03-20-2021, 08:20 AM | #45 | |
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03-20-2021, 06:01 PM | #46 | |
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03-20-2021, 08:55 PM | #47 |
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Interesting thread. Lifetime or not lifetime... that is the question.
ZF fluid is expensive like crazy, and I am glad that Liquimoly came with an alternative. I too do not believe in lifetime fluids and I like driving my BMWs well past 200k miles. I also bring my car to the track so fluid change for me. I understand that some people might not want to spend the money to get the fluid replaced or might be comforted by BMW promises of lifetime of transmission happiness. At the end, we all do what makes sense for ourselves.
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03-21-2021, 06:52 AM | #48 | |
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04-02-2021, 03:41 AM | #49 |
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Finally changed the trans fluid on my ‘14 640i gran coupe three weeks ago with the FCP Euro Kit. 69,000 miles.
When the mechanic changed the fluid, it looked clear and clean with no metal or clutch material. The first few days after the change, it did shift somewhat odd. So, after driving it for a few long highway drive cycles, I re-flashed XHP Stage 4. Ever since, it shifts beautifully as it did prior to the change. |
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04-02-2021, 07:50 AM | #50 | |
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I've had zero issues since my drain and fill at $112K. |
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04-02-2021, 08:17 AM | #51 |
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OP, did you ever get your analysis back from Blackstone? I'm really interested to see what it shows.
On the 'lifetime' issue... 1994 Honda Accord 2.2L 4AT 160k 1996 Chevrolet S10 4.3L 4AT 106k 1997 Buick LeSabre 3.8L 4AT 177k 2008 Chevrolet Malibu 3.6L 6AT 103k 2010 Chevrolet HHR 2.2L 4AT 70k 2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5L CVT 115k 2017 Chevrolet Equinox 2.2L 6AT 40k And now, 2017 BMW 330i 2.0L 8AT 34k, transmission untouched as of yet. Except for the S10, don't have any of the above any more. But all of the above, I have serviced the transmission on, some of them many times. Up until the 2008 Malibu, all recommended the transmission fluid and filter be changed every 40k miles or so. Starting with the Malibu, the recommendation was 100k miles, or never ('lifetime'). Obviously the CVT is a different animal, but with all of them, I noticed a tangible improvement in transmission operation and shift quality after the service, even when it was well before the recommended interval. I typically perform it every 40-50k miles. And, honestly, the improvement was identical in all of them regardless of the year, number of gears, or how long the manufacturer recommended I do it. Blackstone explains (in a previous post) how the lifetime fluid concept works, and that essentially it is a low wear hydraulic fluid. Again, the CVT is likely not in that category, but all the rest of them are simple hydraulic devices as they describe. Particularly the case in the older ones. So why the change? What happened a decade ago to make them suddenly less necessary to maintain regularly? They certainly aren't simpler than the four speeds from the 90s. Not trying to start, or add to the debate, but honestly just curious. I'm currently on the changing it anyway bandwagon, but if it's not necessary, that would be great too.
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04-02-2021, 07:58 PM | #53 |
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Well, if it makes anyone comfortable, I had XHP stage 3 downloaded for 5,000 miles before I did the fluid change. When the fluid was changed, there was no metal or clutch material in the fluid; it was also still the same original color.
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04-03-2021, 02:49 PM | #55 | ||
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You're absolutely correct that you may be able to push 200k on the original fluid. But if you drive hard or want to approach 300k or beyond you're on very borrowed time. I serviced mine at 69k and the fluid was already very dark. I'd hate to see what it looked like as well as the magnets at 169k if it even went that far.
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04-04-2021, 07:13 PM | #56 |
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I changed my 435i's tranny oil at 70,000kms because the transmission pan had a leak - So I thought may as well change the oil too.
Didn't have an issue with any slippage, in fact, it felt smoother during upshifts and downshifts. I think the key is to take it to a shop that knows BMW's. Sold my 435 for a 440 and I'll be doing the exact same thing to it.. Just my opinion |
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04-06-2021, 01:57 PM | #58 | |
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Now this is assuming you keep the car for 200-300k miles. If you don't, then the financial equation for doing ATF changes is even poorer.
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04-07-2021, 07:42 PM | #59 |
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I've got just under 60k on my 435i. I noticed the trans hangs in gear when it's cold out. This is when the temp is 60 and below in South Florida. I start the car and wait about 30 secs before I drive off. I leave it in comfort mode and just pull straight of my driveway. The first shift always hangs around 4k before shifting into 2nd and so forth. Wonder is a drain fill will help.
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04-07-2021, 08:04 PM | #60 | |
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04-07-2021, 10:43 PM | #61 | |
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04-08-2021, 12:56 AM | #62 |
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Gareth pretty much reaffirmed everything I said earlier. Err on the side of caution with maintenance, after all it does use friction and pressure to operate. Although regardless, a very robust transmission
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04-08-2021, 11:17 AM | #63 |
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About to have my 3rd 8at pan/filter and fluid replacement in 9 months. The pan keeps leaking again after a month. I suspect the shop isn't torquing the bolts to spec or using the appropriate procedure.
I could be a case study for new fluid performance at this point, because virtually 100% of the factory fill has been exchanged with Lifeguard over the last 3 filter/pan attempts. It doesn't shift any differently than the factory fill. First gear still hangs/jerks when cold on the first shift. Butter after that. |
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04-08-2021, 08:27 PM | #64 |
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If your fluid is still good - change it at 50,000 miles.
If your fluid is bad - leave it. ZF recommend every 50k.. I would listen to the manufacturer. You're meant to change the oil while it's still good |
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04-09-2021, 10:07 AM | #65 | |
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This thread reminded me of a guy I knew in high school, he had an old Buick Century with a four speed auto that was formerly his grandma’s. She didn’t even know there was fluid in the transmission. By the time he got it from her, it had already rolled the sixth digit twice, he managed to roll it over a third time. It still drove somehow, what was left in the transmission ended up black and thick as tar. Most of the gears worked, but you never really knew when or how hard it would shift. After the 300k mark, it stopped shifting into fourth gear on its own. After that, it was kind of a running game trying to figure out what would finally get it to kick over into fourth gear. For a while, jiggling the shifter around in the steering column would get it to shift after a bit. After a few more months, that stopped working reliably. After that, he got it in his mind that doing that while honking the horn would sometimes force a shift out of it. Not sure if it was really related or not, but it did sometimes work. Car had some serious electrical issues... He gave it away to a local kid for a project car when he went off to college, that guy dropped the pan and flushed the sludge out thinking he was doing a good thing. Car never moved again until it was hauled off for scrap. Probably why I stay regular with that sort of thing, I keep picturing that guy rolling down the road at 4000 rpm honking nonstop at absolutely nothing.
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04-09-2021, 09:58 PM | #66 | ||
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Haha great story! Just reiterated everything in the video above. |
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