[TonyAb]

Hi all.

My 2013 535i xdrive has close to 77k miles. Transmission has never been serviced and I don't have any issues. just wondering if a fluid drain/fill (possibly new pan??) is necessary at this mileage. Thanks in advance.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by TonyAb

Hi all.

My 2013 535i xdrive has close to 77k miles. Transmission has never been serviced and I don't have any issues. just wondering if a fluid drain/fill (possibly new pan??) is necessary at this mileage. Thanks in advance.

I had the dealer flush the trans in our 2012 at around 75K miles. They said it was early, but, to me, it's cheap insurance.

[harris69]

My 2011 535 is approaching 74k miles and I have read several of the transmission fluid flush/drain threads. And it seems that everyone has a different opinion on this subject.

My car shifts great (after BimmerBrain did the software update), and don't see any issues with it. But I also don't want to have any transmission issues down the road if I do decide to keep the car past 100k. Are their any examples of these cars that have made it to 200k on original transmission fluid?

[JDMSteven]

Originally Posted by harris69

My 2011 535 is approaching 74k miles and I have read several of the transmission fluid flush/drain threads. And it seems that everyone has a different opinion on this subject.

My car shifts great (after BimmerBrain did the software update), and don't see any issues with it. But I also don't want to have any transmission issues down the road if I do decide to keep the car past 100k. Are their any examples of these cars that have made it to 200k on original transmission fluid?

Correct me if I'm wrong but most manufacturers and BMW says their "lifetime" transmission fluid and coolant are really good for 100k

[harris69]

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

Correct me if I'm wrong but most manufacturers and BMW says their "lifetime" transmission fluid and coolant are really good for 100k

This is the first time I have heard of such thing. I am not a believer in 'lifetime' anything but if there were examples of fellow F10 owners who had made it to 200k without doing a transmission service then why take a chhance on a service that most BMW dealerships either don't want to do, or don't know how to properly do.

[Surly73]

Here's a page from ZF, the people who make the transmission, recommending 100k km / 60k mi:

https://www.zf.com/unitedkingdom/en_...hange_oil.html

Here is a PDF from ZF that comes with the service kit:
https://www.zf.com/global/media/medi...P_50130_EN.pdf

FCPEuro sells the kit with genuine ZF pan/filter and ZF Lifeguard 8 fluid for $252US:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-24118612901kt


It's a no brainer to me. I already have the kit, just waiting for liveable weather. My F10 535xi has 70k km / 44k mi and I wish I did it a while ago already.

[harris69]

Ironically, BMW doesn't call for any such service. I don't have the tools, or time to take another project. How much would an Indy charge for something like this?

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by harris69

Ironically, BMW doesn't call for any such service. I don't have the tools, or time to take another project. How would an Indy charge for something like this?

Call and ask. My dealer was about $100 less expensive than the local Indy.

[Luky]

Get the kit with pan/filter and fluid here. Probably the cheapest. Not hard to do. Did it on my 2015 535. Dealer wanted like $1200 and I did it for about $350 in parts (and used the rest of the money to buy a set of quickjack 7000). Will need a couple of 5 or 6 qt pans to drain fluid into (got at the paint store) and a fluid transfer pump(harbor freight) to refill it.

http://www.thectsc.com

It's cheaper to get a case of fluid so you can also drain it a second or third time. I seem to recall getting about 3 qts from the drain plug then another 2 qts from dropping the pan. I think it is 8 or 9 qts total (been a few years) so you dont get it all. My fluid was black at 65k miles. Replaced the pan and filled it. Ran it on the lift/switched gears to cycle/heat up the fluid. Second drain was better reddish brown, and third drain (after driving it a week) it looked mostly red as it should.

[snj1013]

Did my service myself around 65k miles. Bought one of the kits reference above. I believe my service took 6+ liters.

[bake]

I did mine at about 65k miles on my 2011 535. My transmission was acting a little weird before the fluid and pan change. Haven't had any issues since doing the service.

