E46 Auto Trans Lifetime Fill

goodmanr · 09-24-2004, 06:51 AM

This "lifetime" fill business is really starting to bother me. BMW has everyone so freaked out by this, no one wants to touch my trans. It is just a marketing scheme to sell cars, meanwhile everyones $3000 automatic tranmission is getting ruined.

So I wrote to Red Line and here is what they had to say, "In your transmission originally an ESSO fluid was called for, the Red Line D4ATF is a suitable replacement for that fluid. If it were my car I would drop the pan, change the fluid and filter".

BMWCowboy · 09-24-2004, 07:27 PM

I havent seen that many lifetime fluid trannys going bad.......they start going bad after you start messing with them

goodmanr · 09-25-2004, 04:25 AM

That is what my shop tells me when I try and get it serviced. But is it really true? The diff(s) have a lifetime fill, the manual trans has a lifetime fill, and the power steering unit has a lifetime fill, but everyone says to change the fluid anyway.

How are people supposed to know which lifetime fills are really lifetime fills and which ones are just marketing tricks?

BMWCowboy · 09-25-2004, 06:55 AM

U can replace the diff fluid & p/s fluid->never heard of these being lifetime?????....but as far as the transmission goes.....as long as it isnt leaking its good to go

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

The p/s fluid is a PITA to replace. There is no drain and the filter is built into the reservior. I suggest when you change it to go ahead and replace the reservior since you'll have it off anyway to get the old fluid out.

For the diff I used 75w-90 Royal Purple but Red line and Mobil 1 are just as good.

You should be able to find an good independent shop that will replace the ATF. What is your milage? I would wait to between 50-60k before these services.

goodmanr · 09-28-2004, 08:19 AM

I have 60,000 miles on my car. But BMW Cowboys says don't do it, you say do it. I was leaning toward doing it, but now I am not so sure.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

I would only let a shop that I was comfortable with do the job. It will be expensive ($300) so I would also only do it if I planned to keep the car beyond 100k.

Your tranny will probably go 100 to 150k on the lifetime fluid without a problem. But if I were the one paying for the tranny replacement I would want to dump the old fluid periodically to get out any shavings or other suspended particles out.

Personally I think all lifetime fills are markteting tricks. What does lifetime mean anyway? My lifetime, the cars or the tranny's. My bet is the tranny's. If the tranny is going to go out at 150k regardless of fluid changes then I guess they were right it was a lifetime fill. :-)

Jared at Pelican Parts · 09-28-2004, 02:44 PM

I agree with jeron here. I dont buy into the idea of lifetime fill fluid as well.

mitchell172 · 04-28-2007, 07:03 PM

Hello all,

I was doing the auto trans fluid/filter/gasket replacement on my 03 325i this weekend. I did everything correctly up to filling the auto trans to the proper fluid level. I was on the final step of being under the car while it is running and topping off the fluid and for some reason, before I got under the car, I glanced at my Bentley service manual and it said to put it in park before doing that step, not neutral like I read online. So, I did. When I took out the fill plug (slowly) fluid starting going everywhere and I must have spilled 2 - maybe - 3 quarts on the floor before I could get the car shut off and the plug back in since the fluid was sooooo hot. I've now put back in the fill plug and turned the car off letting it cool down and I figure I'll try it again when it is not so hot.

Any ideas or advice? I think I only had about 5 1/2 quarts in it and I kept checking it trying to add more until that last move. I took out a bit over 6 quarts when I drained it and dropped the pan. Now I only have about a quart and a half of the special BMW fluid I ordered not including what managed to stay in the pan and I'm not afraid I won't be able to get this right. I guess I could take it to the dealer and have them finish it, I'm beat. Any motivation or insight?

Thanks,
Brad in Sacramento

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

The car needs to be dead cold when you start. I've posted links to instructions a few times look them up and let me know if you dont find them.

The fluid expands a lot so if it is hot it spills out before you get enough in.

If it the ESSO LT(whatever) you can mix it with Amsoil ATF.

mitchell172 · 04-29-2007, 07:42 PM

Thanks Jeron. I'll look for that. I do think that is what happened to me. It was getting way too hot. Today I did it again and added another quart before I felt it was getting too hot again to be accurate. It was probably in my head after my experience yesterday. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow after I get some more fluid from the dealer.

Thanks,
Brad