[micharlie]

Is that true?

He said I quote

“We do not change/flush transmission fluid unless doing a transmission repair - the fluid is lifetime”

[MidtownMike]

It is indeed the official BMW story.
However, ZF, the manufacturer of the transmission says the fluid (and filter) needs to be replaced every 100k km. ZF sells service kits which include fluid and filter.

[_ObiJon]

.

[sspade]

Same here. By the way... ZF increased the interval from 60k miles (100k km) to 100k miles.

Taking both stances into account (manufacturer and retailer), whats that tell you?

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by sspade

Same here. By the way... ZF increased the interval from 60k miles (100k km) to 100k miles.

Taking both stances into account (manufacturer and retailer), whats that tell you?

BMW is heavily dependent on the lease market (at least here in Europe). To keep the lease "affordable" and competitive, the maintenance cost needs to remain low. That is why the prescribed oil change intervals are ridiculously long and no transmission oil change factored in (blatantly ignoring the transmission manufacturer's recommendation).
By the time the negative effects start to show and shit breaks down, the car is out of warranty, so not BMW's problem.

[eff32fl]

Originally Posted by sspade

Same here. By the way... ZF increased the interval from 60k miles (100k km) to 100k miles.

Taking both stances into account (manufacturer and retailer), whats that tell you?

When did this happen? Do you have a link by chance? I'm nearing 60k miles so want to get my tranny serviced as soon as it's recommended. I'm not listening to BMW and will trust the manufacturer lol.

EDIT: Looks like it happened 7/19/2021. It's now recommended at 150k KM or 93k miles. It says with high temperature or load you can do it sooner.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

[RS Hill]

In my opinion for what it's worth, I've seen a lot of these long life fluids go bad for the consumer as the consumer follows the recommendations from the manufacturer. My own personal thoughts are to stick servicing the Trans at the 30 to 35k mark.

[danb1979]

Don't go with what BMW state; go with what ZF state

They did state 60-80k miles is the time to do the fluid & filter service

BMW state 'sealed for life' which in their language means c100k miles, as that's what they feel the average ownership of a BMW is...

Get it done now and you'll more than likely not need to get it done again (unless you plan to run the car into the ground)

[Tommo3]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Don't go with what BMW state; go with what ZF state

They state 60-80k miles is the time to do the fluid & filter service

BMW state 'sealed for life' which in their language means c100k miles, as that's what they feel the average ownership of a BMW is...

Get it done now and you'll more than likely not need to get it done again

You really should read the thread before commenting. It has been pointed out that ZF state 150000 kms and then you come along and contradict that.
I have 110000 miles on mine and will leave well alone as BMW tells me to.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Tommo3

You really should read the thread before commenting. It has been pointed out that ZF state 150000 kms and then you come along and contradict that.
I have 110000 miles on mine and will leave well alone as BMW tells me to.

Oh do piss off; you bore on every thread like this... You're a knob when it comes to oil threads and now ZF threads

The info I've posted is there to be found on Google

ZF state 60-80k miles; they may have changed that, but it's still only 92k miles

One of MANY posts that state this: https://www.pscautocentre.co.uk/prod...0the%20soonest.

FCP even state 50k miles here: https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-chan...%20and%20model.

So no idea where you get your completely wrong 150k km from...

Stick to playing toy soldiers in France will you...

BMW don't always know best you deluded cockwomble - you really are up BMWs arse aren't you?!

[monster6a2]

Originally Posted by micharlie

Is that true?

He said I quote

“We do not change/flush transmission fluid unless doing a transmission repair - the fluid is lifetime”

My dad owned a car repair shop for 12 years of his life. His transmission specialist told him than you do one of 2 things with transmission fluid changes, you either change it from brand new on intervals, or never change it. If your at 60k, I wouldn’t change. Changing it will diminish the lifespan of your transmission significantly.

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by monster6a2

My dad owned a car repair shop for 12 years of his life. His transmission specialist told him than you do one of 2 things with transmission fluid changes, you either change it from brand new on intervals, or never change it. If your at 60k, I wouldn’t change. Changing it will diminish the lifespan of your transmission significantly.

Dude what?

[monster6a2]

Originally Posted by MidtownMike

Dude what?

