Oil Change Now Car Won't Shift out of Park?

dorkiedoode · 09-16-2018, 03:02 PM

I changed the oil on my 16' 428i GC and now the car won't shift out of park. Would anyone have any ideas on why?

It was a fairly simple process.. drain the oil and torque the plug back to 8Nm. Filled the car back to 5 quarts of genuine bmw 0-20w oil and change the oil filter/orings torqued to 25Nm. Car starts fine and shows the oil level is good...

I'm stumped. When shifting out of park to D or R, it would automatically go back to P.

F30RiK · 09-16-2018, 05:22 PM

close the door

Billfitz · 09-16-2018, 06:54 PM

It takes 5 liters, not 5 quarts, but that shouldn't cause it to stay in park.

Savageenterprise · 09-16-2018, 08:01 PM

I don't know how car savvy you are but I have to put it out there. Did you drain your transmission fluid by accident instead of your oil?

dorkiedoode · 09-16-2018, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savageenterprise

I don't know how car savvy you are but I have to put it out there. Did you drain your transmission fluid by accident instead of your oil?

sigh... yepp that's exactly what happened. I guess coming from Japanese cars the drain plug for ATF and oil is noticeable different. When I was under the car, I saw "Oil" mentioned in two different locations while the Japanese cars would say "ATF" or "transmission fluid" or "fluid." I guess it should have registered in my head that the pan was way too far back.....

Fixed now but lesson learned. Ahhh first time owning a german car obliviously..

Thanks everyone.

Good thing the 340 is my secondary

bavarianride · 09-17-2018, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorkiedoode

Fixed now but lesson learned. Ahhh first time owning a german car obliviously..

Did u refill transmission with drained oil? ZF has a delicate process to refill, but as long the same amount drained is then refilled it should be OK.

Savageenterprise · 09-17-2018, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorkiedoode

sigh... yepp that's exactly what happened. I guess coming from Japanese cars the drain plug for ATF and oil is noticeable different. When I was under the car, I saw "Oil" mentioned in two different locations while the Japanese cars would say "ATF" or "transmission fluid" or "fluid." I guess it should have registered in my head that the pan was way too far back.....

Fixed now but lesson learned. Ahhh first time owning a german car obliviously..

Thanks everyone.

Good thing the 340 is my secondary

Hey man, things happen. At least it was something simple, cheap and easy to rectify

Billfitz · 09-17-2018, 07:22 AM

This points out why it's a good idea to check a service manual before doing anything on these cars. They're not 57 Chevys.
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

_bdiddyb_ · 09-17-2018, 10:37 AM

OMG !

montr · 09-17-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Did u refill transmission with drained oil? ZF has a delicate process to refill, but as long the same amount drained is then refilled it should be OK.

To prevent contamination, I would not re-use the drained ATF.
I did recently an ATF and oil pan/filter change on my 2010 335d. You have to follow carefully the ZF transmission instructions. If you fill the transmission up to the neck of filling hole without engine running, the transmission will be under filled.

jh_f30 · 09-19-2018, 07:56 AM

Wait. What about the EXTRA 5qts of oil now in your car??

bimmer456 · 09-19-2018, 08:10 AM

Is this a CPO car you should get free oil changes if you brought it new. Also like previous poster said you may have too much oil in your engine now. I though the ZF was a sealed transmission I guess I'm wrong. Messing with ATF can be sketchy at best. If you do it wrong you could ruin the transmission.

jv004 · 09-20-2018, 01:41 AM

I would be worry about that extra 5 quartz. Hopefully it was drained and refilled.

rjd_F30 · 09-20-2018, 06:49 AM

OP, these things happen to the best of us lol. But just re-cap: you've got to re-fill the trans with the proper amount of new ATF (not sure how much that is) and then I assume you drained all the oil from the engine and refilled with 5 liters of that 0W-20? Hopefully you didn't run the engine too much with nearly 10 liters of oil in it.

Also, curious as to why you chose 0W-20 for the N20, I always use BMW branded 0W-40.

Billfitz · 09-20-2018, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjdnyy224

Also, curious as to why you chose 0W-20 for the N20, I always use BMW branded 0W-40.

Newer models are rated to use 0W-20, though I wouldn't use that light a grade where the OP lives.

rjd_F30 · 09-20-2018, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Newer models are rated to use 0W-20, though I wouldn't use that light a grade where the OP lives.

I see. I wasn't aware of that... But yah, I would use a thicker oil in a warmer climate like SoCal.

madmortar · 09-26-2018, 09:52 AM

wtf this thread.
Anyone have a pic of where the transmission is drained?
I have changed my oil a number of times and dont recall seeing anything for the transmission

dorkiedoode · 11-02-2018, 12:47 AM

Ah forgot to update you guys.

