320I E90 Gear box oil change

[Grace Wong]

Anyone can advise when to change the gear box oil ? My 320I E90 mileage now is 57K.

 

[jarance]

Where is your location?

Make sure the workshop use original BMW ATF for peace of mind.

 

[Grace Wong]

Thanks for advises. My location is Ara Damansara area. Plan to go back to Quil Automobile as my car original bought from this outlet.

 

[astroboy]

BMW say the oil is LIFE TIME.

Enthusiast will say every 60k km, together with the transmission fluid filter.

I change transmission oil every 40k km (super kiasu), then every 3rd change, I replace the filter.

The fluid is RM50/L to RM70/L depending where and what you bought. SC probly charge you RM95/L.

If just changing fluid, 4L should be enough. If changing the filter, 7L should be enough.

320i has 2 transmission type. The ZF or GM.

ZF uses plastic oil pan with filter. GM uses metal oil pan that can be reused with a separated filter.

Mine is ZF, my blog: http://upgr8s.blogspot.my/2012/09/bmw-e90-diy-automatic-transmission.html

ZF uses ZF Lifeguard6 (Brown fluid)
GM uses Petro-Canada Dexron-6 (Red fluid)

 

[moots]

change at 60k kms

 

[Grace Wong]

Thanks for advise. Will it be better to totally change all or top up only ? Some say totally change will affect GB, some say top up only.

 

[astroboy]

1. If there's no leak, you shouldn't need to top up because transmission fluid operates in a closed system and will not 'dry'.

2. When you change transmission fluid, you can never replace the fluid 100% bacause much of the fluid is trapped in the torque converter, unless you disassemble the gearbox.

Thanks for advise. Will it be better to totally change all or top up only ? Some say totally change will affect GB, some say top up only.

 

[Grace Wong]

Thanks for information. How to check if there is any leak ? Since is not advisable to change as well as BMW say is lifetime, will it affect GB function ?

 

[Hikaru]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o690DovjDAc

best explanation possible.

Honestly, i think a change is good.

 

[Grace Wong]

Thks! This is the best explanation to make up my mind to get it change especially in hot climate.Next is to look for mechanic that can perform the change efficiently especially on the cleaning.

 

[jarance]

Thks! This is the best explanation to make up my mind to get it change especially in hot climate.Next is to look for mechanic that can perform the change efficiently especially on the cleaning.

Try BlueGreen.They are located along Federal Highway just before the LDP flyover from Ara Damansara.

They dont used BMW ATF but equivalent ATF.

 

[Grace Wong]

Will look the location,cost cutting measure that we can use equivalent ATF. Guess the cost range about RM600

 

[Hikaru]

The ATF wont kill you but the AT filter pan will costs much more.

 

[Grace Wong]

Any idea what is the price range for total cost include the filter,labor, etc...? I heard the oil (good one) itself is RM200/L, flushing out about 7Litre, putting new oil roughly will eat up how many litre ? Need to survey the cost prior changing.

 

[Ian Fleming]

Yep, mine is 2010 E92 320i. 27K km on the clock.
Went back to Auto Bavaria before CNY requesting to change, they told me they won't change it because it's lifetime.

So will probably change it at a BMW specialist outside when i hit 30k km.

I have a 2007 Honda City. (The infamous sorrowful CVT gearbox). So I changed the CVTF every 5k km with genuine Honda CVTF since day 1 it left the showroom. And Honda service centre said I'm paranoid, outside workshop say I'm crazy, wife says I got too much money. I say I'm KIASI.

But touch wood, my Honda is 9 years old this month at 145k km now, it's CVT gearbox is still as good as new. No problem at all.

Conclusion, oil quality will deteriorate over a matter of time from wear and tear. Especially with our climate situation. Just like those oil they use to fry chicken/fries. From common sense point of view, changing it in a routine manner will by right be healthier for the gearbox. Just like engine oil as well.

 

[astroboy]

60k km about the right time to replace transmission oil and filter. No need to check for oil quality. Just replace them,

 

[Grace Wong]

Thks for advises, just got the price is around 2k using equivalent ATF and change the filter.

 

[wingzee]

Thks for advises, just got the price is around 2k using equivalent ATF and change the filter.

2k for ATF change? Which workshop quoted you that? Typically using same spec oil it won't cost more than 1k

ATF - RM55/L x 7
Filter - RM260
Labor - RM100

TOTAL = RM745

 

[Grace Wong]

Huh....so cheap ? Is kepong KL workshop, the mechanic is previously from BMW, what they quoted is using so call "quality oil". Hope they are not rip me off.

 

[subraputra]

The e90 atf oil filter no more 260 I just change mind 360 plus buy from inner power