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      08-28-2018, 11:05 AM   #1
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ZF 8AT tranny service, what is lifetime?

There is an interesting thread in other forum about ZF 8AT service, and a post quoted a ZF document that says the fill is maintenance free for normal operating conditions in page 5:

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...e-ml-11-en.pdf

Most forum posts seem to suggest 60k-75k miles of change interval, but now the manufacturer also says lifetime(and that matches with BMW's recommendation too).

So is it OK to not service the ZF 8AT tranny?
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      08-28-2018, 01:04 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
There is an interesting thread in other forum about ZF 8AT service, and a post quoted a ZF document that says the fill is maintenance free for normal operating conditions in page 5: see

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...e-ml-11-en.pdf

Most forum posts seem to suggest 60k-75k miles of change interval, but now the manufacturer also says lifetime(and that matches with BMW's recommendation too).

So is it OK to not service the ZF 8AT tranny?
Read pg 5 of PDF again. There's a change schedule of 100k km (60k miles) for driving at high speed, sporty/aggresive manner, or frequent towing.

IIRC Lifetime is 100k OR 120k miles. Can't remember which.

I do my ATF service at about 50-55k miles.
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      08-28-2018, 01:13 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Read pg 5 of PDF again. There's a change schedule of 100k km (60k miles) for driving at high speed, sporty/aggresive manner, or frequent towing.

IIRC Lifetime is 100k OR 120k miles. Can't remember which.

I do my ATF service at about 50-55k miles.
Yes BMW says 100k+, 120k miles can be good too. Many owners seem to ignore the service and AT till OK past 150-200k miles.

My plan is probably to keep car till 100k-ish, so it seems that no tranny service for now(@52k) is OK.
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      08-28-2018, 01:25 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
Yes BMW says 100k+, 120k miles can be good too. Many owners seem to ignore the service and AT till OK past 150-200k miles.

My plan is probably to keep car till 100k-ish, so it seems that no tranny service for now(@52k) is OK.
Plans can change
imo 100-120,000mi is too long
Like F32fleet said to service it every 50,000-60,000mi as advised by ZF the manufacturer
Mine is actually on a 30,000mi change cycle
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      08-28-2018, 04:06 PM   #5
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Im currently at 58k miles and will wait until at least 80k until I service mine. Maybe 100k at the most.

I drive my car pretty easy for the most part.

Havent priced out the parts yet... what are you guys spending on a pan/filter and ATF? Anyone have the part numbers handy?
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      08-28-2018, 04:27 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sspade View Post
Im currently at 58k miles and will wait until at least 80k until I service mine. Maybe 100k at the most.

I drive my car pretty easy for the most part.

Havent priced out the parts yet... what are you guys spending on a pan/filter and ATF? Anyone have the part numbers handy?
There is a link from the other forum's post on the price, $300-ish, for non-BMW brand(but ZF brand) parts.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-24118612901kt

That includes:
ZF service kit - $150
7 liters of ZF AT fluid - $150

BMW brand parts are more expensive than ZF parts, online prices are:

24118612901 transmission service kit - $300
83222289720 1L transmission fluid - $70(need 7 liters = $490)

So BMW parts alone is $800!

Last edited by bavarianride; 08-28-2018 at 04:52 PM..
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      08-28-2018, 05:53 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sspade View Post
Im currently at 58k miles and will wait until at least 80k until I service mine. Maybe 100k at the most.

I drive my car pretty easy for the most part.

Havent priced out the parts yet... what are you guys spending on a pan/filter and ATF? Anyone have the part numbers handy?
About $275 for pan, bolts, fluid, gasket and mechtronic sleeve.

https://www.thectsc.com

I used them for my 335d.
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      08-28-2018, 06:12 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
About $275 for pan, bolts, fluid, gasket and mechtronic sleeve.

https://www.thectsc.com

I used them for my 335d.
The prices of ZF kits and BMW kits are significantly different(esp. on the ATF fluids), are there any difference between the 2?
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      08-28-2018, 06:17 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
About $275 for pan, bolts, fluid, gasket and mechtronic sleeve.

https://www.thectsc.com

I used them for my 335d.
The prices of ZF kits and BMW kits are significantly different(esp. on the ATF fluids), are there any difference between the 2?
Nope.
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      08-28-2018, 08:26 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Nope.
That is good to know.

