DIY F85/86 Differential Fluid Change

[Blue By You]

Originally Posted by ///MCollection

If you have the plastic pan in the kit it's the wrong kit and an expensive way of doing it. Just get the filter, gasket and ZF lifeguard 8 ( 7 litres to be safe) and keep your metal sump. Our metal sumps are the best thing BMW did for us!

Also only change the fluid and don't use a flushing machine, as far as I know ZF have not approved the use of a flushing machine so far.

I appreciate the insight on this!

[///MCollection]

It's no problem and it's kind of you to take the time to say. All of our information we share is a great resource so thank you for yours too

[Chilled]

Hey, how big is they oil filter kit without the pan. Just trying to get one here, down under. And its a bit of a challenge, the stealers say its a order from Germany part and its like $420AUD(300USD). I tried ordering it from ecs and they want like $150US to ship it.

Is the package that the kit comes in massive? Does anyone have the dimensions on the kit? Is it worth trying a forward service, as in have ecs send it to shipitto and then have those guys fwd it to me.

[///MCollection]

On the f85 with metal sump just go to Bmw and get the filter element and gasket then go to a motor factor and get the lifeguard 8 fluid (7 litres) I would imagine the weight of the fluid is the issue and possibly some couriers won't transport oil limiting competitive delivery.

I'm sure in one of the beatbox posts I put the bmw numbers for parts.

[Chilled]

oh, no. Sorry just double checked, it's $100 USD just to ship the oil filter,gasket,ect. (24007855263)

The oil, i will get locally. But the repair kit, looks massively inflated for down under. Hence why i was wonder how big is the repair kit package, it's weight to try and get an estimate out of ShipItTo.


For the life guard 8, is there a specific model # we need? Because i found post to like 3 different ones, but all say LifeGuard 8. Different pics, numbers, ect.

ie.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/29432799...cAAOSwTrdhEzhS

References it as "749800"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13251566117...cAAOSwJXxcWdZu
as S671090312

and this one has the same # as above but has a different style label?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26527542018...kAAOSwv91hHoOk

Does any of that matter or are they all the same?

[Yuille36]

I would recommend getting your filter kit from BMW Parts Now
Transmission Filter - BMW (24-00-7-855-263) costs $109 and includes Filter, Gasket, Oil Pan Bolts, and Fill and Drain Plug. I bought a similar kit, and it was a few dollars more. And I purchased the fluids from Pelican Parts.

https://www.bmwpartsnow.com/oem-part...bC12OC1nYXM%3D

https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog...TRAUTO_pg1.htm

[Chilled]

Im located in Australia (tiny Island, Middle of Known Where) and all of the bmw oems dont sent parts here.

So im left with like ecs/pelican/tuner(same company btw). And ecs wants 100usd to ship just the filter kit. Hence why im wondering how big is that kit (actual box), to try the shipment via fwd agency.

Onto the zf oil, i would like to get that locally, but as per those ebay links as examples, they show 3x different models or pics of what looks like the same lifeguard 8 oil. Hence that question, is there different versions of the lifeguard 8 oil.

[Yuille36]

Now, I understand your dilemma..... The box is small, just slightly bigger than the filter.
The gasket is rubber, so it's folded up inside the box, along with the pan bolts and plugs.
I would say the box is no more than 34mm x 30mm
As far as the fluid, I purchased it from BMW, as I wanted to use what they recommend.
As their is to many choices available online.

[Chilled]

Ok, will give thr shipitto a try for the filter kit. Otherwise if the shipping is going to cost $100USD+, might aswell pay the $300USD, for the one from the local stealers.

For the oil, I would rather by local but not BMW branded but ZF lifeguard 8. The bmw one is $100AUD/1L, from the local dealers

Are there different versions of the Lifeguard 8? As in, if you look at the ebay links, 2 of them have different model numbers (749800 vs S671090312) and they have different pictures.

So are there different versions of the ZF Lifeguard 8?

[Viper501]

Originally Posted by Yuille36

Now, I understand your dilemma..... The box is small, just slightly bigger than the filter.
The gasket is rubber, so it's folded up inside the box, along with the pan bolts and plugs.
I would say the box is no more than 34mm x 30mm
As far as the fluid, I purchased it from BMW, as I wanted to use what they recommend.
As their is to many choices available online.

FWIW I have to disagree based on my experience. The OEM gasket was shipped to me in a large box just a bit larger in length / width dimension than the pan. The gasket i received was metallic and not flexible. In fact it was sandwiched between two paper sheets to protect it during shipment. The filter and bolts are relatively small though.

[Yuille36]

Originally Posted by Viper501

FWIW I have to disagree based on my experience. The OEM gasket was shipped to me in a large box just a bit larger in length / width dimension than the pan. The gasket i received was metallic and not flexible. In fact it was sandwiched between two paper sheets to protect it during shipment. The filter and bolts are relatively small though.

You are correct sir, I got this confused with my Mercedes filter kit as I did them each a week apart.

And after giving this some thought the gasket for the BMW was metal, and for my AMG it was rubber. And the box was larger to accommodate the filter.

