Originally Posted by vaca' post='802229' date='Feb 26 2009, 12:40 PM

I don't think I bothered to put the fill plug in after filling with engine off (between 7 and 8 as you write)..again, it's pretty messy

Under 12, which I did not do myself by the way, is in order to get the EXACT right level. The tranny should be filled to the bottom of the fill plug while the tranny is at a certain operating temperature. (I am not sure exactly what that temp is).

The warmer the fluid, the more it expands..so the level will rise as the fluid temp rises, and conversly will fall as temps fall.

Now, I do not think there would be a very big difference in fluid volume or level between say, 70F and 100F....I would imagine though that there might be a meaningful difference between 70F and 200F. So, I would suggest against opening the fill plug at high tranny temps since it is likely that more fluid than would be ideal would come out.

Also, like I posted earlier, I think filling while engine is running and tranny is at a reasonably warm to the touch, would be fine.

I am NOT a master mechanic or anything, but I did go to college (Rutgers) as a mechanical engineer and have been very successful at maintaining not just my family's cars, but also those of my brother's, parent's, in-laws friend's, some neighbors, etc.

Originally Posted by lcc014' post='802238' date='Feb 26 2009, 12:45 PM

Thanks for answering my questions. I will give it a try :)

Originally Posted by vaca' post='802257' date='Feb 26 2009, 01:04 PM

Just take your time and have plenty of fluid (I used about 9 qts) and lots of cardboard and/or rags.

Do you have a 14mm allen socket?
What type of ATF will you use?

Originally Posted by vaca' post='802229' date='Feb 26 2009, 09:40 AM

I don't think I bothered to put the fill plug in after filling with engine off (between 7 and 8 as you write)..again, it's pretty messy

Under 12, which I did not do myself by the way, is in order to get the EXACT right level. The tranny should be filled to the bottom of the fill plug while the tranny is at a certain operating temperature. (I am not sure exactly what that temp is).

The warmer the fluid, the more it expands..so the level will rise as the fluid temp rises, and conversly will fall as temps fall.

Now, I do not think there would be a very big difference in fluid volume or level between say, 70F and 100F....I would imagine though that there might be a meaningful difference between 70F and 200F. So, I would suggest against opening the fill plug at high tranny temps since it is likely that more fluid than would be ideal would come out.

..........

Originally Posted by jagbagri' post='802365' date='Feb 26 2009, 03:18 PM

Although I have not done this and not planning to do this soon, one point does come to mind. If we drain at the warm temp. we are draining a more thin, warm and expanded fluid and replace with more thick, room temp. fluid and when expanded that will amount to more fluid than drained. If this logic is correct, we should drain at the cool temp. as we replace with the cool temp. fluid so we replace exactly the same amount.
just my 2 cents worth...

Originally Posted by lcc014' post='804310' date='Mar 1 2009, 12:00 AM

I just found this spec. from Castrol. It's ATF is compatible with BMW as mentioned by another member in Canada.

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_inter...ds_ImportMV.pdf

Originally Posted by vaca' post='815118' date='Mar 12 2009, 05:05 PM

It's been a couple of weeks...did you change the ATF? How did you make out?

Originally Posted by SmithsonGA' post='815678' date='Mar 13 2009, 10:54 AM

I see a few questions here:

- what ATF to use? I see Mobil 1 listed, ZF, Redline, Castrol etc..etc..
- how much ATF was needed with just a drain/fill?
- I appears you have to jack up the car and put it on jack stands? maybe have front ramps, then jack up the rear and place jack stands under? Anyone done that?


I am considering doing a drain/fill at 50k, then if I get to 100k on this car, do a pan drop and filter change.

Thoughts?