Yeah. Ik it sounds crazy but I guess after you’ve had the same fluids in a transmission for an extended period of time, they build up a detergent so when u change the fluids after not changing the fluids for the majority of the transmissions life, it’ll cause more friction and basically reduce your transmission lifespan. Ik it sounds crazy and counterintuitive but go ask someone at a transmission shop and I bet they will same the same thing

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by monster6a2

Yeah. Ik it sounds crazy but I guess after you’ve had the same fluids in a transmission for an extended period of time, they build up a detergent so when u change the fluids after not changing the fluids for the majority of the transmissions life, it’ll cause more friction and basically reduce your transmission lifespan. Ik it sounds crazy and counterintuitive but go ask someone at a transmission shop and I bet they will same the same thing

You talk like he's at 600k miles, but 60k is a normal interval to refresh trans fluid.
The way you put it, it sounds like a prudent owner should have refreshed the fluid six times already by now, and that 60k is wayyy too late.

By the way, I never heard about detergent (?) buildup. In an old transmission there can however be sludge buildup that prevents seals and gaskets from leaking. In those cases, a fluid refresh can initiate some leaking, and seals should be replaced. However, at 60k that should not be a thing.

Why would ZF recommend an oil change at 60k (now 90k) if it destroys the transmission? Hoping to sell more transmissions at the expense of their reputation?

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by monster6a2

My dad owned a car repair shop for 12 years of his life. His transmission specialist told him than you do one of 2 things with transmission fluid changes, you either change it from brand new on intervals, or never change it. If your at 60k, I wouldn’t change. Changing it will diminish the lifespan of your transmission significantly.

So the autobox & ZF specialist in my hometown; that's been around since the dark ages, and does autobox services/repairs/replacements etc is wrong?!

Ok...

[monster6a2]

Originally Posted by danb1979

So the autobox & ZF specialist in my hometown; that's been around since the dark ages, and does autobox services/repairs/replacements etc is wrong?!

Ok...

Idk, if you explained what I’m explaining to him then I bet he would agree in some level

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by monster6a2

My dad owned a car repair shop for 12 years of his life. His transmission specialist told him than you do one of 2 things with transmission fluid changes, you either change it from brand new on intervals, or never change it. If your at 60k, I wouldn’t change. Changing it will diminish the lifespan of your transmission significantly.

I agree with this, either do it from the start or leave it alone. Plenty of previously faultless transmissions seem to develop issues shortly after a fluid change...

[MidtownMike]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

I agree with this, either do it from the start or leave it alone. Plenty of previously faultless transmissions seem to develop issues shortly after a fluid change...

From what mileage is "from the start" for you then? If it's not 60k, what then?

[im_an_alien]

Originally Posted by MidtownMike

From what mileage is "from the start" for you then? If it's not 60k, what then?

Probably sooner than called for, like 30k miles. The earlier the better if you're gonna go this route.

[danb1979]

I've had ZF boxes in my E39s serviced with zero issues afterwards; ones currently on 176k miles now (I had the fluid changes when I owned it at 130k miles); the 2nd one was changed when I owned it at 80k miles, it's now on c150k IIRC

My 2002 Jap import E39 touring was serviced at 82k miles, I sold it at 99k miles and its on 120k miles now, zero issues and my last E39, another Jap import E39 540i Sport saloon was serviced at 52k miles and 21 years old; the oil was a mess. The box was very much better after the service and its still smooth as silk now

I've also had the ZF6 boxes serviced in an E65 and F01 and both are still doing very well now and do a lot of miles from what I know

My current F31 is on 100k miles and I'll be getting in to be serviced when I've got 5mins to think...

ZF would not recommend the service of their boxes if they were to have issues; neither would someone like Grant at Automatic Transmissions, Preston, who as Ive said, has been around since the dark ages...

I'll go with what those folk say rather then Jim-Bob on the forums 'cos Daddy says so'...

[sspade]

Directly from ZF:

Lifetime in most cases (maintenance free) but a good idea to change at 90k miles under harsh conditions or unknown history of use.

Read it and weep!

[im_an_alien]

ZF "recommends" fluid change, and only under certain conditions, otherwise they say it's maintenance free... it's right there, clear as mud.
Recommend isn't the same as require..