540 Auto Trans Failure Myth or Fact

[serIIalpine]

I have a hard time believing that I should pretty much expect the transmission of a 540 to fail some time after reeaching 100K miles and that there is pretty much nothing anyone can do about this.

I've read articles about how this publication says this or Zf says that but no one has said I did this and it helped or I did this and I've had the following problems since.

I'd love a 540iT with a manual but I can't find one that isn't all the way across the country.

Also, if the tranny is a GM unit isn't there a rebuilt or replacement option that isn't many thousands??

Thanks

Eric

[ViolinARC]

I'm pushing 130k on my autotragic and it's still shifting strong (original fluid)! I have a very rare, occasional hard upshift when going WOT so I'm waiting for my AMSOIL tranny fluid to arrive so I can change the "lifetime" tranny fluid for fresh...

I have a friend who has the '03 and his was shifting REALLY hard, accompanied by a very loud CLUNK (we thought he'd have to replace the tranny but I suggested the fluid change first). Once he changed out the thick, gummy "lifetime" fluid, the shifts have smoothed out and the clunk is gone...go figure.

I think, with proper maintenence, the auto will last many hundreds of thousands of miles but don't be fooled by the "lifetime" fluid claim cause it just ain't true...

[Skwisgaar]

Mine's fine at 115K. I recently had the fluid changed and everything inside still looked new.

[GCR]

I have a hard time believing that I should pretty much expect the transmission of a 540 to fail some time after reeaching 100K miles and that there is pretty much nothing anyone can do about this.

I've read articles about how this publication says this or Zf says that but no one has said I did this and it helped or I did this and I've had the following problems since.

I'd love a 540iT with a manual but I can't find one that isn't all the way across the country.

Also, if the tranny is a GM unit isn't there a rebuilt or replacement option that isn't many thousands??

Thanks

Eric

GM units in some of the 6 cyl cars. Yours is a ZF unit.

[lhollis3]

There are a bunch of posts on this. No one knows if it is more detrimental to the tranny then good based on the shortage of long term responses. I changed mine out about 1k miles ago with Amsoil and don't have any problems so far. I did the filter and gasket change too. We'll see if it makes a difference or not. I have 150k on it, so anything else I can get out of the tranny in terms of life would be great. I also drive 95% highway.

[yomamma540]

I have a zf unit...holding steady at 223k...can anyone beat that?

[1st3series]

My ZF tranny died on my 540 just the other week at 150k miles this is without lifetime fulid change

Reason I didnt change tranny fluid is that many have done an oil change and have had many problems with up shifts

[jamesdc4]

I have a hard time believing that I should pretty much expect the transmission of a 540 to fail some time after reeaching 100K miles and that there is pretty much nothing anyone can do about this.

I've read articles about how this publication says this or Zf says that but no one has said I did this and it helped or I did this and I've had the following problems since.

I'd love a 540iT with a manual but I can't find one that isn't all the way across the country.

Also, if the tranny is a GM unit isn't there a rebuilt or replacement option that isn't many thousands??

Thanks

Eric
Welcome to Bf.c.

As others have stated, there are many threads on this topic. Here's one of the longer ones.
LIFETIME FILL - I Don't Think So! (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1009518&highlight=Lifetime+fill)
Try searching for "Lifetime Fill" and you'll find plenty of reading material.

[Alpina540i]

I have a zf unit...holding steady at 223k...can anyone beat that?

So what have you done for maintenance?

Oil changes regularly or not?

Thanks

[TheAnimal117]

I'm worried about this since I'll probably be going with an auto 540i.

[KevKaos]

My ZF tranny died on my 540 just the other week at 150k miles this is without lifetime fulid change

Reason I didnt change tranny fluid is that many have done an oil change and have had many problems with up shifts

Dude, that sucks. Are you getting her fixed or scrapping? Let me know if you are parting out. I hope you are fixing her though.

[yomamma540]

So what have you done for maintenance?

Oil changes regularly or not?

Thanks
Regular synthetic oil changes, but for the transmission, i have honestly never had an issue. Once i thought i had a servo or something going out, but it was just my catalytic converters. I do however need to do some timing chain work. its making some more noise...i hate how some of them sound like suing machines.

Manufacture date: 11/96

Alot older than alot of these around.

As for maintence, of course the cooling problems, those are well taken care of...next thing i will need though, is the fan clutch.

[95325i]

My car hit 100K and all of a sudden my car would not want to shift into 5th gear all the time. I can put it in 4th then in to 5th and it will up shift with out a problem. Other times the car shifts fine but most of the time I does not want to go into 5th. Changed out the fluid around 101K (the problem started before the fluid change) I found a lot of clutch mater in the pan and the little magnet that should collect any lose stuff was full. Other then this issue my tranny has been fine and i have now 110K on it and still shifting fine and no slipping. I just wish i can get this issue fixed.

[charlie boy]

even tho i haven't changed my tranny and i'm at 103xxx my car seems to be shifting just fine. i do want to do a fluid change just a little worried.(if it ain't broke dont fix it). now how many forum members here are over the 100k mark and still on there original fluid and haven't had any tranny issues??

[ViolinARC]

Regular synthetic oil changes, but for the transmission, i have honestly never had an issue. Once i thought i had a servo or something going out, but it was just my catalytic converters. I do however need to do some timing chain work. its making some more noise...i hate how some of them sound like suing machines.

Manufacture date: 11/96

Alot older than alot of these around.

As for maintence, of course the cooling problems, those are well taken care of...next thing i will need though, is the fan clutch.Take a look at this timing chain tensioner DIY...it may be the source of the noise.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1233696


even tho i haven't changed my tranny and i'm at 103xxx my car seems to be shifting just fine. i do want to do a fluid change just a little worried.(if it ain't broke dont fix it). now how many forum members here are over the 100k mark and still on there original fluid and haven't had any tranny issues??Take a look at the color of this fluid in this trans fluid change DIY and then consider my friend's (thick and almost gel like) 540...you may want to think twice about leaving that old "lifetime" crap in your very expensive transmission.

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e39/6960596-2.html

[jamesdc4]

Take a look at the color of this fluid in this trans fluid change DIY and then consider my friend's (thick and almost gel like) 540...you may want to think twice about leaving that old "lifetime" crap in your very expensive transmission.

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e39/6960596-2.html
Yo, A,

One of the concerns about changing out high mileage tranny oil is that it can possibly dislodge sludge that would normally not be disturbed and the sludge can block lubricant flow causing catastrophic failure (I haven't read every post in this thread so I may have missed something). :)

[bigm77]

I changed mine at 192,000 ish... and now its 198,000 so far so fine.. but im going to be doing another change soon enough..

[1st3series]

Dude, that sucks. Are you getting her fixed or scrapping? Let me know if you are parting out. I hope you are fixing her though.
Shes being fixed as we speak bro. about 80% done

I plan on keeping this puppy till it breaks in half, or at least another 200k miles