Personally, I stick with the recommended fluids. Make sure you do your research on that one. At one time or another, I saw a few threads about the possibility of some Ford transmission fluid, as they also use a variant of our transmission in some of their vehicles.

 

I will play it safe and get the ZF fluid. Thank you for your time. I appreciate your help!

 

Look at it this way. You probably have the most reliable E60 out there. Naturally aspirated (no turbo problems), not direct injected (walnut blasting of the valves), none of the xi complexities. Keep ahead of simple maintenance and you will easily see another 100k miles. Don't fret about spending a few hundred here or there.

 

Makes sense. I'm saving so much by DYI anyhow.
I do have an XI model, but I have the Bentley books to help as well as the online help.
Your input is invaluable, thanks!

 

xi. We are in the same boat. Many of the videos out there pertain to the non x versions. The AWD aspect of it makes underbody repairs a bit more complicated. Shoot me a message before you perform work and I will give you some pointers.

With that said, change front and rear differential fluids. Easy and cheap. Would also change transfer case fluid, Word is that it has to be registered, ie use software to tell that the work has been done (transfer case only). I had the dealership do this one, as I could not access the fill plug. But, I think that I have a solution for that.

Other problem that I had when servicing the transmission. Changing the mechatronics sleeve - basically the connector that serves as an interface between the external wiring of the transmission to the internal wiring of the transmission; There is an associated o-ring that fails (replace the whole sleeve). Removing the sleeve is easy. I simply could not find a way to remove the sleeve from free space - it was trapped by the exhaust and t-case. I suppose in hindsight that I should have just replaced the o-ring, if that is even possible. On my car, it just needed another 1 mm of clearance. Had the dealer do it, but next time will grind down a bit of whatever was impeding it.

 

Thank you tstiglich. Yes, there are number of items in the way and the book and videos don't have much to say about that. Your insight and experience will be invaluable.
I will be starting the work today, beginning with the pump, thermostat and belt. Hopefully get to the tranny by Saturday. I work mostly from home so I can pick away at it in my free hours.
Cheers

 

Is there a coolant drain plug on the block? The book says most models have it. Can't seem to locate it.

 

On the block? Not familiar with that.

I have a drain plug on the bottom of my radiator.

 

Can't recall if it faces down or towards the firewall. Mine is on the passenger side, I believe.

 

Yep, drained that one. In the Pelican website tech article on draining the coolant the fellow says: "Most engines will have a 13mm drain plug (green arrow) on the right side of the block. Remove the drain plug and drain the coolant into the pan" Maybe our N52 engines do not have it. My Bentley manual says the M54 engine has the drain plug but is not clear about the other 2004-2010 5 series engines.