So the box was as larger as the transmission oil pan.

So, I apologize for my mistake, if I confused anyone, as that wasn't my intention. 😔

[Viper501]

Originally Posted by Yuille36

You are correct sir, I got this confused with my Mercedes filter kit as I did them each a week apart.


So, I apologize for my mistake, if I confused anyone, as that wasn't my intention. 😔

I have difficulty with what I had for breakfast most times….

[///MCollection]

There is only one version of lifeguard 8, they changed the bottle design about 12 months ago though so this may be what your seeing.

[Abstracted]

Sorry to steer this back to the differential, but my 30 day return window is about to close on the Castrol Syntrax Limited Slip 75W-140

Should I keep it for the front and rear sides?
Or just keep it for the front, and get the OEM with carbon mod for the rear sides?
Or return it all?

[Chilled]

Yeah sorry, i diverted the chat abit.

Me personally, for my change, I am going all OEM on the Diffs and TC.

Without knowing what the carbon mod thing is, the $$ is not worth it to find out. Maybe it's something, maybe its not, but there is a reason why people say you must(really advised) to use the OEM for the TC.

[640ijims]

OEM recommended fluids are recommended for a reason

[///MCollection]

With a vehicle value like this and the diff and transfer box the price they are OEM is where my money would go.

[ferrarif1]

I had added some feedback to a thread a few years back about SAF Carbon Mod sources and since I am up to oil change 10, it's time to flush again.

SAF Carbon Mod is not a unique BMW fluid and can be sourced from a number of places in bottles with various manufacturer names. In BMW bottles, this is $120/l. Buy the GM branded bottle (GM part 92269208) and it's $32/l

SAF Carbon Mod sources and OE part numbers:
Mercedes: A0019895903
Porsche: 000.043.300.37 $46/l
GM/Holden: 92269208 $32/l
BMW: 83120445832 $120/l
Chrysler: 68083381AA $49/l

I pulled this data from ZF here: https://www.zf.dk/wp-content/uploads/te-ml_18.pdf

[SaNGRia]

I was able to find the GM one when i did my research Thank you for the input!

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

I had added some feedback to a thread a few years back about SAF Carbon Mod sources and since I am up to oil change 10, it's time to flush again.

SAF Carbon Mod is not a unique BMW fluid and can be sourced from a number of places in bottles with various manufacturer names. In BMW bottles, this is $120/l. Buy the GM branded bottle (GM part 92269208) and it's $32/l

SAF Carbon Mod sources and OE part numbers:
Mercedes: A0019895903
Porsche: 000.043.300.37 $46/l
GM/Holden: 92269208 $32/l
BMW: 83120445832 $120/l
Chrysler: 68083381AA $49/l

I pulled this data from ZF here: https://www.zf.dk/wp-content/uploads/te-ml_18.pdf

[Abstracted]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

I had added some feedback to a thread a few years back about SAF Carbon Mod sources and since I am up to oil change 10, it's time to flush again.

SAF Carbon Mod is not a unique BMW fluid and can be sourced from a number of places in bottles with various manufacturer names. In BMW bottles, this is $120/l. Buy the GM branded bottle (GM part 92269208) and it's $32/l

SAF Carbon Mod sources and OE part numbers:
Mercedes: A0019895903
Porsche: 000.043.300.37 $46/l
GM/Holden: 92269208 $32/l
BMW: 83120445832 $120/l
Chrysler: 68083381AA $49/l

I pulled this data from ZF here: https://www.zf.dk/wp-content/uploads/te-ml_18.pdf

If that's the case then Red Line 75W90 GL-5 GEAR OIL is compatible, because they list it as being compatible with:

Castrol SAF Carbon Mod
GM 92184900
Porsche 000 043 300 37

$18 @ https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/75w...uart-oil-57904

[ferrarif1]

Originally Posted by Abstracted

If that's the case, then Red Line 75W90 GL-5 GEAR OIL is compatible, because they list it as being compatible with:

Castrol SAF Carbon Mod
GM 92184900
Porsche 000 043 300 37

$18 @ https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/75w...uart-oil-57904

The part numbers I listed are genuine Castrol SAF Carbon Mod, not a compatible oil. There is nothing wrong with Red Line, but my experience is that if the OE manufacturer (ZF) specifies gear oil with a specific friction modifier, it's best to use the recommended additive pack. According to Red Line, their gear oil may be compatible, but it is not genuine 'Castrol SAF Carbon Mod' as specified by ZF and sold in various branded bottles from BMW, Porsche, GM, etc.

[Abstracted]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

The part numbers I listed are genuine Castrol SAF Carbon Mod, not a compatible oil. There is nothing wrong with Red Line, but my experience is that if the OE manufacturer (ZF) specifies gear oil with a specific friction modifier, it's best to use the recommended additive pack. According to Red Line, their gear oil may be compatible, but it is not genuine 'Castrol SAF Carbon Mod' as specified by ZF and sold in various branded bottles from BMW, Porsche, GM, etc.

That's an excellent point. I'll be sticking with the Castrol.