lifetime ATF BMW oil

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Nov 6, 2009 | 01:44 PM

#21

Rizbel

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Joined: May 2004

Posts: 2,863

Likes: 1

From: SoCal San Diego

My Ride: 545i Sport

Model Year: 2004

Engine: N62

BMW's "Lifetime" refers to the lifetime of their warranty(100k miles with extended warranty). Beyond that you're SOL for an SOS

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Never buy a used BMW with automatic transmission.

Nov 6, 2009 | 01:44 PM

#22

LJTX545I

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Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 235

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From: Lake Jackson

My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Titanium Silver. Bridgestone 760s on Weds Bavaria II 18" wheels, standard sport pack size. Sport, AT. Latest job - NGK Iridium IX plugs installed.

I think 50k is the standard for cars with much smaller reservoirs. this thing holds 3 times as much ATF as your average Honda. So it's probably not a stretch to expect the oil to still have decent lubrication characteristics at twice the distance. With my last car I changed transmission fluids more often because I could feel it getting less smooth when I change gears, but with an automatic gearbox you don't have that feedback, and so it's not as obvioust to me when I should change the fluid.

Nov 6, 2009 | 06:00 PM

#23

bmwroger1

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Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 173

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From: Mississauga, Ontario

My Ride: 2004 BMW 545I M sport suspension Active Steering M sport interior Navi Low ride sports

Quote:

Originally Posted by 968turboS' post='1048752' date='Nov 6 2009, 09:17 AM

Could you kindly elaborate on your statements?
If anything, not changing your ATF is neglecting to take care for the car. I am sure if you were to check the demographics of 5 series owners, most of them are not spirited drivers. We tend to think that every BMW owner is a car junky like us. The matter of fact is that we are an extremely small percentage of the overall owner population. This site is frequented by car guys/gals. I doubt more than 2-5% of BMW owners either care for or know of this site.
Just to play along, I would suggest you keep notes of the next 20-25 E60's you see on the road. I bet you, most of the owners will not pass for our type. Heck, even my E60 is driven by my wife, even though I am the one frequenting this site

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as you stated, "Most people on this forum don't fall into this category", but most E60 owners don't fall into this forum or forum category either.
I for one have been burnt by not changing the so called "lifetime fluid". I plan to change mine every 60-80k regardless of what koolaid bmw is trying to sell. That is why I spent hrs writing that DIY.
Regards.
Raj

well said....but i personally believe that if a transmission fluid change at the right intervals can prevent excessive wear and increase longevity.. but i feel also that if a tranny flush has not been done at all and the car is over 80,000kms than i will suggest not to do it...this could stir up a bunch of tranny issues that were not apparent before the flush...if the tranny is in good condition and everything looks proper then i suggest leaving it alone...but if you tranny pan is leaking, then thats when i would continue with the drain and fill while resealing the tranny pan...this question has been come across not only for our e60's but every car out there....it comes a certain point where you leave the tranny fluid alone pending that it has never been changed before...if changed it could affect your tranny in a negative way...regularly changed then continue flushing..if it hasnt been changed then leave it be......
Roger