For all of those that have drained and refilled their auto tranny fluid, how many of you have actually had issues arise from it? Or has every experience been 100% positive?

I changed the tranny fluid in my E36/M3 and regret doing it. I know it's not an E39, but I assume the basis of your question is still relative to mine.

I was having issues with hard stops. When braking hard to a stop, the tranny would seem to go into neutral (obviously low on fluid). So I figured if I am going to go through the trouble of getting under there, I may as well change filter, and fluid. (trans had ~125k). I replaced the filter, and fluid with Royal Purple ATF. The results were disappointing. What once was a car that would chirp second (in sport mode), would no longer do it. All other gear changes were much softer too. The hard stopping issue was solved though.

FWIW.... It still shifted OK, but was not AS crisp as it was before. I took it out a month later and installed a 6 speed. My problem solved.:D

Mine went 100% positive. People who complain about the fluid change are the ones that did not fill the tranny up correctly. After you change the filter and fill it up with tranny fluid you're supposed to drive around couple of blocks to make sure that your oil warmed up. Then you fill it up some more while the engine is running and this way it will take another 2 to 3 litres of fluid to complete the change. If you fail to do so you will run with all kinds of problems especially right after a cold start. I'm very satisfied with my oil change result.

is it necessary to drive before adding more fluid? or I can simply put the N-gear for couple of minutes while engine is on?

You should always shift thru all the gears to get the fluid moving around. I do this on Medium duty diesel trucks all the time.

I was all praises when I did the flushing on my previous touring...it was all for the better on my end...=)

I had the drain/refill done on the former 530 and the current 540 and had 100% positive results on both. the oem esso fluid was used and this time with the 540 I could actually tell a difference in the smoothness of the shifts. Im glad I did both, lifetime fluid is bullshit. my 02 530 service manual recommended an ATF change at 100k miles, it was printed in the book

first e39 (still in familiy) - changed at 118k

now at 125k and good so far

The dealer changed mine and left it underfilled - the torque converter made a whining noise on cold starts during cold days until I had it topped off correctly by an independent.

BS: I assumed u had a manual

BS: I assumed u had a manual

Are you trying to tease me? No sunny.... no manual. :(

Are you trying to tease me? No sunny.... no manual. :(


Saph if you are about to hit 100k then go for it. I was reading up on this a few months back and the only guys who had any regrets were the ones who did do it right or got it done WRONG by someone else like a dealer. If you do it right, it should be just fine.

I plan to do mine as soon as i am out of school, too bad i dont have a lift.. i was gonna go to Bav auto for the parts, but i was wondering if their was a better place (cheaper place) where i can purchase the ATF? Im only gonna go with the ESSO just because i dont want to mix.

no issues here...just did mine at 36k miles back in october....

i think if you're going to do it on a regular basis started it at a lower mileage....

i'm going to do it once every yr or 18 months

probably a bit much
but i'm pretty particular about changing fluids in all of our cars...

Are you trying to tease me? No sunny.... no manual. :(

not teasing, I guess I just expected better from you and pani.... Tisk tisk
got any abandon straightaways near ur house??

i am about yo do mine this week end i was wondering should i use the bmw fuilds or whats the best atf to use????

black, why dont u just skip to the point and tell us what you fucked up? This post seems like one of those "oops my car dont move.. anyone have a problem when changing fluid?"

heheheh

actually, back to reality.. mine was supposedly recently flushed when I bought the car at 121k miles... and it seems fine to me. I've never had a problem.

I did mine in january, twice, at 138 000 miles.
142 000 and works OK so far....

It is things like this that I just wont take my chances with.

Here's a good read...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=494219