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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

5349 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 513 of 536

#5112 of 5349 Re: Have you ever [luckybelly] by roadburner

Aug 26, 2011 (7:59 pm)

Replying to: luckybelly (Aug 25, 2011 9:46 pm)
Did you think for a moment why a Master Technician would advise against recommending a service that would mean more work which would equal to more money?
 
I sure did. The self-described "Master Technician" doesn't trust his shop to do the job properly. Or else he missed the BMW training session that addressed the new ATF change interval.
And why does my BMW dealer perform an ATF service -without hesitation- at my request? And for a very reasonable price?
 
I mean after all if he has earned the Master Technician status, he probably knows a little bit more than you do, since he has earned the status of "Master Technician" and not too many technicians get that.
 
The term does not impress me one bit. Results count for more than a title on a name tag. As for relative knowledge, I've only owned, wrenched on, tracked, and competed in BMWs since 1983- owning nine in the process. So he might know more than me, but based on what I've already been told about him I kind of doubt it.
 
Does he not get a benefit of being placed higher up than an avg. joe technician and avg. driver?
 
No.
 
Now let me explain, why:
 
Have at it; my comments follow.
 
1) Most all BMW since mid to late '90s come with lifetime transmission fluid.
 
Initially BMW did consider ATF to be a lifetime fill, but no longer. See below.
 
ATF is available for servicing however, it is recommended that be used only to replenish the lost fluid due to leaks and for repairs.
 
Wrong. See below.
 
Also if you were to look in the owners manual for service, it does NOT require AT service.
 
Well, you are half right. The information isn't in the owners manual; it is found in the Service and Warranty Information Booklet. On page 8, in the case of my 2004 E83(fitted with a GM A5S 390R). It states "Replace ATF every 100,000 miles"
 
While I may not fully agree with this practice by BMW, the fluid does contain several modifiers added in the standard Dexron III fluid to maintain the viscosity and other characteristics of the fluid through the life of the transmission.
 
BMW uses several different AT fluids:
Esso ATF LT 71131
Texaco ETL 7045E
Texaco ETL 8072B
And a few more, no one knows why there are so many "flavors" save BMW, GM, and ZF...
 
The only issue is BMW and others do NOT disclose what they consider "lifetime" of the transmission in miles or years of service. So that is anyone guess.
 
That's simple; when the transmission fails BMW then considers its "lifetime" to be over...
 
I hope I answered your question, and please keep in mind next time you or anyone who reads this on forum, if you are going to take your vehicle to a repair facility, if you do not trust your repair facility, then don't go there.
 
Which is essentially what I said in my earlier post.
 
BUT if you do then give them some respect as you would want to be respected in your chosen profession.
 
I most certainly DO respect my Service Adviser as well as all of the technicians at my BMW dealer. They perform first class work at a very fair price.
To summarize, the "Master Technician" that generated this discussion either does not know that BMW now calls for a 100,000 mile fluid change or else he lacks the knowledge and ability to perform an ATF service. In either case I would be wary of any other "expert" advice he may provide.
 
Finally, a couple of anecdotal data points:
My old E39 528i had the ATF changed at 100,000 miles and the last I heard the current owner had put another 100,000 miles on it with no ATF issues. My E83 received an ATF change at 56,000 and 113,000 miles. Now at over 120,000 miles, the automatic transmission continues to perform flawlessly.

#5113 of 5349 I've Been Waiting . . . by cdnpinhead

Aug 26, 2011 (7:53 pm)

for this, and it didn't disappoint.
 
It's fun (in an odd way) to watch newbies poke at the lion (or bait the bear), but even more interesting to observe the result.
 
luckybelly -- if you think you or your "Master Technician" knows more about BMWs than some of the people on this board you have another think coming (as my mother used to say).

#5114 of 5349 Re: Have you ever [roadburner] by luckybelly

Aug 27, 2011 (1:05 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Aug 26, 2011 7:59 pm)
So are you and Mr. Shiftright saying BMW is now recommending to perform ATF service on E46 era 3 series built transmissions.?
 
Since the original question was about a transmissions installed on a E46 and NOT a E83.
 
Perhaps a BMW TSB # and/or link from BMW to support this statement would be most enlightening and add to this discussion.
 
