Alternative Transmission Fluid for 1999 528i, automatic ???

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Jack C. Wang - 19 Jul 2006 18:23 GMT

The car shop initially quote me ~$600 for the ATF change. Later he said he
found a cheaper but still all synthetic fluid which will cut the cost to
~$350.

I did research online for BMW ATF. Many people attempted other non-vendor
ATF with success. Still others gave opinions with uncertainty and concern.
I checked a local Advanced Discount Auto Parts store and found "all
synthetic Mobile 1 ATF" for only ~$6.50/quarter. Does anyone actually used
Mobile 1 with success "on 528i"? Any other brands worked for anyone, such
as Redline, Royal Purple, etc. ?

I am a first-time BMW owner. I so far very much like its performance.
However, an A/C repair last week just cost me $1760 (compressor, dryer,
trolly, belt, etc.)

Jack Chengjie Wang
Tampa, FL
=================

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Dave Plowman (News) - 19 Jul 2006 18:55 GMT

> I did research online for BMW ATF. Many people attempted other
> non-vendor ATF with success.

That 'success' is almost impossible to prove, unless the transmission
successfully completes another 100,000 miles.

> Still others gave opinions with uncertainty and concern.

My view too unless the fluid is identical to original spec - or you've
researched one which works as well but has to be changed at more 'normal'
intervals. Because if the gearbox fails due to the wrong make fluid you'll
have no comeback on anyone.

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bfd - 19 Jul 2006 23:27 GMT

> > I did research online for BMW ATF. Many people attempted other
> > non-vendor ATF with success.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> --

Agree, one problem with slush boxes is you can't ever drain out all of
the fluid. Unless you actually pull the tranny, there will be fluid
stuck in places like the torque converter. Find out what fluid your car
comes with and replace with the exact same thing.

Personally, I'm glad I got a manual tranny on my 90 535i with 107K
miles, I change it every 30K or so with a good synthetic like Redline
or Royal Purple and its cheap and easy to do!

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Dave Plowman (News) - 19 Jul 2006 23:35 GMT

> Agree, one problem with slush boxes is you can't ever drain out all of
> the fluid. Unless you actually pull the tranny, there will be fluid
> stuck in places like the torque converter. Find out what fluid your car
> comes with and replace with the exact same thing.

Some say you can do a power flush by removing a pipe to the cooler with
the engine running while filling with fresh and do so until it runs clean.
This should change the fluid in the TC too.

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bfd - 21 Jul 2006 18:11 GMT

> > Agree, one problem with slush boxes is you can't ever drain out all of
> > the fluid. Unless you actually pull the tranny, there will be fluid
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the engine running while filling with fresh and do so until it runs clean.
> This should change the fluid in the TC too.

A "power flush" might work, that's what Toyota recommends for its auto
trannies.

But I haven't heard that mentioned as a sure fix-all for BMWs. Further,
with some BMWs, especially newer ones, requiring really expensive
"lifetime" fluids, it becomes a question of how much fluids are
required. Then again, I guess its worth the expense if the alternative
is your tranny going out at 100K or less, ouch!

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Richard Sexton - 20 Jul 2006 01:49 GMT

>Agree, one problem with slush boxes is you can't ever drain out all of
>the fluid. Unless you actually pull the tranny, there will be fluid
>stuck in places like the torque converter. Find out what fluid your car
>comes with and replace with the exact same thing.

Uh, there's no drain plug on the torque convertor? You sure?

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Dave Plowman (News) - 20 Jul 2006 21:43 GMT

> Uh, there's no drain plug on the torque convertor? You sure?

Certain. ;-)

And even if there was there's no way to get rid of contaminated fluid
after a 'box failure which is why it's usual to replace the TC at overhaul
time.

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Richard Sexton - 20 Jul 2006 22:49 GMT

>> Uh, there's no drain plug on the torque convertor? You sure?
>
>Certain. ;-)

Wow. Is there a good reason for that? I'm used to being able to
drain the convertor, too.

>And even if there was there's no way to get rid of contaminated fluid
>after a 'box failure which is why it's usual to replace the TC at overhaul
>time.

I'd guess you'd have to wouldn't you?

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Dave Plowman (News) - 20 Jul 2006 23:02 GMT

> Wow. Is there a good reason for that? I'm used to being able to
> drain the convertor, too.

I've never seen a drain plug on a car TC - and I've had autos since the
'60s. But not a US one.

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Richard Sexton - 21 Jul 2006 05:49 GMT

>> Wow. Is there a good reason for that? I'm used to being able to
>> drain the convertor, too.
>
>I've never seen a drain plug on a car TC - and I've had autos since the
>'60s. But not a US one.

All Mercedes have them.

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Jeff Strickland - 19 Jul 2006 19:03 GMT

According to my Bentley Manual for my 3 Series, the automatic transmission
is filled with Dexron III, "but the factory might have used alternative
fluids."

I would not hesitate to use Dexron III in my transmission. The only
consideration is the possibility that your 5 Series uses a different
transmission than the 3 Series from the same vintage.

I recently had a fluid flush in a different car that uses Dexron III, and
the cost was $70 (USD). The shop disconnected the transmission cooling lines
at the radiator, and pumped new fluid in that pushed the old fluid out at
the same time. You might consider dropping the bottom cover and replacing
some of the filters and such that may need attention from time to time, but
in my instance I am the original owner of the car in question so I opted for
the basic service. In any case, the service you are looking for should be
available for well under $150.

> The car shop initially quote me ~$600 for the ATF change. Later he said
> he found a cheaper but still all synthetic fluid which will cut the cost
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Tampa, FL
> =================

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JB - 20 Jul 2006 20:50 GMT

> The car shop initially quote me ~$600 for the ATF change. Later he said
> he found a cheaper but still all synthetic fluid which will cut the cost
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> I am a first-time BMW owner. I so far very much like its performance.

I had the same requirement for my 1999 E36 323i auto. I asked a major
transmission repairers/remanufacturers who do many, many ZF boxes each year,
and they said they use DexronIII in these boxes, but if I specifically
wanted the Esso LT71141 fluid they would get some in.
complete fluid change and filter/gaskets runs to about £125inclusive.
Not on your side of the pond I know, but
http://www.testransmissions.co.uk/tes-transmissions-about.html
JB

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thebanker - 15 Aug 2006 21:25 GMT

> The car shop initially quote me ~$600 for the ATF change. Later he said he
> found a cheaper but still all synthetic fluid which will cut the cost to
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Tampa, FL
> =================

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