Yes, brand new Lifeguard ZF8 transmission fluid was used to refill the car. I used ISTA/D to measure the oil temp for the correct fill.

All 10 quarts of the oil were drained and refilled with new oil.. that was the easiest part!

Easy fix guys no sweat

madmortar it's under the plastic cover that the exhaust runs parallel to..

09-16-2018, 03:02 PM	#1
dorkiedoode Private 21 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW 340i M Performance Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: SO.CaL iTrader: (1)	Oil Change Now Car Won't Shift out of Park? I changed the oil on my 16' 428i GC and now the car won't shift out of park. Would anyone have any ideas on why? It was a fairly simple process.. drain the oil and torque the plug back to 8Nm. Filled the car back to 5 quarts of genuine bmw 0-20w oil and change the oil filter/orings torqued to 25Nm. Car starts fine and shows the oil level is good... I'm stumped. When shifting out of park to D or R, it would automatically go back to P.
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09-16-2018, 05:22 PM	#2
F30RiK Lieutenant 128 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 13' 335 xdrive M-sport 6 Speed Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: QC, LAval iTrader: (1)	close the door
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09-16-2018, 06:54 PM	#3
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8225 Rep 16,060 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It takes 5 liters, not 5 quarts, but that shouldn't cause it to stay in park.
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09-16-2018, 08:01 PM	#4
Savageenterprise Captain 981 Rep 640 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 (E93) Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Out and about iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 Chevy Tahoe [0.00] 2008 BMW E93 M3 [0.00]	I don't know how car savvy you are but I have to put it out there. Did you drain your transmission fluid by accident instead of your oil?
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09-17-2018, 07:22 AM	#8
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8225 Rep 16,060 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	This points out why it's a good idea to check a service manual before doing anything on these cars. They're not 57 Chevys. https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/
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09-17-2018, 10:37 AM	#9
_bdiddyb_ Lieutenant 215 Rep 558 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: California iTrader: (1)	OMG !
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09-19-2018, 07:56 AM	#11
jh_f30 Lieutenant Colonel 1306 Rep 1,827 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sportline Auto RWD Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2)	Wait. What about the EXTRA 5qts of oil now in your car?? __________________ 2013 F30 335i RWD ZF Melbourne Red ~Remus Sport Axleback~VRSF Chargepipe~VRSF Catless Downpipe~GPlus FMIC~HR Sport Springs~Active Autowerke OBD Flash Tune Stage 2~
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09-19-2018, 08:10 AM	#12
bimmer456 Major General 2959 Rep 5,989 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	Is this a CPO car you should get free oil changes if you brought it new. Also like previous poster said you may have too much oil in your engine now. I though the ZF was a sealed transmission I guess I'm wrong. Messing with ATF can be sketchy at best. If you do it wrong you could ruin the transmission.
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09-20-2018, 01:41 AM	#13
jv004 Captain 400 Rep 605 Posts Drives: X3M Comp Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	I would be worry about that extra 5 quartz. Hopefully it was drained and refilled.
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09-20-2018, 06:49 AM	#14
rjd_F30 Brigadier General 2000 Rep 3,679 Posts Drives: 2013 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	OP, these things happen to the best of us lol. But just re-cap: you've got to re-fill the trans with the proper amount of new ATF (not sure how much that is) and then I assume you drained all the oil from the engine and refilled with 5 liters of that 0W-20? Hopefully you didn't run the engine too much with nearly 10 liters of oil in it. Also, curious as to why you chose 0W-20 for the N20, I always use BMW branded 0W-40. __________________ Instagram: rjd_f30 \| Current: EBII 2013 335i 6MT RWD & Sprint Blue 2008 Audi RS4 \| Retired: 2013 328i, 2000 XTerra, 2022 Civic Si \|
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09-26-2018, 09:52 AM	#17
madmortar Captain 181 Rep 785 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 328i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Savannah, GA iTrader: (0)	wtf this thread. Anyone have a pic of where the transmission is drained? I have changed my oil a number of times and dont recall seeing anything for the transmission
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11-02-2018, 12:47 AM	#18
dorkiedoode Private 21 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW 340i M Performance Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: SO.CaL iTrader: (1)	Ah forgot to update you guys. Yes, brand new Lifeguard ZF8 transmission fluid was used to refill the car. I used ISTA/D to measure the oil temp for the correct fill. All 10 quarts of the oil were drained and refilled with new oil.. that was the easiest part! Easy fix guys no sweat madmortar it's under the plastic cover that the exhaust runs parallel to.. Last edited by dorkiedoode; 11-03-2018 at 10:31 PM..
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