My 2004 545i manual has just under 67k miles. After reading so much here in on the web, I figured that leaving the MTF and the differential oil in there for life was not an option. Same with the coolant. It is a good thing I did it since the MTF fluid came out black and my differential oil came out darker than new.

I paid 1139.00 with tax for new BMW front strut tension arms. coolant flush, Tranny oil change, and differential change( both with bmw oem oils), and a full alignment done properly for an active steering car. I could have done it all myself for about 700.00 I think, but then would have had to buy jacks. ramps, and maybe an air compressor and impact tools.

 

How' does the car drive now? I want to change my trans and diff oil soon

 

The tranny shifts much better. It has been notchy for awhile now and I had to be extra deliberate whe shifting so I would not get any kind of grind. It does not do that anymore.

I can't tell anythin from the diff oil change.

The control arms made a huge difference to the noise and vibration I was getting in the cabin. It is gone now.

 

That's because differential oil is actually lifetime. One of the only "lifetime" fluids i'll agree with BMW on. Still rolling 400,000 miles on original differential on the E39

 

Are you serious! 400,000 miles? Wow!

 

BMW lifetime fluid pertains to a 100,000 miles (life expectancy of car)

 

The problem with treating these lifetime fluids are truly lifetime, particularly transmissions fluid, is that by the time that 100k point is met, and you want to change it, most technicians won't want to touch it, which is truly annoying. That said, given that manufacturers don't really seem to build them to be "rebuildable", once the transmission fails at something like 150k-180k miles, how many people are going to pony up for a new one?

 

400,000 miles FOR REAL???? Please tell us your kidding.

 

Pic or it didn't happen!

 

Question, everyone.

Does this fluid apply to SMG models? My 545i SMG is at 97,500 miles. Should I be asking about MTF and/or differential oil?

I did get a new clutch at about 80,000 miles.