[Magallon0820]

Good evening ya'll. Tomorrow I was hoping to do a trans service, I have been having issues with the transmission and before going to dealership I wanted to do what I could at my level, I did not get the FCP euro kit so my question was, what kind of oil do these things take, and I didn't have scan tool or fancy gages sp what yall recommend operating temp for for transmission? Run it for like 20 minutes or what yall think? I really appreciate the help.everyone has been giving me here.

[ChiltiCoatl89]

Is your Transmission a Manual? or an Auto?

[SWFLf10]

You really need to be able to read the temp. Everything I read says it’s very picky about the level being correct. I believe you can use a simple BMW specific Foxwell scanner if you don’t have access to ISTA or another method of getting accurate fluid temp.

I did mine with the ZF Lifeguard fluid and used ISTA. Others have reported good success with the Liqui-Moly equivalent fluid. Both are quite a bit cheaper than the genuine BMW branded fluid I believe.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by SWFLf10

You really need to be able to read the temp. Everything I read says it’s very picky about the level being correct. I believe you can use a simple BMW specific Foxwell scanner if you don’t have access to ISTA or another method of getting accurate fluid temp.

I did mine with the ZF Lifeguard fluid and used ISTA. Others have reported good success with the Liqui-Moly equivalent fluid. Both are quite a bit cheaper than the genuine BMW branded fluid I believe.

Seconded the ZF Lifeguard recommendation. They're the folks that built the transmission! ZF also recommends 60k mile changes.

As for temp, you need to be able to read the specific fluid temp, not the temp of the housing or pan. In theory you could use a thermometer probe, but best to use a scan tool.

Also vehicle needs to be level, so your point lift or jack stands.

[Magallon0820]

Dang ok I'll see what I can aquire to read temp, and it's manual, also liquid Molly 1800? Read that that's what my local napa carries

[SWFLf10]

Originally Posted by Magallon0820

Dang ok I'll see what I can aquire to read temp, and it's manual, also liquid Molly 1800? Read that that's what my local napa carries

I would imagine the manual transmission uses a different fluid. May be easiest to call a local dealer and verify the type.

I don’t have any experience with manual transmissions, but I’m sure you can find some tutorials on here or YouTube.

[SteveMD]

What would be the cost for having this done at an indi shop in the US? Roughly?

[Magallon0820]

My mistake I meant its an automatic smh am sorry I have an audi that's manual that's always giving me problems. Ucp sells top tech 1800 liquid molly with the kit for my transmission so I am going to go with that's what I should use

[Double Nickel]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

What would be the cost for having this done at an indi shop in the US? Roughly?

Maybe somebody on the West coast know, but i havent heard of a Indy here on the East

[Double Nickel]

Originally Posted by Magallon0820

My mistake I meant its an automatic smh am sorry I have an audi that's manual that's always giving me problems. Ucp sells top tech 1800 liquid molly with the kit for my transmission so I am going to go with that's what I should use

Thats what i use LM TT1800👍🏾

[Conserve]

Hi, Just joined the community. After 1-1/2 year search I was able to find my 2015 535i Last June.
Speaking of trans fluid change on automatic 8 speed, I just finished doing this last weekend. You need to be able to see trans oil temp during this process. I use Bimmerlink and iphone to monitor temp. Attached ZF procedure for your reference. I drained 4.8 liters of trans oil and able to replace it with fresh oil for exact volume.

Regards,

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

What would be the cost for having this done at an indi shop in the US? Roughly?

I had the ZF Transmission service done on my 15' 535i here in the PNW. Paying the markup on OEM Pan/Filter & LifeGuard Oil + Labor the price is roughly in the $700 - $800 range.

As others have said, the secondary fill @ temperature part of the procedure is the critical step. You'll need to have the vehicle lifted-level-running while you cycle thru the gears and top off.

Personally, I'm an advocate for keeping with LG oil. It's not something I'm comfortable to roll the dice with to save a few bucks on an aftermarket brand of fluid; however, many, many others have reported good results with LiquiMoly oil (including my shop). To each their own, imo.

