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Transmission Fluid Changed

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Old 05-12-2010, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by protams
Why would we be smarter then BMW engineers?
There is no way lifetime fluid was an "Engineering" decision. I work for an Aerospace company, we make jet engine parts. In my business EVERYTHING that moves has a life that is measured in hours, engines, fluids, everything.
Old 05-12-2010, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by mhs525
There is no way lifetime fluid was an "Engineering" decision. I work for an Aerospace company, we make jet engine parts. In my business EVERYTHING that moves has a life that is measured in hours, engines, fluids, everything.
I 1000% agree on that.
this is why I dont trust BMW when they say you never have to change it.
Maybe BMW are right that you don't have to change the oil or filter because you will need to buy a new gearbox instead
Old 05-12-2010, 08:27 PM
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I change my at 45000km in my last E60 and the oil was brown and not clear.
it is worth change it if you are planning to keep the car for a long time which I did for 6 years
Old 05-12-2010, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by mhs525
There is no way lifetime fluid was an "Engineering" decision. I work for an Aerospace company, we make jet engine parts. In my business EVERYTHING that moves has a life that is measured in hours, engines, fluids, everything.
I 1000% agree on that.
this is why I dont trust BMW when they say you never have to change it.
Maybe BMW are right that you don't have to change the oil or filter because you will need to buy a new gearbox instead
Old 05-12-2010, 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by protams
Why would we be smarter then BMW engineers?
As an engineer, I have yet to see anything that'll last a "lifetime" (expendable/disposable goods exempted). Unless you either don't care to keep the car or you have deep pockets where replacing a transmission is no big deal, I would hardly believe a transmission is an expendable or disposable good.
Old 05-12-2010, 09:54 PM
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I took my E61 535d to ZF in Germany to sort out the transmission issues I had (after 194,000 miles). They confirmed that 60,000 miles is their recommendation for oil changes (and they are the manufacturer after all !). Needless to say, mine looked a bit thin and burnt after nearly 5 years and 200,000 miles. All my problems were sorted with 5 hours work, a few minor parts, huge quantities of new oil to flush out the burnt stuff repeatedly and the equivalent of $500. They also did the diff in that price. Shame there's a pond in the way for most of you guys.
Old 05-13-2010, 03:38 AM
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i got my tranny oil replaced around 50k miles due to a leak... glad that's over with but i did overpay because i made the incredibly smart choice of taking it to the stealers
Old 05-13-2010, 03:40 AM
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Originally Posted by juliann
I took my E61 535d to ZF in Germany to sort out the transmission issues I had (after 194,000 miles). They confirmed that 60,000 miles is their recommendation for oil changes (and they are the manufacturer after all !). Needless to say, mine looked a bit thin and burnt after nearly 5 years and 200,000 miles. All my problems were sorted with 5 hours work, a few minor parts, huge quantities of new oil to flush out the burnt stuff repeatedly and the equivalent of $500. They also did the diff in that price. Shame there's a pond in the way for most of you guys.
That's a great price, especialy for Europe. Damn that Ocean...
Old 05-13-2010, 06:21 AM
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So changing my transmission fluid at 88k miles is advisable?
Old 05-13-2010, 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted by mhs525
I turned this over many times myself, finally I asked Mike Miller who writes Tech Talk for the BMW Car Club magazine Roundel. He said there is no such think as life time fluid and recommends a fluid change at 60k miles. So far I am very happy with the decision the transmission shifts better and doesn't get lost between gears when slowing down.

If you plan on keeping the car forever I would do it.
I have been wanting to change my fluid for sometime now, but I have an extended warranty to 100K. And of course the dealers, say lifetime. If I want to change it now, I will need to sign a waiver if the tranny breaks after the change. My main concern, when it gets changed at the 100K interval, wouldn't there be a higher probability that the tranny would fail at the higher mileage????? This is ridiculous.

I also see a few members have changed the fluid with no issues......should I just sign the waiver and get it done or wait till 100K or hopefully it breaks before a 100K and get a new tranny....

What do you guys think?


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