lifetime transmission oil

[xtr041947 0]

Hi whats the deal with BMW's lifetime oil in the transmissions, do you need to service them?

[Yuen 16]

Hi whats the deal with BMW's lifetime oil in the transmissions, do you need to service them?

Nothing will last forever, so yes. People do change the fluid.

[*Glenn* 854]

We do a transmission service on "lifetime" transmissions at 100,000km

The right oil "MUST" be used and change the filter and pan gasket

There is a proceedure for topping up and checking the oil after doing this

[NVADER30 0]

What sort of cost would you be looking at for an e36 auto trans...anyone know?

[*Glenn* 854]

What sort of cost would you be looking at for an e36 auto trans...anyone know?

If it has " lifetime" trans approx $400 incl to do the service. Oil, filter, pan gasket, scan, reset adaptions, road test and recheck.

[joshnz 2]

If it has " lifetime" trans approx $400 incl to do the service. Oil, filter, pan gasket, scan, reset adaptions, road test and recheck.

IF you pay that much you're getting ripped off, I paid less than $180 for mine - can't remember how much exactly, I'll try dig out the last service receipt for the 320 ...

[isis 16]

e36's dont have life time fluid stickers on their box.

e46's/e39 etc etc do...

[my_e36 43]

E36 facelift do use lifetime oil (at least mine is)

Was quote $850 by another BMW Sepcialist to do the same procedure. Apparantly, those "lifetime" fluid (Esso LT71141 or equiv.) are real expensive. To the point that BMW's maintainance documents (TIS) actually say those fluid are meant to be saved and reuse if transmission service is needed. Go figure.

$180 was more like the standard stuff. That's what a Honda Civic would cost for a tranx fluid change.

[Muzzie 0]

e36's dont have life time fluid stickers on their box.

e46's/e39 etc etc do...

My gfs E36 318iS has a big sticker on the trans sump saying it has lifetime fluid...........

[*Glenn* 854]

IF you pay that much you're getting ripped off, I paid less than $180 for mine - can't remember how much exactly, I'll try dig out the last service receipt for the 320 ...

Ripped off ????

Bullshit ....go do your maths

The fluid is $28.46 a litre +GST, filter & pan gasket $100 (OE is is more expensive) + 1hr labour +gst

If thats all it cost you, they used the wrong oil and didnt do it properly, thats if your trans is "longlife"

If its not longlife $180 is still cheap, and they probably didnt use full synthetic, or remove the pan & filter.

Did they just drain and refill with new oil ??? if so, thats not doing the job properly.

You actually got what you paid for " a cheap job "

Edited March 14, 2008 by botanymotorworx

[*Glenn* 854]

E36 facelift do use lifetime oil (at least mine is)

Was quote $850 by another BMW Sepcialist to do the same procedure. Apparantly, those "lifetime" fluid (Esso LT71141 or equiv.) are real expensive. To the point that BMW's maintainance documents (TIS) actually say those fluid are meant to be saved and reuse if transmission service is needed. Go figure.

$180 was more like the standard stuff. That's what a Honda Civic would cost for a tranx fluid change.

I saw that in TIS.....I would never reuse old oil, how friggen silly is that. $850 was a "little" over the top. And half the time most dont Scan and clear adaptions because they dont have the equipment. To do it properly, its not a "5min" job and you need to let it drain with the filter off for at least an hour to allow the torque convertor to drain.

Done properly it will take approx 5 litres of fluid.

[Court M3 0]

change mine in the X3. I'll believe their lifetime fill when they give me a lifetime gaurantee

[my_e36 43]

I'll believe their lifetime fill when they give me a lifetime gaurantee

+1 Well said~