[Bimmerroad]

After seeing a lot videos on examples of "lifetime" transmission oil, it is easy to notice that after 50,000 miles the oil is nowhere near the optimum color,

thus it is a good idea to change the transmission oil sooner rather than later. Not a single experiment recommends relying on the "lifetime". Lifetime is nothing more than BMW wanting your vehicle becoming junk within a certain time as you might replace it with a brand new one or at the very least keep the stealership economy going.

There are different opinions as far as mileage goes, opinions vary from 50k to 100k miles, I am going with 60k, if I had known this sooner, it would had been 50k.

In reality your transmission may fail at less than its 50% potential lifespan if you rely on the lifetime lie.

better change oil knowing how much a damaged transmission can cost, the job is fairly simple depending how resourceful you are it will cost from $250 to $350 a complete job.

The lifetime BMW oil is expensive, but I am a bit chicken to go any other way. I got 50% cheaper shopping around.

Apparently it is a bad idea to reuse bolts and pan....I guess if you are in a "walking dead" (tv show) sort of situation you might make due with the resources at hand.

I don't believe the pan has to be stock pan, it is a fairly simple part. I have not found any comments regarding non stock pan which can cost as low as $30 with all the hardware needed, meanwhile stock pan can cost as much as $200.

[corbinwilliams]

Originally Posted by harris69

My 2011 535 is approaching 74k miles and I have read several of the transmission fluid flush/drain threads. And it seems that everyone has a different opinion on this subject.

My car shifts great (after BimmerBrain did the software update), and don't see any issues with it. But I also don't want to have any transmission issues down the road if I do decide to keep the car past 100k. Are their any examples of these cars that have made it to 200k on original transmission fluid?

A little late on this but my 2011 F10 528i has 216k miles (I drive 30k miles a year) and I believe it's on the tranny original fluid, I've had the car since 40k miles and I've never changed the tranny fluid. It seems to be ok for now, fingers crossed. Anytime I've felt hiccups they've always been fixed with replacing the ignition coils and spark plugs. I am definitely concerned the day will come for my tranny but I've maintained this vehicle so well I don't want to give it up.

I almost changed the fluid at 120k miles but thankfully I did some research here that said after 100k to not touch the fluid as the tranny would be more accustomed to the thicker older fluids and that changing it beyond a certain point could result in gear slips. Love my 528i!!!

[Houranimd49]

Originally Posted by corbinwilliams

I almost changed the fluid at 120k miles but thankfully I did some research here that said after 100k to not touch the fluid as the tranny would be more accustomed to the thicker older fluids and that changing it beyond a certain point could result in gear slips. Love my 528i!!!

This. I’ve always wondered how true this is. My car is at 95k miles and I’ve never done it in the 50k miles I’ve owned it. I’ve started to think more to do it when I noticed that the car seems to sort of “slip” when it’s in 2nd gear low speed when I accelerate. But because of this whole “transmission gets accustomed to older fluid” deal, I’ve left it alone for fear of the trans turning out to operate worse than before. Torn on what to do.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Houranimd49

This. I’ve always wondered how true this is. My car is at 95k miles and I’ve never done it in the 50k miles I’ve owned it. I’ve started to think more to do it when I noticed that the car seems to sort of “slip” when it’s in 2nd gear low speed when I accelerate. But because of this whole “transmission gets accustomed to older fluid” deal, I’ve left it alone for fear of the trans turning out to operate worse than before. Torn on what to do.

We bought our F10 @ 110k miles, and changing the AT fluid was one of the first things we did. I'd like to learn how to do it myself, as it doesn't seem that hard. I plan to do it @ 150k miles. I think the older fluid rule might be more >150k miles, but I'm just a rando on the internet.

[ctcarbonari]

Change the oil per ZF recommendations (i.e. the "dump & fill" method while replacing pan & filter). The manufacturer of the transmission recommends doing this every 60k miles.

