used TC out there for $300-$500 if I ever need one. Would take about 2 hours to get one in and out, no big deal.

p.s. My rear differential fluid at 120,000 miles was nice and clean, very viscose.
Attached Images
 
__________________

2008 335xi - 6MT - BMS JB4 G5i - BMS DCI - BMS OCC - BMS WW Meth - Spec Stage 2+ - Spec SMFW - 19" MVR Magnum's - KW V1's - TMS 12.5+20mm Spacers
Appreciate 0
      11-03-2018, 09:15 PM   #61
Kunlune90
Registered
3
Rep
3
Posts

Drives: bmw 328i xdrive e90
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

changed transfer case fluid today for E90 2010 328i xdrive, 126687 miles. First time transfer case fluid change.

Let car sleep before drain the transfer case fluid. Put in OEM transfer case fluid.
Drained out about 350 mL fluid and put in about 500 mL. The fluid drained out is black but no burnt smell. The same smell as the new fluid. Maybe the long miles consumed some transfer case fluid, but there is no code and the car drives normal.

Driven 15 miles with no codes. Scanned with OBDII and no hidden codes. Seems setting not needed.
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:28 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST