Life time fill.....NO - BMW Forum

z4mcoupe · 09-23-2008, 01:35 PM

So, BMW apparantly don't know how to service their vehicles. I went to BMW and tried to find out what type of oil the transmission takes. I also asked (and got) differential oil. They couldn't find out the part number for the transmission oil. I had a discussion with the service rep and tried to convince him that the transmission oil is NOT a lifetime fill. I can understand why he thought that, but he was wrong. The non-M cars do not have a lifetime fill. Its states in the "Supplementary M" owners manual that the transmission fluid is replaced at service inspection 2. Granted, I was trying to do it earlier than required, but I wanted to do some preventative maintenance.

After I changed the trans oil, the shifter felt so much smoother, and I am not exaggerating. I suggest that all M owners replace the trans oil, you will feel the difference.

BTW, the transmission takes LT2.

marti5 · 09-24-2008, 05:16 AM

You are correct, I have been to ZF in germany,where they make the BM gear boxes, if you find the part number on your box it will start with ZF, anyway I had to go there to get my box serviced as BM wouldnt do it, whilst there I asked the question ' life time or not ?' answer: NO, service at 80,000 then every 40,000 miles and he said this includes 'M' variants.

My visit at ZF Dortmund for Gearbox maintenance.(very, very long!) HUGH RESULT!!

z4mcoupe · 09-24-2008, 09:36 AM

Very nice write up. Sounds like it feels like a better than new car, congrats.

spishak · 01-24-2009, 12:23 PM

Hi

I am reporting the same with my car after changing the oil.
It is smooth.

marti5 · 01-24-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spishak

Hi

I am reporting the same with my car after changing the oil.
It is smooth.

Thanks for letting us know

jonnyboicossie · 01-26-2009, 05:10 PM

i agree with you all the M..s diff oil deff needs replacing i used lsd oil with a m3 diff that was wining thought it would be a new diff job but after i replaced the oil the diff was wine free

jonny

zdmcc420 · 02-13-2009, 01:58 PM

how do you go about changing the diff. oil?

BimmerE39 · 02-13-2009, 02:17 PM

Even the lifetime fill on non M cars is a bunch of crap. I had both my transmission and diff flushed at 70K miles and even that seemed to be a stretch.

marti5 · 02-14-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zdmcc420

how do you go about changing the diff. oil?

There's a drain plug and a fill plug that easy really, not much more I can say.

Here's a guide although not a BM but the basics are the same:

How to change differential oil ? Car Care

zdmcc420 · 02-16-2009, 12:08 AM

thanks for the reply on the last question..and also, how do you change the trans oil..sorry for the noobish question buy everyone needs to start somewhere