Maintenance chart for our cars?
#11
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My Ride: 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
ZF manufactured that transmission and not BMW. BMW first said the fluid was 'lifetime', then modified its stance to recommend fluid replacement at 100K. BMW is wrong, wrong wrong, wrong, wrong. Did I mention they were wrong?
Both of BMWs positions conflict massively with the manufacturers maximum service interval recommendation of 100,000km, which translates to 62,000 miles. I'd love to ask BMW how it is that the fluid instantly gains 38,000 more miles of service life once it's bolted into a BMW.
Oil change kits for ZF 6HPXX gearboxes can be had for around $300 or less. If you're paying someone $700 for the labor to do it, you're getting hosed. It's pretty easy to do.
Yes, the fluid is expensive. A new transmission is north of five grand. Take your pick.
Last edited by KyleB; 11-13-2014 at 03:24 PM.
#12
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My Ride: 2009 530i E60 LCI
I gave a call to BMW service to ask if I really need to use ZF LifeGuard 6 because I am having difficulty to find a place to by in Sydney. They strongly suggest me to NOT to TOUCH it.
I told him the BMW's recent 100k milage trans oil change suggestion. He refused it and he said "The oil is not ZF, it is spefically made for BMW and if you put a new oil into used transmission it will lessen the life time of the transmission." He said transmission oil change cost is $1300 AUD for my car. He would love to make that money, however, as being honest, he said do not touch it.
After spoke with him, I called 2 other mechanics, local ones I used to go for non-BMW cars. Same thing. Both said do not touch the transmission oil.
now what to do?
I told him the BMW's recent 100k milage trans oil change suggestion. He refused it and he said "The oil is not ZF, it is spefically made for BMW and if you put a new oil into used transmission it will lessen the life time of the transmission." He said transmission oil change cost is $1300 AUD for my car. He would love to make that money, however, as being honest, he said do not touch it.
After spoke with him, I called 2 other mechanics, local ones I used to go for non-BMW cars. Same thing. Both said do not touch the transmission oil.
now what to do?
#13
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My Ride: 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
Sorry, but all of them are wrong. If you don't believe me, go to ZFs website and look up their service intervals for 6HPXX transmissions. Print it out, take it to them, and ask them if they would care to revise their recommendation. Sounds to me like they're stuck in the 2001 mindset which is 'transmission fluid is lifetime'. It simply isn't true.
ZF distributes a fluid specifically for BMW only?!?!? What utter nonsense.
The fluid is most definitely Lifeguard6. I don't think people realize just how much misinformation there is out there, even at the dealer level. Three months ago I overheard a service advisor at a local BMW dealer tell a woman with an E90 328i she should bring her car in for a VALVE ADJUSTMENT. BMWs haven't had solid valve lifters that required adjustment for over twenty five years.
ZF distributes a fluid specifically for BMW only?!?!? What utter nonsense.
The fluid is most definitely Lifeguard6. I don't think people realize just how much misinformation there is out there, even at the dealer level. Three months ago I overheard a service advisor at a local BMW dealer tell a woman with an E90 328i she should bring her car in for a VALVE ADJUSTMENT. BMWs haven't had solid valve lifters that required adjustment for over twenty five years.
Last edited by KyleB; 11-14-2014 at 09:44 AM.
#14
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My Ride: '04 545i
My local Indy has these recommendations to follow:
All BMWs Late 1999 to Present:
Brake Fluid Flush every 2 years
Coolant Flush every 2 years
Power Steering Flush every 3 years
Transmission service every 60,000 miles
Oil Service every 15,000 miles between Inspections (although they now recommend 5,000-7,500 miles for oil changes b/c oil is cheap & engines are expensive)
Inspection I every 30,000 miles
Inspection II every 60,000 miles
All BMWs Late 1999 to Present:
Brake Fluid Flush every 2 years
Coolant Flush every 2 years
Power Steering Flush every 3 years
Transmission service every 60,000 miles
Oil Service every 15,000 miles between Inspections (although they now recommend 5,000-7,500 miles for oil changes b/c oil is cheap & engines are expensive)
Inspection I every 30,000 miles
Inspection II every 60,000 miles
Last edited by Gangplank; 11-15-2014 at 03:51 AM.
#15
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My Ride: 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
My local Indy has these recommendations to follow:
All BMWs Late 1999 to Present:
Brake Fluid Flush every 2 years
Coolant Flush every 2 years
Power Steering Flush every 3 years
Transmission service every 60,000 miles
Oil Service every 15,000 miles between Inspections (although they now recommend 5,000-7,500 miles for oil changes b/c oil is cheap & engines are expensive)
Inspection I every 30,000 miles
Inspection II every 60,000 miles
All BMWs Late 1999 to Present:
Brake Fluid Flush every 2 years
Coolant Flush every 2 years
Power Steering Flush every 3 years
Transmission service every 60,000 miles
Oil Service every 15,000 miles between Inspections (although they now recommend 5,000-7,500 miles for oil changes b/c oil is cheap & engines are expensive)
Inspection I every 30,000 miles
Inspection II every 60,000 miles
#16
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Sorry, but all of them are wrong. If you don't believe me, go to ZFs website and look up their service intervals for 6HPXX transmissions. Print it out, take it to them, and ask them if they would care to revise their recommendation. Sounds to me like they're stuck in the 2001 mindset which is 'transmission fluid is lifetime'. It simply isn't true.
ZF distributes a fluid specifically for BMW only?!?!? What utter nonsense.
The fluid is most definitely Lifeguard6. I don't think people realize just how much misinformation there is out there, even at the dealer level. Three months ago I overheard a service advisor at a local BMW dealer tell a woman with an E90 328i she should bring her car in for a VALVE ADJUSTMENT. BMWs haven't had solid valve lifters that required adjustment for over twenty five years.
ZF distributes a fluid specifically for BMW only?!?!? What utter nonsense.
The fluid is most definitely Lifeguard6. I don't think people realize just how much misinformation there is out there, even at the dealer level. Three months ago I overheard a service advisor at a local BMW dealer tell a woman with an E90 328i she should bring her car in for a VALVE ADJUSTMENT. BMWs haven't had solid valve lifters that required adjustment for over twenty five years.
#17
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My Ride: 2010 535 xi - M Sport Pkg & other goodies
Do you have a list of what's included in Inspection 1 and 2?
Lastly, interesting that if all these other things like power steering fluid flush, etc. are recommended to be done as often as I've read in the posts above, then why doesn't the dealer suggest them to me, when I go in when I'm out of the warranty / free maintenance period? Seeing how they make tons of money off service, and they'd love to do more work? It doesn't make sense to me...
#18
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My Ride: 530i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: M54
A gallon of BMW coolant is $22. Why take a chance?
#19
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My Ride: '04 545i
Most of what's on that list is tracked by the idrive or the key.
So your dealer isn't recommending any maintenance(?). Seems odd since it needs to be done at some point no?
So your dealer isn't recommending any maintenance(?). Seems odd since it needs to be done at some point no?
#20
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My Ride: 2010 535 xi - M Sport Pkg & other goodies
So what's included in Inspection 1 and 2 you referred to above?
.
Last edited by Lotus99; 11-17-2014 at 05:15 PM. Reason: Grammar