E30 Trans Gear Oil?

[Peppie]

Considering that lubricants seem to have changed through the years, what modern gear lube is suitable for an E30 BMW?

[thejlevie]

For my opinion see http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...1#post28757951

[Peppie]

For my opinion see http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...1#post28757951

Thank you, but I won't use synthetic lubes in vintage vehicles (again).

[95BMWIC]

For what it is worth:

Automatic Transmission - REDLINE ATF D4

Manual Transmission - Redline MTL (75W90 - GL-5) or (75W 80 GL-4)

Engine oil - Mobil 1 0W 40

I also use Redline in my rear differential (90W) and my IX trans-axle (ATF)

I'm not sure I agree an E30 is "vintage" - but whatever.

I use synthetics because of the extremes in temperatures / humidity here in the midwest. Synthetics offer much better protection than mineral oil and really doesn't break down. Synthetics offer better protection during startup / warm up - and this is when a high percentage of wear can occur..


I highly recommend bobistheoilguy.com

[estoguy]

I use Redlinbe MT-90 in my tranny, and the 75w90 NS in my diff (open 2.93).

For the engine, I'm over 2 years on Castrol Edge 5w50.

[OlGranns]

I'm a little new to the e30 life but if your looking for a red line alternative try Lucas oil.

[Peppie]

I guess I might have noted it's a stick.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not sure I agree an E30 is "vintage" - but whatever.

I'd call 26 years old vintage. We have older things in the garage but the E30 is plenty old by BMW technology standards.

Thanks for the input otherwise.

[dohcdoh]

I'd call 26 years old vintage.

I am not vintage.

[Peppie]

I am not vintage.

It's relative. You'll outlast most BMWs so we have to view it on a scale.

[richardodn]

Thank you, but I won't use synthetic lubes in vintage vehicles (again).

I use Redlinbe MT-90 in my tranny, and the 75w90 NS in my diff (open 2.93).

For the engine, I'm over 2 years on Castrol Edge 5w50.

For the transmission and differential gear lubes, the synthetics really are the best and people on this board have run the Red Line and other synthetic oils with great success. I see no reason for synthetics in the engine unless you are putting well over 12k miles a year on the car.

The diff requires a 75w90 GL5 gear oil.
Red Line 75w90 or 75w90 NS for the open differential (You can use either in the open diff.)
Red Line 75w90 for the LSD

For the trans, what Jim said is good advice. What I would add is that Red Line makes 4 compatible oils for the manual transimission. MT90, MT85, MTL and D4 ATF. Any of these might be best in your application depending on climate and current wear.

MT-90 75w90 GL4
MT-85 75w85 GL4
MTL 75w80 GL4
D4 ATF 70w80 GL4 compatible

I've been running MT-90 in my wife's E28 for over 15/years 150k miles and it still shifts like butter. I ran MTL in my iX and it settled down a wonky 2nd gear synchro.

[thejlevie]

Thank you, but I won't use synthetic lubes in vintage vehicles (again).

Out of curiosity, why?

If you read my article you should be able to see that commonly available modern synthetic oil simply isn't suitable for an M20. But otherwise there is no problem with the use of synthetics in the transmission or differential that i have ever heard about or experienced.

[Peppie]

Out of curiosity, why?

Been there three times and forty year old vehicles, previously dry, almost immediately sprung leaks with using synthetic lubes, both engine and gearboxes.
Not going down that road with this one.

It's not a matter of whether or not the mechanicals are ok with synthetics, but more about the sneaky little molecules seeking to escape.

Also had a fairly high performance vehicle that came with synthetics from the factory and the rings never seated.

This has caught my interest: Brad Penn's Classic 80W-90 GL-4 gear oil.

[thejlevie]

Been there three times and forty year old vehicles, previously dry, almost immediately sprung leaks with using synthetic lubes, both engine and gearboxes.

Were the seals as old as the vehicle? If so they were probably pretty badly worn and while they might hold with dyno oil/lubes synthetic could get past the seals. New seals would have been the long term fix, regardless of what oil/lube you used.

I've never seen this happen on an E30 if the engine, transmission, etc was in good condition.

[Peppie]

Were the seals as old as the vehicle? If so they were probably pretty badly worn and while they might hold with dyno oil/lubes synthetic could get past the seals. New seals would have been the long term fix, regardless of what oil/lube you used.

So you are advocating tearing down well functioning engines working on dyno oils just to replace seals and gaskets so synthetic lubes can be used?
I don't think so.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for all the replys.
Brad Penn's is on order.

[dohcdoh]

So you are advocating tearing down well functioning engines working on dyno oils just to replace seals and gaskets so synthetic lubes can be used? I don't think so. - - - Updated - - - Thanks for all the replys. Brad Penn's is on order.

That's an interesting take on what he said. Why not get cheap 20w50 from Walmart and save money.

[thejlevie]

So you are advocating tearing down well functioning engines working on dyno oils just to replace seals and gaskets so synthetic lubes can be used?
I don't think so.

Certainly not. I was just voicing an opinion as to why one could experience leakage when switching to a synthetic oil. While I've not heard anyone complain about this happening in an E30, it is certainly a possibility. In which case a switch back to dyno oil would buy some time.

[Zodiacbw]

Not sure what the PO had in the gearbox of my Eta, but switching to the recommended redline fluids made a very positive change in shifting.

[agisthos]

I replaced diff oil with Redline 75W90 and Getrag260 with Redline MT-90.

The car was garaged for 13 years and did not leak before or during storage. Now I get a small weeping drips under both the diff and gearbox. Not much to be concerning but it now happens.

I wish I saw this thread and just stuck to the older mineral oils.

[26kick]

With all due respect, my 1985 325e manual trans leaked when I upgraded to Redline. Caused a catastrophic failure and a huge DIY job to get it back in shape. Just my 2 cents. Been running Sta-lube CRC but thinking of going up to Swepco 201.