E36 Automatic Transmission - BMW Forum

marcoabz · 09-18-2006, 04:17 PM

Hello everyone, my name is Marco and I`m from Chile. I have a 1993 320i E36with automatic transmission. The car runs great, but I have a doubt. I`ve seen this automatic transmission need to be change fluid and filter... but there are also some version in which are "sealed for life". I don`t know which version may I have. The only thing I know is that it`s a japan version, so I wanted to hear some opinion about it, do I need to change the filter and fluid, or does my version is the sealed one¿?. Thanks.

Teh Prof · 09-18-2006, 04:26 PM

How many miles do you have on it? How many miles have you owned the car? Have you ever changed the fluid and filter before?

drz · 09-18-2006, 04:40 PM

I don't think the E36 with "Lifetime Fluid" came out that early. However, regardless of what the label says, you ought to change the fluid on it. The transmission is not "sealed for life," which means you can get in there and change the fluid. There may be a sticker in the way, but that is it.

Read the following write-up to learn more about this matter: http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...Fluid_Auto.htm

marcoabz · 09-18-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi, thanks for the replys. I´ll start looking for the filter and make the change. Now, responding to M3UOND, I bought the car with about 63.000 kilometers, now it has 103.000 kilometers, so I guess I really must do this before my transmission pass to another world and I bet that must be very $$$$ to fix!.

Thanks again.

Teh Prof · 09-19-2006, 08:56 AM

You're still within the window where replacing the fluid will do you some good.

bitcore · 09-25-2006, 03:50 AM

you oughta be fine, no rush to change the fluid. I did mine around 95K miles, just because it was something to do. There are E36's out there with 150-200K miles on them with origional fluid I'm sure - although nasty as hell at that point.

It's very messy if you don't have strong arms to hold the sumps level and MAKE SURE you can open the fill plug BEFORE you open the drain plug!!! I made that mistake and started freaking out since I did this about 1.5 hours away from home and had classes the next day.