As far as vendor goes, is fcpeuro legit? Their prices are higher than rest, but if the lifetime replacement warranty is real, then pay $250-300 once, and keep getting new pan + filter + AT fluid, right?
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      08-28-2018, 08:43 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Nope.
That is good to know.

As far as vendor goes, is fcpeuro legit? Their prices are higher than rest, but if the lifetime replacement warranty is real, then pay $250-300 once, and keep getting new pan + filter + AT fluid, right?
yes they're legit from what I've read, but I have no personal experience wit them
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      08-30-2018, 11:58 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
yes they're legit from what I've read, but I have no personal experience wit them
I've bought thousands of dollars in parts from them over the past 8 years or so. I've purchased for my volvo's, a benz I had, and now my 328d. They are legit and the warranty is great. I recommend them over any parts company.
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      08-30-2018, 11:58 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Nope.
That is good to know.

As far as vendor goes, is fcpeuro legit? Their prices are higher than rest, but if the lifetime replacement warranty is real, then pay $250-300 once, and keep getting new pan + filter + AT fluid, right?
FCP Euro is legit. Started ordering all my parts and fluids from them last year. So far only had to return some parts I ordered and no issues/haggle with the return process.

Double check the parts number with multiple sources. Serviced my rear differential and their catalogue said the differential plug wouldn't fit while ECS and Bav Auto said it does. Differential plug fit with no issue.
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      08-30-2018, 12:11 PM   #14
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Thanks for the tips on fcpeuro, it looks like this weekend has a 15% off sales too. Their prices are somewhat higher than other online stores though.

Last edited by bavarianride; 08-30-2018 at 08:27 PM..
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      08-31-2018, 05:24 AM   #15
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Interesting, they keep changing it by the looks of things.

I enquired with ZF technical when I got my car and they told me 60K KM, the car is booked in for a change in a few weeks (noticing shifting isn't as smooth as it was).
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      08-31-2018, 06:45 AM   #16
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Quote:
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Thanks for the tips on fcpeuro, it looks like this weekend has a 15% off sales too. Their prices are somewhat higher than other online stores though.
Slightly, but they also price match! Honestly, I hardly ever price match with them unless it is a major difference in price. I am willing to pay an extra couple % to buy an OEM BMW/Benz/Volvo part once and have free replacements for life. I find FCP to be a god send!
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      08-31-2018, 06:49 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daftasabrush View Post
Interesting, they keep changing it by the looks of things.

I enquired with ZF technical when I got my car and they told me 60K KM, the car is booked in for a change in a few weeks (noticing shifting isn't as smooth as it was).
The ZF servere service schedule of 75k - 100k* km has been the same since at least 2009.

At 60k km it's not your fluid that's causing shift problems.

*ZF updated their recommendation on 1/2018 removing the lower bound 75k km.
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      08-31-2018, 07:05 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
The ZF servere service schedule of 75k - 100k* km has been the same since at least 2009.

At 60k km it's not your fluid that's causing shift problems.

*ZF updated their recommendation on 1/2018 removing the lower bound 75k km.
I can only go on what I've got in an email from their technical department in Germany when I asked them about my 'box.
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      08-31-2018, 08:14 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daftasabrush View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
The ZF servere service schedule of 75k - 100k* km has been the same since at least 2009.

At 60k km it's not your fluid that's causing shift problems.

*ZF updated their recommendation on 1/2018 removing the lower bound 75k km.
I can only go on what I've got in an email from their technical department in Germany when I asked them about my 'box.
I bet he thought miles not kilometers. That would make sense since 60k miles is 100km.
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      08-31-2018, 08:35 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by insanecoder View Post
Plans can change
imo 100-120,000mi is too long
Like F32fleet said to service it every 50,000-60,000mi as advised by ZF the manufacturer
Mine is actually on a 30,000mi change cycle
Lmao dude that is so early, that's like changing your oil every 2k miles
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      08-31-2018, 10:08 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daftasabrush View Post
Interesting, they keep changing it by the looks of things.

I enquired with ZF technical when I got my car and they told me 60K KM, the car is booked in for a change in a few weeks (noticing shifting isn't as smooth as it was).
This ZF page even says 40000km and 2 years, that sounds like money grabbing to me.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/cn/en/aft...on-oil-change/
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      08-31-2018, 10:10 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
This ZF page even says 40000km and 2 years, that sounds like money grabbing to me.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/cn/en/aft...on-oil-change/
wow, they can't make their mind up!
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