Fluid changes

[Speenybean]

So just spoke with the head technician at VAC Motorsports in Philly which is a pretty renowned Indy dealer in the tri state area. Told him my 50i had 55k and was looking for prices on transmission fluid change as well as front and rear diff and transfer case. Long story short he told me I was way too premature on any of those fluid changes and shouldn't even be considering them until 65-70k miles. Any one agree?

[HydroStream6]

Some will agree and some will disagree. Do whatever makes you feel better.

I'm coming up on 100k and am about to do all my fluids (trans fluid/filter, front and rear diffs, tcase)

[Speenybean]

Originally Posted by HydroStream6

Some will agree and some will disagree. Do whatever makes you feel better.

I'm coming up on 100k and am about to do all my fluids (trans fluid/filter, front and rear diffs, tcase)

Originally Posted by HydroStream6

Some will agree and some will disagree. Do whatever makes you feel better.

I'm coming up on 100k and am about to do all my fluids (trans fluid/filter, front and rear diffs, tcase)

Is it a 50i or 35i? Wow that's a long time? Any problems?

[HydroStream6]

50i. No major issues so far. Just did coils and plugs. I also change my oil more often than the computer says and I use Rotella T6, because it makes me feel good. I do have new front lower control arms to put in as well since they squeak over bumps.

[Speenybean]

Originally Posted by HydroStream6

50i. No major issues so far. Just did coils and plugs. I also change my oil more often than the computer says and I use Rotella T6, because it makes me feel good. I do have new front lower control arms to put in as well since they squeak over bumps.

Originally Posted by HydroStream6

50i. No major issues so far. Just did coils and plugs. I also change my oil more often than the computer says and I use Rotella T6, because it makes me feel good. I do have new front lower control arms to put in as well since they squeak over bumps.

Good to know. I change mine every 5-6k

[pwrdbym]

60k is a fairly agreed upon number for drivetrain fluids. The reality is you're not going to see failures in those components any time soon regardless. Changing the fluids regularly at 60k intervals will increase the life of each component, out to 200k+ miles. But doing nothing you'll easily see 120k+ with no issue.
I can tell you I did mine the first time at 97k (when I bought it) and some of the fluids looked VERY bad.

So, it comes down to your expectations for the vehicle.

I personally like to keep up with maintenance regardless, because I love the brand, and even if it's 3 owners out from me, I'd like for my vehicle to still be running great for the 5th owner at 200k. All perspective.....

[smyles]

Originally Posted by pwrdbym

60k is a fairly agreed upon number for drivetrain fluids.by the unnecessarily frequent fluid changes cult.

Fixed that for ya

[pwrdbym]

Originally Posted by smyles

Fixed that for ya

Ha, hopefully you're not expecting me to type out some long argument in support. I assure you, I couldn't care less if people want to drive around at 100k miles with dirty fluid and metal shards in their drivetrain components.

[smyles]

Of course not, just didn't want to create a wrong impression for newcomers re 'agreed upon'. I mean, we have people who change engine oil every 3k miles, so...

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by smyles

Fixed that for ya

Oh smyles, you silly BMW marketing shill, I see you haven't changed a bit! I give you credit for your perseverance, doing what little bit of evil you can to make sure people ruin their transmissions by holding tight to the "lifetime" fluid BMW LIE. Your fighting a losing battle my friend, the word is out and people know BMW is full of shit when it comes to fluid change intervals.

(To those that don't know, me and my buddy here smyles got into a multipage argument about transmission fluid changes, despite ZF coming and calling out BMW on their marketing BS, Smyles has been programmed to only repeat what his master's tell him: never change your oil, it lasts forever!)

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by smyles

Of course not, just didn't want to create a wrong impression for newcomers re 'agreed upon'. I mean, we have people who change engine oil every 3k miles, so...

It is not "agreed" upon, my barely sentient friend, IT IS FACT. You change it between 50 to 75 thousand miles as clearly mandated from ZF themselves. Your bullshit marketing team does not know more then the actual ZF engineers that made the transmission.

Uh oh, you are failing Smyles, people are waking up...TRY HARDER. Your boss is going to be pissed!!!!

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by pwrdbym

Ha, hopefully you're not expecting me to type out some long argument in support. I assure you, I couldn't care less if people want to drive around at 100k miles with dirty fluid and metal shards in their drivetrain components.

Thats ok, I will. I had to do major work to my transmission thanks to this BMW BS that the transmission fluid is lifetime not to mention the extremely dangerous situation it created when it caused a drive train malfunction coming down a steep mountain slope with my family inside. I take this topic VERY seriously and will counter every LIE Smyles puts up with nothing but facts direct from ZF themselves. Smyles has NOTHING but BMW marketing BS.....

[HydroStream6]

I think my very first reply in this thread summed it up. This can be closed. 😁

[pwrdbym]

My "agreed upon" statement above was directed at the entire BMW brand for tranny, diffs, and transfer cases; not just for the F15/6. 60k/3yrs was the direction from BMW back when it was in the maintenance schedule, and has been the direction for years from experts in the field ("old school maintenance schedule"). This is published guidance that anyone can reference.
The physics of heat and metal on metal friction haven't changed. Any claims of lifetime fluids are pure marketing. I'll modify a quote from My Cousin Vinny and say; "do the laws of physics cease to exist in your differential?!'
I can tell you I've done hundreds of fluid changes on BMW drivetrains, most never having been done in 80-120k miles, and I've seen the crap that comes out of these components.
But again, this is what I do with my BMW's, others do as they please.

[Silververtu]

Always follow the recommended interval from OEM, ZF in this case. There are no such things called "lifetime fluid". Fluids will degrade overtime and has limited shelf life. "Lifetime fluid" is purely marketing term for car manufacturers for their new car customers.

This is the OEM's term of "lifetime fluid": The car does not need trans/diff/axle fluids change throughout its warranty period.

[mp25]

Changed mine @ ~75/80K, was pretty dark, but I could tell right away it was worth it. Shifts are not noticable now and so smooth you really have to listen rather than feel the shifts. If you can feel any jerking as it shifts, you are missing out on the smoothness of this trans.

[ComasF15]

FWIW I was doing some research on how oils age. Oils oxidize when exposed to the air. As they age they lose volatile components and thicken, which means viscosity goes up. Mineral oils age the fastest. So even if not driven the oils age. Oils exposed to combustion age a lot faster. Bottom line is that you need to change oils wherever they are. Lifetime oils simply don't exist.