Finally had the transmission oil changed...

[nihildk]

Hi,

So I finally had the transmission-oil changed. In two rounds... Bought 6 liters of the VW fluid.

First run:

1) Put the car on lift
2) Took out the drainplug and thereafter the fill plug
3) Cleaned magnets and everything
4) Put on transmission oil through fill plug till it started running out
5) Started the car, had a guy running it slowly throught the gears, while I kept filling transmission-oil. BUT i didn't have enough to have it coming out again while the car was started and running through the gears :-(

Bought 2 liters more of the oil today, and had the car on the lift tonight with a cold engine and transmission.

We looked up on the danish Autodata, how to fill it. It said:

1) Drain oil
2) Start car, run through gears, set in P-mode. Shut off.
3) Fill oil until dripping out of fill plug.
4) Done.

BUT that is not what the guide on E38.org states. As I read it, it states that after you have filled it, you start the car and then fill again till it comes out.

So we did it after that guide:

Run 2:
1) Put the car on lift
2) Took out the fill plug
3) 1-2 liters of oil flood out through the fill plug!! New and old fluid mixed.
3) Put on transmission oil through fill plug till it started running out
5) Started the car, had a guy running it slowly throught the gears, while I kept filling transmission-oil.

Have I done this correctly? I am sure if I open the fill plug again tomorrow, 1-2 litres will flood out again. Have I misunderstood something? Put on too much or to little fluid?

Not sure I want to drive the car until I know if this is right :-(

[01sport]

When topping off you need to start the car before you remove the fill plug.

Run 3 - topping off
1. Put COLD car on lift.
2. Start car.
3. Remove filler plug.
4. Fill until overflow while helper runs through gears.
5. Reinstall plug.

I leave mine on jackstands overnight and do topping off in the morning to make sure it is cold.

[voodoomelon]

^^ What he said.

Never undo the fill plug when the car isn't running, as the fluid level in the pan rises up when it isn't moving around the transmission. The correct way to determine the fluid level is when it overflows with the car running, AND when the fluid has reached the listed temperature by ZF. However there is no harm in doing it via just the overflow method, and give it a few millilitres more after its overflowing.

[mcallister]

You did change the filter too, right? Hey, got to ask, he didn't mention it.

[nihildk]

Yeah I did

Will go buy 3 more litres now. This has to suceed!
Then I will take the car to my mechanic and leave it there for roughly 10 hours. Then we will top it off as you guys stated.

Thanks!

[Edwin NL]

Your on the right path, just be sure it's cold and fill while car is running, once it starts to flow over close it and enjoy!

[nihildk]

Thanks ! Just parked the car at my mechanic. Only halfway warm. Will be standing still for 6 hours from Moe, and then I will put on the last. Ordered 3 more litres. That should do it i guess. Kind of creepy what the Danish autodata states since that is where every normal Danish mechanic would look up what to do. Wonder why they always f** up People's gearboxes after changing the oil!

[voodoomelon]

Can I ask what price you paid for the fluid?

[nihildk]

Too much... If I had to do it again, I would buy those 20 ltr Esso cans for around 80-90 british pounds on Ebay...

I paid around 130 dkr a liter for my VW G052162A2 fluid. That is somewhere around 20 bucks a liter. And I have already used around 10 liters

So finally did it...
Put the cold car on a lift, started it up, and had a guy running it through the gears.

I took out the fill plug, and started pumping in the oil. It took just under 2 litres, so I put all 2 litres in, and out came a bit of mixed old and new fluid in the end. Put in the fill plug.

AND WOW
What a difference. Changes gear much much softer now, and drives a lot better. On my little trip home, it seemed that the problem with the engine/tranny cutting off was away. Maybe it wasn't an engine issue, but just a tranny issue fixed by new filter and fluid.

The old filter was an unoriginal one!! The new one is original Filtran OEM BMW.

Hopefully she drives perfect now.
Thanks guys!

[voodoomelon]

Great to hear its running smooth, good job!

Too much... If I had to do it again, I would buy those 20 ltr Esso cans for around 80-90 british pounds on Ebay...

I paid around 130 dkr a liter for my VW G052162A2 fluid. That is somewhere around 20 bucks a liter. And I have already used around 10 liters

Thats not too bad pricewise. I think hold the record, €250 for 10 litres.

[nihildk]

Got the fluid through my mechanic this last time. At first I bought it at VW. It was 30% cheaper at my mechanic. Got it at the cost price! So only paid around 15 bucks a liter for the last two.

25€ a liter sounds expensive! I believe that is more than they charge for the original BMW fluid here in Denmark.

How much did you pay for an original Filtran filter? I paid around 80 bucks - cost price for my mechanic. Expensive filter...

[Edwin NL]

Great!!! now go to J man and have a beer!

[nihildk]

Yeah, that's Run 4

[voodoomelon]

#

How much did you pay for an original Filtran filter? I paid around 80 bucks - cost price for my mechanic. Expensive filter...

I got the tranny kit from Pelican Parts, which included the pan gasket, new fill and drain plugs and the filter itself, about $120 which was a good deal.
All original ZF.

[RIboater]

Is ZF the filtran? Just looked and the ZF kit is $60 and the Febi is $21. Neither includes the pan gasket. Big difference for just the filter and someone previously said they had no sucking issue withe the Febi.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/euro/cat..._pg1.htm#item3

[oliverr871]

The ZF one from Pelican Parts is most likely the Filtran one. I though, got the Febi. Gona check the condition of the filter soon because I will be doing another flush and fill with more MaxLife to flush out more of the old stuff. I also want to replace two stripped torx bolts (damn torx) and replace all the torx bolts with hex bolts.

Filtran vs. Febi filters

I might though, just buy a new Filtran filter just to have a spare and test it out if there are really any differences between Febi vs. Filtran.

I believe the Filtran filter though is more important for the 5HP24 transmission owners (740i/iL 98-2001)