BMW lifetime transmission

[Alan Tseng]

I hope someone out there have some insights to the lifetime transmission. I own a 99 528 E39 with a lifetime automatic transmission. Lately, my auto trans has been shifting erratically on its own between the all the gear ranges. My friends all suspect low transmission fluid. According to my BMW dealer the trans fluid never needs maintenance. If there is ever a problem they will recommend to the customers to replace the entire transmission. They also said that BMW has 6-7 different type of lifetime trans fluids and I would need to go under the car and locate the part # on the trans fluid pan in order for them to order the correct trans fluid, filter, gasket and plug seal. The car is 7 years old and I could not find any visible/readable tag on the bottom of the trans pan. I hope my dealer is not setting me up for a new transmission. What is my next step? Please!!!!! Somebody help me.

[silverc4s]

I have an E34 540i with the original "lifetime" 5 speed ZF automatic transmission. I changed my fluid at 75,000 miles at my independent mechanic's recommendation and have driven an added 20,000 miles since with no problems. I think he used Red Line synthetic transmission fluid, but I am not positive.
When it is changed, extra work needs to be done to drain the torque converter, as I recall. New filters, etc are available.

[Jeron]

The dealer told you to go under the car to get the tranny info. LOL Surely the offered to let you bring it in and they would get the info.

It would be silly to not at least try changing the fluid before buying a whole new tranny. I would find and independent BMW shop that is comfortable with tranny fluid changes. Contact your local BMWCCA and find out who the club sponsor mechanics are.

[Alan Tseng]

Thank you Jeron and Silver4Cs for the help. I will check the independent BMW mechanics for their assistance.

[Jeron]

There are parts that can be replaced in the tranny but it is hard to find someone who will or can diagnose and repair.

[McCandless]

Funny you should ask. Just finished draining and refilling the automatic transmission on my 99 528i this weekend. Actually this was the second go round. At 53.5k miles I dropped the pan and replaced the filter. I was glad I did. The magnet was covered with fine ferrous material and there was a thin film of black scuz on the bottom of the pan. Perfectly normal but nice to be able to clean it out. This time (69.3k) I just drained and refilled three times over the weekend. It holds 8 quarts but most of it is locked up in the torque converter and passages. Most I could get out at a time was about 3 quarts.

If your car is an early 99 and has a FOUR speed transmission, it takes Dexron III. That's right. Plain old Dexron III. The five speeds take one of the "long life" ATFs. BTW both transmissions are General Motors designed and built (in Europe, France I think.) The four speed is a A4S 270R/310R (a GM THM-R1 ). The five speed is a A5S 360R (a GM 5L40)
All of this info and more can be found at www.bmwtips.com in the engine/transmission area, in pdf files SD92-113 and 114.

[Alan Tseng]

Thanks you McCandless for sharing your thoughts. At first I was hessitant to change the fluid because I could not be sure what type of fluid I currently have in the car and without draining the fluid in the torque converter I risk mixing different fluids which may cause a bigger problem than what I already have. Thank you much.

[Decolliber]

You can get the special Esso ATF you need from ************ (costs about $18 per liter, but cheaper than a dealer will charge you - about $30 per liter). Their web site will also tell you how much to order (about 4 liters for the A5S325Z transmission, which I think is the one you would have). I have a 2002 530 and it will take about 4 liters on a refill. Bavauto will also sell you ($35) the transmission filter and gasket kit you need. Then you just unscrew the pan, clean it, replace the filter and gasket and bolt it back up again. Pump the new ATF into the fill plug until it runs out. If you want to be really compulsive you can then run the car until the temperature reaches normal operating temperature, and recheck the fluid level in the transmission.
I have the 5 series Bentley manual and the BMW ETK/TIS program so I can look up the transmission if you want.

My dealer quoted me $400 for a transmission flush on my 2002 530.

You might also think about flushing the power steering fluid and refilling with ATF (not the expensive Esso stuff, but any Dextron 3 ATF). Also replace the rear differential fluid (I used Mobil 1 75w90). Bavauto recommends Red Line power steering fluid and gear oil but I think Mobil 1 will do just fine.

Bimmer magazine will email you a maintenance schedule for BMWs that is much more thorough than the "no maintenance" schedule that BMW now follows.

[McCandless]

I beg to differ (slightly) with you John. (Decolliber).
His car is a 1999 528i.
According to the BMW ETK and BMW Publication SD 92-113 the A4S 270R/310R was used from 2/96 to 8/99.
In 9/99 they switched to the five speed A5S360R/A5S390R.
So which ATF he uses hinges on one fact. Does he have a 4 or 5 speed tranny?
Four speed = Dexron III
Five speed = Texaco ETL 7045E (According to BMW publication SD 92-113) And I'm not sure you can get the stuff any more since (at least around here) Texaco has gone the way of the Dodo bird.

