Autobox transmition fliud change !?

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   Does automatic transmission fluid need changing?
My Z3 is a 1.9 Auto (1998). The  BMW dealer advised me that the Automatic 4 speed gearboxes fluid does not need changing and the unit is sealed for life... I am not comfortable with this statement as the Bentley Z3 manual ,explains how to change the transmission fluid. Is the "life" of the auto box,being dictated by the life of the transmission fluid? My car has a full BMW service history and I want to keep my Zed mechanically very sound. The Zed had its 2nd inspection service ll last year and I asked the deallers to change the transmission fluid. I received the usual "sealed for life statement". There is nothing in the service documentation relating to this service,  suggesting fluid change actually happened. I suspect it has not been changed. Any advise will be appreciated.

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M Goodings Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote M Goodings Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Autobox transmition fliud change !? Posted: 23 Jun 2010 at 9:52pm
	Does automatic transmission fluid need changing? My Z3 is a 1.9 Auto (1998). The BMW dealer advised me that the Automatic 4 speed gearboxes fluid does not need changing and the unit is sealed for life... I am not comfortable with this statement as the Bentley Z3 manual ,explains how to change the transmission fluid. Is the "life" of the auto box,being dictated by the life of the transmission fluid? My car has a full BMW service history and I want to keep my Zed mechanically very sound. The Zed had its 2nd inspection service ll last year and I asked the deallers to change the transmission fluid. I received the usual "sealed for life statement". There is nothing in the service documentation relating to this service, suggesting fluid change actually happened. I suspect it has not been changed. Any advise will be appreciated.

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dteagles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 09 May 2007 Location: UK, Bucks Status: Offline Points: 3476	Post Options Post Reply Quote dteagles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Jun 2010 at 9:57pm
	Hi, As has been explained elsewhere there is no harm in changing the oil, in fact if over about 5 years old then it is as good idea to change the oil. BMW's idea of sealed for life is the new car warranty plus a couple of years for the second owner (they might buy a BMW warranty!). If it's not been changed since new then I would suggest you change it. Darren.
	Think about what you can do for the club, not what it can do for you...

nigel marshall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote nigel marshall Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jun 2010 at 12:44am
	Hi michael I know what you are thinking, I have been told the same thing by BMW tekkys that the oil is for life.I have said that oil wont stay in grade for ever, but I am told of stories of gearboxes malfunctioning after oil changes due to disturbance of foriegn bodies in the gearbox. I can only see that it would do good, but what they say does nag at me. If your gearbox has got a filter then change that as well. would like to see other peoples comments on this subject as well good luck Nigel

Mike Fishwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2753	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike Fishwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jun 2010 at 8:11am
	Yes - oil changes are a good thing, but can be very difficult on some auto boxes which do not have drain plugs, and require the sump to be removed - getting a new sump gasket can be very difficult. On others the filter is inside the sump. Even if there is a drain plug, setting the level is not a straightforward affair on many boxes. I would talk to an automatic transmission specialist, such as DJ Transmissions, who work on these things all the time, and see what is involved in changing the ATF on your particular gearbox. Some people say that auto boxes always give trouble after ten years, even if the milage is low, the problems seeming to come from ageing of the seals and oil. This is probably due to old oil being a breeding ground for bacteria, which feed on the oil and produce waste products which promote wear - this is why most impurities in hydraulic systems are from topping up the oil without passing it through a flushing rig to filter out these little chaps.

M Goodings Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote M Goodings Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jun 2010 at 4:12pm
	Thanks Gents. Once again good support advise. I think my first stop will be to ask the dealer if the oil was changed or not last year, If I don't get a conclusive yes, the next place will be an auto speciallist for advise or possibly a service! I don't feel too confident to do it myself as even the Bentley manual suggests its a complex job. I find it disapointing that the local deallers don't seem to be too interested in the older cars. I'll post a follow up when I make a decision... Do you Guys use the deallers for servicing or specialists? I guess this could be an awkward question... Personally I have always used the dealler for my new BMWs to help maintain the car and the residual value. However the contrast with my Zed is of concern, I am not bothered about the value of the Zed anymore, as I don't plan to sell the car. Just the mechanical condition. Edited by M Goodings - 25 Jun 2010 at 4:29pm

nigel marshall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote nigel marshall Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jun 2010 at 11:02pm
	Hi Michael I can only comment on approved BMW garages, they are more expensive but they also have the latest technical data at hand and advice from BMW. Some of the people I know have worked at my garage since 1986 and are very familar with the older models although they do gripe about them, but it is because they know all there is to know about them, and dont forget, although check first, you do get a two 2year warranty on parts fitted all the best Nigel

Mike Fishwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Member Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 2753	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike Fishwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2010 at 9:18am
	'They know all there is to know about them?' Like any other garage, it depends on who is looking at your car, and what they actually see. There was a good tale on Zroadster recently, of a 2 litre Z3 which for four years had had the habit of reducing power suddenly after being driven at about 5000 rpm. It had been into the dealership in Plymouth a few times, and also a well-respected independant specialist, but because no fault codes were being shown, the best guess the dealer (after having the car for four days!)could come up with was the 'maybe' it needed a new set of hydraulic tappets at �1064. What they did not notice was that this poor car - in the hands of its original owner until very recently - had not received an oil change for EIGHT years! The lube oil must have been like tar. After a few suggestions to chage various expensive items such as coils, air flow sensor, ECU etc etc, the owner took my advice to change the oil for a high-detergent mineral oil suitable for diesels, to flush the oil system of sludge. The problem was then resolved as if by magic - and it didn't cost over �1000 either! New hydraulic tappets would have cured the symptoms, but the fault would simply recur when they became full of sludge too. Perhaps dealers should have very low prices for such work, which would act as on-the-job training for their staff, tothe benefit of all concerned.

M Goodings Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Status: Offline Points: 14	Post Options Post Reply Quote M Goodings Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2010 at 7:47pm
	Amazing the car was still running. I suppose my Z3 is over serviced if thats possible, If it needs doing, to date get the dealler to do it. Until last year everything has been done by the dealler, effectively the zed has been serviced every 12 months regardless of the mileage. However I do plan to start to tackle smaller jobs like changing the exhaust in the near future and I changed the headlights last year when it failed the MOT. The one thing that really bugs me is the receptionists at my local deallers in Newcastle. There never seems to be any consistance who you are dealling with, last year when I took the car in for an inspection 2 and MOT I spoke to 3 receptionists. This is how I don't know if the autofluid was changed or not ! I would prefer to speak to the mechanics, when there is a problem or MOT Fail. Plus I think they know that I have been taking the car in for years and I am becoming a "cash cow" which does not help when my partner is just coming round to the idea that the Zed is NOT a car but a hobby... Sound familliar to anyone?

nigel marshall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote nigel marshall Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Jun 2010 at 10:06pm
	All work carried out goes on computer and also on documented record including advisery work and cost to do the job, i think that the records are kept for seven years. everything that has been done to my car is on record so that they can see when the reg no is called up, what has been done If you dont get any 'JOY' from your main dealer and you are near to Sevenoaks Kent, try cooper SEVENOAKS Cheers Nigel