LG9 CAN be used instead of LG8 (I contacted ZF and asked awhile back when LG8 was tough to find)

Also note that this procedure only replaces about 1/2 to 2/3 of the oil. I'm of the opinion that doing a "dump & fill" on the tranny oil followed by a full "dump & fill + pan/filter replacement" a few hundred miles later is the best way to get "mostly new" fluid into your transmission.

FWIW, I had OA done on my transmission fluid @ 60k when I had it serviced and it came back high for insoluables. See attached report from Blackstone.

[Magallon0820]

So did the dreaded flush, a lot more difficult than I gave it credit I managed to put in bout 5ish litters I did not have anything to read transmission temp so I let it run for bout 20 minutes till it felt really hot, that's when I added about 1.5 litters that got me to the 5ish one thing that threw me for a loop is as I was adding while the car was running the same side am filling the trans I was leaking wat looked like water, the more I pumped the faster it came wasn't coolant but literally water or condensation..any thought? ..I did this in hopes that my transmission issues fixed

[Conserve]

You probably had the AC on and did not know it while working under the car.

[StradaRedlands]

Yeah, AC condenser was leaking on you! Did you follow the procedure posted above?

FYI my indy charged $690US last year, so you saved a chunk!

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by Magallon0820

..I did this in hopes that my transmission issues fixed

Congrats on doing this yourself as you saved a bit of $$$.
I'd highly recommend that you follow the ZF recommended procedure posted in the pdf earlier - the "Checking the oil level" flow chart steps are fairly specific in regard to temps, rpms, time to hold gears, etc. From all the posts I've read on ZF Transmissions, as great as their reviews may be, they seem to be sensitive to being at the proper fill levels.

Get yourself software or a scan device that can read your tranny temp.

If you identified the specific issues that you're having then you may get a bit better feedback on here. Plenty of knowledgable people willing to help a guy out, especially if he's DIY.

Rough shifts in low gears before it warms up?
Overall slipping in all gears?

Also, what mileage is your transmission at?

FWIW,
I had the mechtronic sleeve replaced as PM during my first transmission service (~60k miles, and yes, prolly a bit early). I'll do about 3-4 dump & fills until the next pan/filter replacement @ ~120k - at which point in time I'll have all the solenoid seals replaced as well. These are all tasks that can be reasonably accomplished by an average DIY'er; however, for me, I'm too old to be under my car unless it's on a lift for this one...

[Magallon0820]

Thanks to everyone and yea ac was definitely on lol also yes rough shifts started out just in low gears and as days went on got waaay worse, I think there isba transleak somewhere in the front and it's causing me too loose trans fluid idk if the fan is driven by trans fluid like other cars but think that could be it, the oil am leaving in the garage is the freshly clean LM I jist put it

[ctcarbonari]

Rough shifts in low gears while cold = a decent enough chance that your dealing with a low fluid level issue.

Good Luck getting the leak sorted out!

Then get yourself a proper scan tool and do the service procedure again - this time replacing the pan/filter.

[Magallon0820]

Yea that's what I think, ita upfront somewhere

[MartynasC]

DO you guys ever put additives while doing the oil change?
Ceramic layer based?

[SWFLf10]

Originally Posted by MartynasC

DO you guys ever put additives while doing the oil change?
Ceramic layer based?

I have never added anything to the transmission fluid.

I do add Liqui Moly Ceratec to my engine oil during my change about once a year and Liqui Moly Mos2 during the other changes.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by MartynasC

DO you guys ever put additives while doing the oil change?
Ceramic layer based?

Funny you mention it... I never have, but the most recent round of oil changes on the fleet the last few months I used LM Engine Flush and then Cera Tec. This is in addition to using Redline SL1 in the preceding tank of fuel.

Anecdotally it seems like the slight rattle I had on the N52 was reduced.

But that is the engine, not the trans. FWIW I did notice that LM says Cera Tec can be used in a manual transmission. I'm curious about that as I will need to change the trans fluid in about seven years