tranny change 2001 to 2004 3 series

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

kpb - 21 Nov 2007 01:27 GMT

ARe the 2004 3 series auto transmissions the same junk that is in the
2000 and 2001 3 series? Does anyone know?

On another related note, are the manual transmissions junk too? Do
they fail after 80K miles or so?

Here's a third question: has BMW in general tried to improve their
auto trannies? IE if I buy a 2006 e90 sedan, will it likely be a
better transmisison than the E46, which, at least in 2000 and 2001,
were total crap?

Reply to this Message

Bubbles - 21 Nov 2007 02:08 GMT

If you service those crap trannys properly - most - will survive the long
haul just fine.
Unfortunately, the suggested "Lifetime fluid" system is a joke.
If you follow BMW and never deal with the fluid - your "lifetime" will
usually be around 100k miles.

That seems to be what lifetime is to BMW, 100k. They want to sell you a new
car.
Yet, with proper maintenance, it will last much longer. There are always
exceptions to the rule, but if you follow the "old" standards that BMW had
as far as fluid changes... and forget about that lifetime fluid crap... you
will have a MUCH better time.

BTW - my 2003 330xi has 4 windows that have never not worked, so they did
eventually fix THAT problem.

> ARe the 2004 3 series auto transmissions the same junk that is in the
> 2000 and 2001 3 series? Does anyone know?
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> better transmisison than the E46, which, at least in 2000 and 2001,
> were total crap?

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Reply to this Message

Dave Plowman (News) - 21 Nov 2007 10:13 GMT

> If you service those crap trannys properly - most - will survive the
> long haul just fine. Unfortunately, the suggested "Lifetime fluid"
> system is a joke. If you follow BMW and never deal with the fluid - your
> "lifetime" will usually be around 100k miles.

> That seems to be what lifetime is to BMW, 100k. They want to sell you a
> new car. Yet, with proper maintenance, it will last much longer. There
> are always exceptions to the rule, but if you follow the "old"
> standards that BMW had as far as fluid changes... and forget about that
> lifetime fluid crap... you will have a MUCH better time.

It's certainly said often and with 'authority' here and elsewhere. But
before being convinced I'd need to see proof.
How many have had their transmission fluid analysed to see if it has
deteriorated at X miles? You can bet the makers have done exactly this
before determining its life.

Transmission fluids are very different from engine oil - they don't have
to cope with contamination from combustion by products.

My previous BMW was an E34 fitted with the first 5 speed auto - the ZF
5HP18 - and it was fine when I sold it at 140,000 miles.

Signature

*Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Reply to this Message

Dave Plowman (News) - 21 Nov 2007 10:30 GMT

In article
<0add2bdc-1050-41b7-8b85-d190d46a4085@41g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,

> ARe the 2004 3 series auto transmissions the same junk that is in the
> 2000 and 2001 3 series? Does anyone know?

> On another related note, are the manual transmissions junk too? Do
> they fail after 80K miles or so?

> Here's a third question: has BMW in general tried to improve their
> auto trannies? IE if I buy a 2006 e90 sedan, will it likely be a
> better transmisison than the E46, which, at least in 2000 and 2001,
> were total crap?

Dunno about the US but elsewhere they have more ratios than earlier cars
so aren't the same.

If you Google you'll find a few companies which do lists of what is fitted
to what.

Signature

*I don't have a solution, but I admire your problem. *

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Reply to this Message