E63 Gearbox / Trans Fluid Change

E63 Gearbox / Trans Fluid Change

Author
Discussion

Rick62

Original Poster:

12 posts

96 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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Hi all. Has anyone here changed or made a point of changing their Transmission fluid / gearbox oil in the 635d / E63. I was doing some "due diligence" before purchase and a local specialist said that that is one of the most important things to either check for or have done after purchase. Anywhere between 50k and before 100k was what he advised. Now I know that it is a sealed for life unit but so is the Range Rover and the recommendations are the same for that too! I know some will say "he would say that wouldn't he as he wants your money" but I have been looking around on the internet and , yes, it is a recommended thing to do, though not by BMW though!!
Am I looking for problems that really are not there or is this a viable preventative maintenance item? I know it is not cheap to have done but then a new gearbox would be even worse!!
Cheers for any advice that you can give.

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

183 months

Friday 27th May 2016
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BMW may not 'recommend' it, but that doesn't mean they won't do it. Euro sell an OE service kit for them with the pan and oil etc. If the box manufacturer supply these kits, it clearly is an option for any owner. You need to check the oil at certain temps though. Always worth doing imo.

gf15

980 posts

265 months

Saturday 28th May 2016
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I had mine done at ~100k miles on an 650. My specialist pointed out that my first to second change was a little rough from cold. I never realised it, and had probably driven around it. They changed the oil and filters (well probably about 60% of the oil, as the rest was in the torque convertor) and it made a big difference, it was like night and day from cold. Also worth getting the SW updated at the same time. Car is now on 149k and the gearbox is as good as new.

On my previous E38 740, full bore changes were occasionally brutal, so I had the oil and SW updated @ 120k miles and it was like a new gearbox. It was still lovely at ~200k miles.
I would recommend it from personal experience of the difference before / after change.

Sardonicus

18,928 posts

220 months

Sunday 29th May 2016
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BMW may not recommend (no surprise) but both GM and ZF have service intervals for their transmissions , do it or you may regret it

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Sunday 29th May 2016
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A trip to ZF in Germany sees a proper,job apparently.

bigdom

2,072 posts

144 months

Thursday 2nd June 2016
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ZF Dortmund will change the oil and rebuild the mechatronic. Although they can also be rebuilt in the UK. I had my BMW specialist change the oil & sump in my 535d (15k) ago at 75k, within the ZF schedule they follow in Germany. I've also had a fully rebuilt box in a 7 series I used to own, that smarted a bit.

dom9

8,041 posts

208 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
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Had mine done on my 545i at 75k by a ZF trained specialist as the plastic sump was cracked/ leaking.

I don't really notice a difference (there was nothing wrong with it before) but they did say it needed changing so it has bought me peace of mind.