e36 gearbox identification

[luke100]

Hi There

Is anyone able to help me identify what gearbox I have? Ive heard some take atf and some take regular gear oil so trying to figure out what I need.

Its a 1996 manual 323i sedan.



https://imgur.com/a/0AmE5Xi


Thanks!

[dworthy]

So here the thing on BMW transmission. Most take MTF or Manual Transmission Fluid Version 2, now if you live in a cold weather place, you can run ATF inside the gearbox. I for one live in Germany and run the 75W-90 GL-4 spec fluid in my old E-36 and it shifted very well even in the cold.

What ATF does is make the shift smoother while the transmission is cold, so if you live in places where you get sun 24'hrs during the summer and night 24 hrs during the winter, I would recommend ATF. As you live in a rather warm place, stick with the MTF.

[luke100]

Ok that makes sense, Cheers.

I'm just finding mine very notchy and hard to shift in the mornings when its cold, maybe its just old fluid. Ill chuck some new 75W-90 GL-4 fluid in and see how it goes!