So Alan, how many speeds DOES your tranny have?

Or you could cough up the last 7 of your VIN and John or I can look it up for sure.

Or you could take a look at SD92-114, crawl under the car and ID the tranny by pan shape. The differences are VERY apparent.

[autobonrun]

I rebuilt the valve body in my 93 740iL and have a link to the article if anyone needs that.

However, the link below contains information on the fluids used in ZF transmissions. Look under the BMW- ZF link on the left of the page and select Application Guide 1 for the transmission fluid chart. Scroll down past the GM section to the ZF transmission section of the chart. You will find the information in Application Guide 2 useful as well.

I had to use the Shell LA 2634 in my 93 740. 13 liters in 5 liter containers at $140 per container. Just make sure you loosen the fill plug first just in case.

http://www.peterschmid.com/

[swingwing]

AMSOIL makes synthetic ATF that meets just about every manufacturers' fluid spec. A partial list for this thread:

Dexron III
Mercedes Benz 236.1, 236.2, 236.7, 236.9
BMW 7045E
LT 71141 (ESSO)

Recommended drain interval is 100,000 miles (Normal service), 60,000 miles (Severe service).

Full Retail price on a case of 12 quarts is $107.40 (shipping not included). By taking advantage of Preferred Customer program, the cost of same case drops to $78. PC program gets like discounts on all other AMSOIL & AMSOIL partners - Bosch spark plugs/plug wire sets, WIX filters, Mothers car care products.

Killer deal on the best lubricants.

[Jeron]

Hey Vic, I met you at Lonestar Bavarian when you spoke at the BMWCCA meeting a year or so ago.

I have Amsoil in my E46 in leu of LT 71141 (ESSO).

[Decolliber]

The Amsoil claims of equivalence are interesting and tempting, but is there evidence (independent of Amsoil assertions) that Amsoil synthetic ATF is the quivalent of LT 71141 (ESSO)?
Will Amsoil buy me a new transmission if it is not?

[Jeron]

Amsoil has a white paper stating that their ATF is direct replacement for LT 71141 (ESSO). So IF you could show that the tranny died due to the fluid the yes they would replace it.

From what I have read most of the BMW specialty fluids are simply high quality synthetic versions of regular fluids, usually dyed differently so you average mechanic wont just put in regular ATF.

Our local BMW independent mechanic has been putting the Amsoil ATF in lieu of ESSO since Amsoil certified it as such.

[swingwing]

Regarding concerns about fluid equivalence, there are several key points.

First and foremost, there are Truth in Advertising laws in this country. When a corporation makes claims - as AMSOIL does - that its product meets certain specifications, those claims are in the Public realm, and are available for anybody to see. If the claim is untrue, it's lawsuit stuff - or worse. Check the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's website and see what happens when companies make claims that cannot be verified. It's serious business.

Secondly, AMSOIL has a lot of technical material available on their products. I will be happy to mail copies of them upon request. Again, since these copyrighted documents are available to the Public at large, they'd better be correct, or the company that puts them out is liable.

Third, AMSOIL backs its products with a warranty that says if their products are put into a mechanically-sound vehicle according to AMSOIL's recommendations, and IF said lubricant causes the component to fail, then AMSOIL will pay for the repairs. There is a list of steps that must be followed if there is a problem - fluid sample, parts saved for examination, etc.

I have worked closely with Lone Star Bavarian over the last 5 years, and the owner is very well pleased with all of AMSOIL's products, including the ATF. Used-oil analysis reports of BMW "lifetime" fluids show a wide range of results.

I'd be happy to work with any of you on your questions.

[Decolliber]

Thanks to Jeron & Vic for clarification. I can only drain 3.3 liters at time from my BMW's transmission, so I am going to do several flushes over the next year or so to try to refresh the system.
If the Amsoil is the equivalent of the Esso, I assume there is no problem when it gets mixed with the OEM BMW ATF during the process of successive flushes.
The price is certainly attractive ($9 vs $18 for the Esso, per liter)

[swingwing]

Correct - there is not a compatibility issue in mixing the two fluids. Best results are obtained if you can get 90% purity with the fresh fluid. It is possible to do this yourself by unhooking the transmission cooler line at the radiator, then alternate between purging the old fluid (by running the engine) and refilling the transmission.

It is a bit tedious (and messy), and you have to be careful with undoing the lines at the radiator as it's made of plastic. I have a Tech Service Bulletin available for anyone who'd like to see it.

[Jeron]

I'd like to see the TSB if it talks about the tranny cooler line method.

I'v used the cooler line method on other cars but not my BMW.

[swingwing]

Correction to my previous post about the TSB: it's a Tech Service Bulletin from AMSOIL covering the general procedure for all cars. It's not BMW-specific.

I'll be happy to send it, but will need email address. Thanks.