Trans service

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

t0ph3r - 25 Oct 2005 22:07 GMT

My brother has aquired an E39 530i with about 110K miles on it and he
wanted to get the auto transmission serviced at the dealer. They told him he
had a lifetime fluid in the trans and it never needs changing.

He looked on Roadfly and has received differing opinons as to change the
fluid and filter. Some opinions say leave well enough alone and others say
change the fluid.

What is the general consensus on this forum for service recommendations?

Reply to this Message

SharkmanBMW - 26 Oct 2005 00:49 GMT

lifetime really should mean 100k miles.
it should be done every 50 after that.... some will wait untill it's too
late.
I have lifetime on my 540 and my 330... I had to rebuild the 540 because it
was never touched and problems arose...
the 330 I will never let get close to 100k... maybe 70k, so I have 20 to go.

> My brother has aquired an E39 530i with about 110K miles on it and he
> wanted to get the auto transmission serviced at the dealer. They told him
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> What is the general consensus on this forum for service
> recommendations?

Reply to this Message

John Carrier - 26 Oct 2005 13:05 GMT

BMW backed away from "lifetime fill" in 2002 and now recommends 100,000
miles. That's probably too late. OBTW, the OEM fluid (and I'm not sure
anybody elses ATF is appropriate) is very expensive.

R / John

Reply to this Message

Malt_Hound - 26 Oct 2005 14:00 GMT

>> My brother has aquired an E39 530i with about 110K miles on it and he
>>wanted to get the auto transmission serviced at the dealer. They told him
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> R / John

The lifetime fill fluid is not made by BMW. Just specified, and yes it
is expensive...

Signature

-Fred W

Reply to this Message