Questions from an e38 newbie

[stavinski]

So I'm the luckiest dude this week... my dad GAVE me his '98 e38 shorty with 127k miles that he has owned since 2000. He's used a local shop forever, and they told me they didn't think they had ever done the transmission fluid. Dad says he doesn't remember. The guy at the shop said he would really be torn whether to ever do it at this point, changing it might do more harm than good. What do you guys think? I'd like to keep this car as long as my dad did.

I have never owned a BMW and my only other experience with them is my brothers '06 330 and a friends '95 325. All three seem(ed) reliable, so second question: I have a 2014 Accord daily driver I'm still paying for. Debating selling it and dumping the payments with it. Will this e38 leave me stranded or should I have a really crowded driveway and keep a reliable car too?

[Roman Empire]

I'd leave the tranny fluid alone if you haven't noticed any symptoms of it going kaput

Sounds like the car was well maintained by your father all these years, so it should be reliable in the long run! If you can afford both, do it. If not, I'd sell that accord and avoid making further monthly payments/paying insurance for both and put some of that money on the side for future maintenance and/or repairs, if any.

I'm sure more experienced members will chime-in. Enjoy your "new" car!

[e30luv318i]

If you change it and the trans fails it was going to happen anyway. The car has low miles I'd do it if it was my car. Your dad probably never abused the car so I doubt there is much wear in the trans

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Also congrats ! Take care of her

[740iSport303]

I would flush the trans too! Replace the filter and a full fluid exchange. The original fluid was actually considered a long/extended use fluid which was called lifetime by BMW but was actually up to around 100k miles. I have used BG flush service with their synthetic fluid in replacement on MANY high mileage E38's and never had an issue. Search for BG find a shop and you can find some great shops who can do this all for you.

[BobieM]

When the time came for my 160,000 mile 840Ci, I drained the transmission (no power flush), installed a new Filtran filter kit, and refilled it with Red Line D4. That procedure was done twice, to clean it up due to a lack of records from the PO. Now at 200,000+ miles, it continues to run beautifully. I will be doing the same, shortly, for the 740iL.


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[740iSport303]

Just to note: the BG flush isn't a "power flush" it uses the transmissions own pump to flush the system. Thus no different pressure than what is used when you drive the car.

[MN2K740i]

Just to note: the BG flush isn't a "power flush" it uses the transmissions own pump to flush the system. Thus no different pressure than what is used when you drive the car.

The trans I replaced in my car died at 147, the trans I put in had 119k on it. Currently I have a wix filter in there running max life and that trans is as strong as ever and shifts like butter. At 127K like in your case, I would just drain it, change the filter, fill it up and leave it. Of the plethora of vehicles I've ever owned, that's all I've ever done and only one trans has failed me....But that was self inflicted....It was a moment that only a built transmission in a pick up could have even questionably survived. So I can't really blame my maintenance methods on that one lol.

[740iSport303]

LOL, I just replaced my sport trans at over 275k miles and the only problem it had was the start of torque converter shudder. Used the BG flush and fluid since 100k miles and as mentioned, really nothing wrong with it. Just had the opportunity to replace with another unit with only 38k miles. So I am happy with my method too.

[stavinski]

Thanks for the comments all... I think I will have it done with a new filter. Free car, if it prolongs the life awesome. If it kills it... well... it was a free car and I got as much use out of it as I paid for. It is otherwise in great shape except the normal rock dings and what not. Leather is in super shape as it was garaged day and night most of its life. One of the wood trim pieces has a crack in the varnish, couple lines out on the temp display, other than that its great. It shifts fine so I'm hoping transmission is still good.

[BobieM]

It sounds like a nice situation all around. Getting it from dad, even better most importantly, enjoy the car.

My friend Paul (BlackKnight530i) is a wizard with instrument clusters. Look him up if you want that LCD temp display repaired.

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[stavinski]

Thanks BobieM! I just fixed the rear quarter window sunshade. My son ripped it out too far when dad owned it. He just left it hang :/ I took it apart thanks to a thread on here and rolled it up and stuck it back in. Took less than 5 minutes. This forum is great!

[robo740il]

Just to note: the BG flush isn't a "power flush" it uses the transmissions own pump to flush the system. Thus no different pressure than what is used when you drive the car.

+1 on the BG flush and synthetic oil. Had it done on my 2000 with 124K and it performed flawlessly afterwards. All shops with the BG equipment should have the adapters to fit the E38, but some will say they do not.

[BobieM]

Thanks BobieM! I just fixed the rear quarter window sunshade. My son ripped it out too far when dad owned it. He just left it hang :/ I took it apart thanks to a thread on here and rolled it up and stuck it back in. Took less than 5 minutes. This forum is great!

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[XAlt]

Change the fluid, MaxLife\Transmax Import is dirt cheap.

Filtran or Mann filters only.

[AHolland]

I put this in longer form in other threads so I will keep it short.

I would do the tranny flush like the others have said. In my case I used the Amsoil Multi-vehicle ATF and a lot of little complaints went away. I will try to report back in a year if anything bad happened but I doubt it.

I have a couple of questions, also being new to BMW's.

First, where is the best place to buy things like door seals. The lower left driver and lower left passenger sweep seals are gone on my car and I have not been able to find them yet. They are the straight seal about 2.5 feet long that fill in the area between the bottom edge of the door and the chassis entrance.

Secondly I wanted to change my brakes up to the larger 750 brakes. Is it just the front 750 carrier, rotor, calipers I need to change or something on the rear as well.

Thanks

[Djscorpio67]

Thanks BobieM! I just fixed the rear quarter window sunshade. My son ripped it out too far when dad owned it. He just left it hang :/ I took it apart thanks to a thread on here and rolled it up and stuck it back in. Took less than 5 minutes. This forum is great!

Link to this thread please.

[stavinski]

There is a post on here somewhere that linked me to this http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...85&postcount=9 which has a great how to with pictures.

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So I had the tranny fluid and filter changed. Shifts great still. Time will tell. Thanks for all the advice! On the way to the shop I got the ABS light and speedo/power steering warning issue. Wheel sensors ordered.... ah... the joy of owning a 20 year old BMW! Found that fix on here too. Great forum!

[stavinski]

I think the piece you describe as a seal is more like a trim piece. Its solid plastic. I've been looking for that as well as I have one that's loose and one that won't stay on. FCPeuro.com, pelicanparts.com are the two places I've been picking up most of my parts like oil filters, roundel's, clips, etc. Amazon has some stuff too tough I've had miserable experiences with shipping times since most of them don't use Amazon fulfillment. Waiting on the wheel sensors 10 days now. Frustrating. I have no idea on the brakes but that seems like more expense and effort than it would be worth.