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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

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Mangozac
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by Mangozac » Mon Mar 27, 2017 2:01 am

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!
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by ZAR4MC » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:12 am

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

Das882
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by Das882 » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:28 am

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

Mangozac
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by Mangozac » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:33 pm

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.
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!
Current: 06 E85 M Silbergrau
Previous: E85 3.0si Silbergrau, 03 E85 2.5i Maldives Blue.
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JAD

Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by JAD » Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:04 pm

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.
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).

D4dawg

Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by D4dawg » Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:26 pm

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

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Argenta
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by Argenta » Tue Mar 28, 2017 4:13 am

RedLine MTL 70W-80.

Made a world of difference too!

D4dawg

Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by D4dawg » Tue Mar 28, 2017 11:45 pm

Argenta wrote:RedLine MTL 70W-80.

Made a world of difference too!
Thanks buddy :)

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DSGRNMCM
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by DSGRNMCM » Sat Aug 22, 2020 9:42 am

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
E86 Z4m Coupe - Titan Silver, Stubby, Sun protection, Eibach springs, LED interior lights, CDV delete, Badge delete, Pipercross, Exhaust bypass
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by DSGRNMCM » Sat Aug 22, 2020 9:44 am

Just found this!

:viewtopic.php?t=76508
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)

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Mr Tidy
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by Mr Tidy » Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:06 am

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
Gearbox Oil Change 160420.jpg (151.1 KiB) Viewed 1019 times
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by mmm-five » Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:52 am

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 :P

The only thing I didn't do was spark plugs - did those every 2nd inspection to turn it into a full Insp II.
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exdos
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by exdos » Sat Aug 22, 2020 11:50 am

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. :o

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buzyg
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by buzyg » Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:06 pm

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. :)
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DSGRNMCM
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Change your transmission fluid sooner than Inspection 2!

Post by DSGRNMCM » Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:23 pm

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)

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