Don't do any forced flush method like applying pressure to circulate fluid thru the cooler lines.

And stick with LifeGuard Oil, imho.

Personally, I think the whole "don't change your fluid or filter after 'X' number of miles' is a bunch of internet hogwash. All fluids degrade and break down over time and replacing them with fresh fluid (even well past the recommended interval cycle) is better than not doing it at all.

Here's the oil analysis from my transmission service done on my 2015 535i @ ~60k miles (7 years).

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by ctcarbonari

Change the oil per ZF recommendations (i.e. the "dump & fill" method while replacing pan & filter). The manufacturer of the transmission recommends doing this every 60k miles.

Don't do any forced flush method like applying pressure to circulate fluid thru the cooler lines.

And stick with LifeGuard Oil, imho.

Personally, I think the whole "don't change your fluid or filter after 'X' number of miles' is a bunch of internet hogwash. All fluids degrade and break down over time and replacing them with fresh fluid (even well past the recommended interval cycle) is better than not doing it at all.

Here's the oil analysis from my transmission service done on my 2015 535i @ ~60k miles (7 years).

Never occurred to me that Blackstone does AT fluid analysis... wish I had that done!

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Never occurred to me that Blackstone does AT fluid analysis... wish I had that done!

Yeah, my friends give me a bit of a hard time about it, but for $30 it's a pretty good deal to get actual empirical info on any of your oils.

I did the differential OA too.

I'm real curious how Blackstone will analize the next transmission oil I send in as the ZF "dump & fill" procedure for servicing only replaces ~1/2 to 2/3 of the oil.
The next sample I send in will be the Second "dump & fill" (no pan/filter removal) just to get a majority of the fluid to be "mostly new".

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by ctcarbonari

Yeah, my friends give me a bit of a hard time about it, but for $30 it's a pretty good deal to get actual empirical info on any of your oils.

I did the differential OA too.

I'm real curious how Blackstone will analize the next transmission oil I send in as the ZF "dump & fill" procedure for servicing only replaces ~1/2 to 2/3 of the oil.
The next sample I send in will be the Second "dump & fill" (no pan/filter removal) just to get a majority of the fluid to be "mostly new".

You will get no push back from me! If it's a vehicle you want to keep, getting an analysis how the major components are working is invaluable!

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

You will get no push back from me! If it's a vehicle you want to keep, getting an analysis how the major components are working is invaluable!

You and I are in complete agreement about that!

My brother tells me that when I finally decide to sell my BMW, the 18 year old kid that buys it is really going to appreciate all the Oil Analysis reports & records.lol

He's prolly not too far from the truth!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by ctcarbonari

You and I are in complete agreement about that!

My brother tells me that when I finally decide to sell my BMW, the 18 year old kid that buys it is really going to appreciate all the Oil Analysis reports & records.lol

He's prolly not too far from the truth!

It's okay, they'll crash it in a week or two :-(

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

We bought our F10 @ 110k miles, and changing the AT fluid was one of the first things we did. I'd like to learn how to do it myself, as it doesn't seem that hard.

It is not difficult; however, the ZF procedures are very specific re: the secondary fill process at temperature (i.e. topping off to proper level)

What makes this service a bit of a burden for the average weekend DIYer is the step where you need to have the car Lifted - Level - and Running & then cycling thru all the gears. Software is key for this part (ISTA-D).

I tapped out of doing it myself when I started to envision my car up on 4 Jackstands while I tried to rev the engine up, cycle thru gears, monitor tranny temp, and crawl back/forth under vehicle to fill.
What could possibly go wrong? ha ha. Plus I'm getting too old to be squeezed in that tight under vehicles. A guy really needs a lift.

Attached is a PDF of the ZF procedure for those out there that have never seen it.

@StradaRedlands - you may want to consider having your Mechtronic sleeve replaced next time you service @ ~150k mi. (and have the other solenoid seals inspected) It's relatively inexpensive ($15 part) when compared to the labor costs involved with servicing.