transmission fluid

[appollo]

I have a 1999 5sp 323 convertible E36 with a yellow tranny tag that says fluid never needs to be replaced. I got a leak through the sensor and then replaced it. I want to top it off, but i hear that you are supposed to replace the fluid. What type of fluid should i use? BMW wants to charge me $254 for 5 ltrs of their stuff and they tell me i need 8.9 ltrs of it? any insight?

[Furious]

im not sure what i use because its what the mechanics use it and the writing is mostly in german, but its fully synthetic.

[miatawnt2b]

appollo,
having never been under my car, i don't know where to look exactly for the tranny tag. Is it easy to find? Where is yours located?
thanks,
J

[jllphan]

Red Line

[Furious]

to check tranny fluid there are two allan key screws that are located one on the side of tranny and the other on the bottom. the bottom one is to drain the side one is to check and to add.

[DesmoBob]

Originally posted by miatawnt2b@Mar 17 2004, 08:30 AM
appollo,
having never been under my car, i don't know where to look exactly for the tranny tag. Is it easy to find? Where is yours located?
thanks,
J

it is on the right side of the tranny housing.



appollo:
while bmw may claim "lifetime fluid," ron stygar (well known bmw guru) appears to be of a different opinion. it is definitely okay to change your fluid. $254 sounds really steep... i wonder if we're talking about the same thing here.

i am ignorant of what fluid to put in a getrag tranny, but in a ZF tranny you can use D4 ATF (yes, ATF even in a MT car). best bet is to check the sticker on the tranny housing.