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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Ever since I bought my 2006 M Roadster last year I've been dissatisfied with the shifting action. I know that's it's a Z4M think that in order to shift smoothly you need to shift fast, but this was also requiring much more force than one would expect, especially when cold and especially going 2nd to 3rd.
BMW schedule has the transmission fluid change at inspection 2, which at circa 100k kms is still 18k kms from where I'm at now. So I decided to change the transmission fluid early, along with the diff fluid. After much deliberation and research (detailed here) I replaced the MTF-LT2 fluid with MTF-LT3 on the weekend.
The fluid that came out was definitely less than ideal. Still very clear but a lot of fine black sediment in it that settled in the bottom of the drain container. I forgot to grab a pic
Man what a difference it has made! Cold shifting is way easier and in general far less force is required to engage a gear. You still have to shift quickly to avoid the car jerking during shifts, but that's the engine/flywheel characteristics rather than the gearbox. As far as I know this car hasn't had a hard life (I know one of the previous owners), so this is just more proof that BMW fluid change intervals are questionably long!
BMW schedule has the transmission fluid change at inspection 2, which at circa 100k kms is still 18k kms from where I'm at now. So I decided to change the transmission fluid early, along with the diff fluid. After much deliberation and research (detailed here) I replaced the MTF-LT2 fluid with MTF-LT3 on the weekend.
The fluid that came out was definitely less than ideal. Still very clear but a lot of fine black sediment in it that settled in the bottom of the drain container. I forgot to grab a pic
Man what a difference it has made! Cold shifting is way easier and in general far less force is required to engage a gear. You still have to shift quickly to avoid the car jerking during shifts, but that's the engine/flywheel characteristics rather than the gearbox. As far as I know this car hasn't had a hard life (I know one of the previous owners), so this is just more proof that BMW fluid change intervals are questionably long!
Current: 06 E85 M Silbergrau
Previous: E85 3.0si Silbergrau, 03 E85 2.5i Maldives Blue.
Mods: Gaptech OTH+R, Dension Gateway 300 with USB, CDV-, clear side indicators, euro tails, stubby, MFSW retrofit, OEM Bluetooth/VR
Previous: E85 3.0si Silbergrau, 03 E85 2.5i Maldives Blue.
Mods: Gaptech OTH+R, Dension Gateway 300 with USB, CDV-, clear side indicators, euro tails, stubby, MFSW retrofit, OEM Bluetooth/VR
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
I also had my transmission fluid replaced when i took ownership of my M at 104000km's... the new oil made a world of a difference.
07 Z4 M Coupe - Sapphire Black/Imola Red
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
I contacted Opie oils to see which Millers oil I should use and I was advised to use Millers TRX 70W80 GL5 and if my gear change was stiff to mix it 50/50 with ATF DM. I have never heard of mixing gear box oils but might be worth a try seeing as they're the experts?. I had a T5 gear box in my Cossie engined TVR which used ATF so it's not uncommon.
2006 Monaco Blue Z4MC
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
I too have heard that suggestion but I didn't really feel like experimenting with it. Although simply changing the fluid helped, I do think that there is more room for improvement!Das882 wrote:I contacted Opie oils to see which Millers oil I should use and I was advised to use Millers TRX 70W80 GL5 and if my gear change was stiff to mix it 50/50 with ATF DM. I have never heard of mixing gear box oils but might be worth a try seeing as they're the experts?. I had a T5 gear box in my Cossie engined TVR which used ATF so it's not uncommon.
Current: 06 E85 M Silbergrau
Previous: E85 3.0si Silbergrau, 03 E85 2.5i Maldives Blue.
Mods: Gaptech OTH+R, Dension Gateway 300 with USB, CDV-, clear side indicators, euro tails, stubby, MFSW retrofit, OEM Bluetooth/VR
Previous: E85 3.0si Silbergrau, 03 E85 2.5i Maldives Blue.
Mods: Gaptech OTH+R, Dension Gateway 300 with USB, CDV-, clear side indicators, euro tails, stubby, MFSW retrofit, OEM Bluetooth/VR
Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Completely agree - I had it changed as part of a 60k mileage refresh of a lot of parts and fluids. The whole car feels even more together and smooth, definitely recommended (engine oil, transmission, diff and brake fluids as well as a full front suspension refresh).ZAR4MC wrote:I also had my transmission fluid replaced when i took ownership of my M at 104000km's... the new oil made a world of a difference.
Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
I had mine all done at 10k even then then difference as massive
I'm buying vibra engine mounts soon and shall swap diff and box oils
Some recommend redline oil for box but can't remember the spec
I'm buying vibra engine mounts soon and shall swap diff and box oils
Some recommend redline oil for box but can't remember the spec
- Argenta
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
RedLine MTL 70W-80.
Made a world of difference too!
Made a world of difference too!
Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Thanks buddyArgenta wrote:RedLine MTL 70W-80.
Made a world of difference too!
- DSGRNMCM
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Morning All, I'm about to order 2 US Quarts of MTL 70W-80 for my Z4m gear box.
is it a DIY job or a garage job?
from here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-Line-MTL ... SwSdFbPPZ6
is it a DIY job or a garage job?
from here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Red-Line-MTL ... SwSdFbPPZ6
E86 Z4m Coupe - Titan Silver, Stubby, Sun protection, Eibach springs, LED interior lights, CDV delete, Badge delete, Pipercross, Exhaust bypass
F11 520d, E46 328i, E91 320d, F21 120d, E46 318ti
Mk VI GTD DSG (Daily Hack)
F11 520d, E46 328i, E91 320d, F21 120d, E46 318ti
Mk VI GTD DSG (Daily Hack)
- DSGRNMCM
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
E86 Z4m Coupe - Titan Silver, Stubby, Sun protection, Eibach springs, LED interior lights, CDV delete, Badge delete, Pipercross, Exhaust bypass
F11 520d, E46 328i, E91 320d, F21 120d, E46 318ti
Mk VI GTD DSG (Daily Hack)
F11 520d, E46 328i, E91 320d, F21 120d, E46 318ti
Mk VI GTD DSG (Daily Hack)
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
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- Location: North West Surrey
Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Well this is what came out of the gearbox of mine when it had its first Insp 2 at 77K miles!
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- Gearbox Oil Change 160420.jpg (151.1 KiB) Viewed 1046 times
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
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- Lifer
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
When I was doing 25,000 miles, 3-4 trackdays and 2-3 Ring trips a year, I did mine annually as an Inspection I-andabit
The only thing I didn't do was spark plugs - did those every 2nd inspection to turn it into a full Insp II.
The only thing I didn't do was spark plugs - did those every 2nd inspection to turn it into a full Insp II.
- exdos
- Senior Member
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Just a word of warning: before you drain the gearbox oil, make sure that you can remove the fill plug, otherwise you'll be in trouble.
- buzyg
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Can't say I noticed a difference in the gear change after the oil was changed. Happily there has always been a nice smooth solid action on mine , even from cold.
- DSGRNMCM
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!
Even from 1st and 2nd Buzyg?
E86 Z4m Coupe - Titan Silver, Stubby, Sun protection, Eibach springs, LED interior lights, CDV delete, Badge delete, Pipercross, Exhaust bypass
F11 520d, E46 328i, E91 320d, F21 120d, E46 318ti
Mk VI GTD DSG (Daily Hack)
F11 520d, E46 328i, E91 320d, F21 120d, E46 318ti
Mk VI GTD DSG (Daily Hack)