Hi guys,
I just went to my BMW dealer to order a transmission filter, and after entering my registration number, they said my transmission isnt a ZF box?!

I thought all 1996 840ci sports' with m62 4.4 engines had ZF boxes? Or is it just a case of the BMW part number for the transmission doesnt contain the characters ZF?

If there any sure way to find out whats in my car? the green sticker on the pan has scuffed off and is now illegible!

Furthermore I have already got the Esso LT oil!

If you want to have a correct answer, we need the VIN

if you want to have a correct answer, we need the vin

cc66063

The last 7 is what's needed in most cases, Might wanna Bookmark these links for futrue reference, Hope they do you some good.
http://bmwfans.info/original/E31/Cou/840Ci-M62/USA/L/A/1996/4/mg-24/

http://bmwfans.info/original/E31/Cou/840Ci-M62/USA/L/A/1996/4/

The last 7 is what's needed in most cases, Might wanna Bookmark these links for futrue reference, Hope they do you some good.
http://bmwfans.info/original/E31/Cou/840Ci-M62/USA/L/A/1996/4/mg-24/

http://bmwfans.info/original/E31/Cou/840Ci-M62/USA/L/A/1996/4/

Thanks for the links, 8eights, they are very useful indeed and will be bookmarked!!

basically my car has 113,000 miles and i am about to have all fluids changed.

Re. the trans fluid, right now the transmission seems fine, no serious jerking or slipping, but in all my previous cars I have done fluid changes at every 50k miles. Would it be OK to change fluid at this milage in my car?

My local BMW dealer tells me not to change the fluid, but I feel that I should just for maintenance purposes.

I have the esso LT 71141 oil (11 liters), trans filter and gasket. Am I correct in saying that I should allow fluid to drain (about 10 liters or so), change the filter then fill up the exact amount that came out with new oil? Or am I supposed to re use the old oil?

Are there any potential side effects with this procedure? Or should I just leave the trans alone?

thanks
darren

There have been questions about when it stops being safe to change the 5 speed auto transmission fluid.

I have 147,000 miles on mine and I do believe that changing the fluid completely would probably kill it fairly quickly. The solvent level of the new oil would clean the clutch faces and it would lose all that built up material that is holding the tolerances.

Yours at 113,000 is close enough to the should have been recommended 100,000 miles that it should be safe.

It is questionable whether you should change it! I would change about five litres frist with the filter.

I'm going to do my fluid soon @70k

fyi all, changed the fluid and filter. there was some sludge in the pan but is to be expected, there were no chunks! after following the strict fluid change instructions, the car shifts nice and smooth now and the transmission generally feels great! not bad so far after 111600 miles!

Great stuff

Less sludge shows that your box has had a easy life and long motor way runs unliuke some who spend hours in London traffic!

Keep posting on how your tranny acts, very interested...

I am interested as well, but I have the ZF 5-speed non-steptronic in my 840ci

100 miles on, and its still good....