 

#5115 of 5349 Re: I've Been Waiting . . . [cdnpinhead] by luckybelly

Aug 27, 2011 (1:39 am)

Replying to: cdnpinhead (Aug 26, 2011 7:53 pm)
Most are over-opinionated on most forums including most master-technicians - but that was not my point.
My point was avg. driver/technician should NOT discredit a statement and/or information dispensed by a technician who has gone through the years of training and earned the Master-Technician status.
Perhaps roadburner has significant knowledge and experience however, he has no first hand experience with the master-technician that was in question to discredit him.
I chose higher road than he did. I gave the information accurate and about the fact that on E46 transmissions it was not recommended to change AT fluid. (Also I did not say that I support that practice ). And not discredit someone I have no first knowledge about.
 
So no I don't have another thing coming to me.

#5116 of 5349 Re: Have you ever [luckybelly] by roadburner

Aug 27, 2011 (6:25 am)

Replying to: luckybelly (Aug 27, 2011 1:05 am)
So are you and Mr. Shiftright saying BMW is now recommending to perform ATF service on E46 era 3 series built transmissions.?
 
Yes.
 
Since the original question was about a transmissions installed on a E46 and NOT a E83.
 
I take it that you aren't aware of the fact that both vehicles(2003 325xi Touring and 2004 E83) use a GM A5S 390R automatic transmission.
 
Perhaps a BMW TSB # and/or link from BMW to support this statement would be most enlightening and add to this discussion.
 
Perhaps rhmass can check his Service and Warranty Information booklet and tell us what BMW recommended for the car that you said didn't require ATF changes.

#5117 of 5349 Re: I've Been Waiting . . . [luckybelly] by roadburner

Aug 27, 2011 (6:42 am)

Replying to: luckybelly (Aug 27, 2011 1:39 am)
Perhaps roadburner has significant knowledge and experience however, he has no first hand experience with the master-technician that was in question to discredit him.
 
What more do I need to know? You esteemed "Master Tech" recommended against performing a service that BMW specifically recommends.
 
I chose higher road than he did.
 
I stand in awe of your magnanimous gesture.
 
I gave the information accurate and about the fact that on E46 transmissions it was not recommended to change AT fluid.
 
No you didn't. You stated:
1) Most all BMW since mid to late '90s come with lifetime transmission fluid.
and
Also if you were to look in the owners manual for service, it does NOT require AT service.
But now you say you that you were only referring to the E46. Right.
 
And not discredit someone I have no first knowledge about.
 
One more time- "Master Tech" recommended against changing the ATF fluid, period- even though BMW calls for a change at 100,000 miles. He didn't say "Wait until the 100,000 mile service. He said don't do it. He was wrong.

#5118 of 5349 A bit more data... by roadburner

Aug 27, 2011 (3:14 pm)

Herewith a page from an E46 Service and Warranty Information booklet:
 

 
BMW changed from "Lifetime Fill" to a 100,000 ATF change interval in 2002.

#5119 of 5349 Re: A bit more data... [roadburner] by luckybelly

Aug 28, 2011 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Aug 27, 2011 3:14 pm)
roadburner - Your highness - I stand corrected if it is from a 02 E46, - I think you should discredit someone who you don't know. I personally don't know that Master Tech in question but please go ahead and continue to dispense your opinions, after all its an open forum.
 
BTW: Interesting how you highlighted all but failed to read MOST. In my statement. Hmmm. OK.
It seems you only read and listen what you want. But thats ok. I am bored of this conversation.

#5120 of 5349 Re: A bit more data... [luckybelly] by roadburner

Aug 28, 2011 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: luckybelly (Aug 28, 2011 5:08 pm)
I am bored of this conversation.
 
Look on the bright side, at least we both now agree that the Master Technician in question gave incorrect advice!

#5121 of 5349 While The Vast Majority. . . by cdnpinhead

Aug 28, 2011 (6:24 pm)

of the people who post on the internet are questionable in terms of their background and/or knowledge, some actually know what they're talking about.
 
New posters are liable to be considered somewhat guilty until proven otherwise, unlike people who have been posting here for a decade or more.
 
Try not to make incendiary statements. This is a lesson it took me a number of years to learn, and I still have a number of "slips." There are many people on Edmunds who still won't respond to my posts, based on stuff I posted 8-10 years ago.
 
One sleeps in the bed one makes.

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