E46 Gearbox Question

[R360]

Ive got an E46 320D which has now done 135k, I have recently been looking through all the BMW receipts and have noticed that the gearbox oil has never been changed. A mate of mine has suggested that we give it a change this weekend and will help me do it, but 1 question, what gearbox oil do I get?
Option 1 – Get original BMW oil from a main dealer?
Option 2 - Get some standard oil from someone like GSF?

[jz325i]

Assuming it's a manual... Redline MTL or Redline MT-90 (difference is the thickness). Check the label on the gearbox... if it's green use MT-90, otherwise MTL. Warning though - when it's cold it can be a little bit harder to shift. So make extra sure to treat your gearbox gently - but you should treat a gearbox like a faberche egg anyway.

If the car is driven by someone less trustworthy, put in an ATF like Redline D4 ATF.

I used to get mine from gprdirect.com until they closed the branch in west london. Try opie oils. Or call Redline UK and ask them or a supplier near you.

[jz325i]

jz325i said:

Or call Redline UK and ask them or a supplier near you.

for a supplier near you.

Edited by jz325i on Thursday 3rd September 13:32

[NickXX]

I would get it from the dealer - it shouldn't be expensive and there will be much less chance of it being unsuitable.

[jz325i]

NickXX said:

I would get it from the dealer - it shouldn't be expensive and there will be much less chance of it being unsuitable.

Redline oils are VERY suitable for BMW's. The two go hand in hand.

Call redline if you want and they'll recommend a specific product for your gearbox.

But if you've got an automatic - you'll need to go to the dealer anyway as there's a specific procedure to flush the oil.

While you're at it, flush the differential as well - 75w90 or 75w140. Both of those will work for LSD and non-LSD.

[R360]

Cheers for the input guys, spoke to the local BMW garage earlier and they have told me i need to get the code for the oil from the gearbox, so will need to get under the car to see what the code is. He did however sound surprised as he said that the E46 uses long life oil so never needs to be changed.
I was actually thinking of doing the diff oil too, not sure how easy that is to do though, can you give any pointers?

Finally yes its a manual, 5 speed.

[jz325i]

R360 said:

i need to get the code for the oil from the gearbox

Look for the sticker, which might need a wipe. It may have fallen off too. Whilst you're under there, check to see if the selector shaft seal is leaking oil, which might get onto your guibo and fall apart over time. Use a mirror to check the guibo.

R360 said:

he said that the E46 uses long life oil so never needs to be changed.

Depends how long you define lifetime of the vehicle? BMW is a business and need to make money - have a look at what I wrote in some other thread today about service intervals.

R360 said:

I was actually thinking of doing the diff oil too, not sure how easy that is to do though, can you give any pointers?

Make sure you undo the filler first - chances are it's VERY tight (same for the gearbox). You'll either need a 17mm (ish) hex or spanner. Need to have a look. Drain at the bottom, filler on the side.

R360 said:

Finally yes its a manual, 5 speed.

Go for Redline MTL unless the sticker is green in which case MT-90. But be extra careful when it's cold (first 20 miles or so every time you drive), otherwise Redline D4 ATF.

[jz325i]

Ah, the doc is still in my history ...

Google for: Recommended BMW Maintenance Schedule doc

Btw, the geabox and diff will be about 1 or 1.2 litres each. And you'll need something to pump the oil in with a bit of pipe on the end. It can be a bit tight under there.

[R360]

Excellent cheers for the help, on the note of gearboxes maybe you can help me with something else. When the car is in gear ther seems to be a lot of left to right movement of the gear lever, it almost feels like the car in in neutral when you move the gear lever. ITs been like this ever since i got the car and at the time had a BMW independant have a look at it, he told me it was nothing to worry about its normal on high mileage BMW's, in your experience is that the case?
So just to explain again when the car is in gear i can move the gear lever left a right a fair amount, it does not effect the drive, car still drives fine and gear lever only moves when i move it, does that make sense?

[jz325i]

R360 said:

Excellent cheers for the help, on the note of gearboxes maybe you can help me with something else. When the car is in gear ther seems to be a lot of left to right movement of the gear lever, it almost feels like the car in in neutral when you move the gear lever. ITs been like this ever since i got the car and at the time had a BMW independant have a look at it, he told me it was nothing to worry about its normal on high mileage BMW's, in your experience is that the case?
So just to explain again when the car is in gear i can move the gear lever left a right a fair amount, it does not effect the drive, car still drives fine and gear lever only moves when i move it, does that make sense?

Yep, gear selector bushes are probably worn - you've probably done close to 100k miles. It's a bit involved to sort out, but feels MUCH nicer when it's done. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you need to replace the selector seal. The best win bits to change are the plastic cage the gear lever ball sits in, the 4 yellow washers and the 2 cir-clips (on the selector rod). The rear bush (very tight to get out) can be replaced, but i wouldn't - just take it out, clean it up so it's immaculate and got no oil/grease on it, then fill it up with seam sealer or other flexible and sticky mastic. At the front of the selector rod is an adaptor - open it up and replace the sponge with some stiff packing plastic (something that has air pockets). Use lots of grease when putting it all back together.

Note that the gearbox will have some play itself. You can see the play in the plastic cage by lifting the leather cover and some foam from inside the cockpit. Have a look, should only take a few mins.

[R360]

jz325i said:

Yep, gear selector bushes are probably worn - you've probably done close to 100k miles. It's a bit involved to sort out, but feels MUCH nicer when it's done. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you need to replace the selector seal. The best win bits to change are the plastic cage the gear lever ball sits in, the 4 yellow washers and the 2 cir-clips (on the selector rod). The rear bush (very tight to get out) can be replaced, but i wouldn't - just take it out, clean it up so it's immaculate and got no oil/grease on it, then fill it up with seam sealer or other flexible and sticky mastic. At the front of the selector rod is an adaptor - open it up and replace the sponge with some stiff packing plastic (something that has air pockets). Use lots of grease when putting it all back together.

Note that the gearbox will have some play itself. You can see the play in the plastic cage by lifting the leather cover and some foam from inside the cockpit. Have a look, should only take a few mins.

Very informative, thanks for this, and its done 135k.
You certainly know what your talking about, do you have a garage or have you just done lots of work on the E46?

[jz325i]

R360 said:

You certainly know what your talking about, do you have a garage or have you just done lots of work on the E46?

Thanks. I do all my own work on my E36, and help to look after my brothers E36 and Dad's E39. The E46 isn't that much different.

[Zoltan1217]

Hello guys

I have a BMW E46 330d auto and i have done (garage done it) the service on my gearbox. since that I have some kind of vibration when it is changing gear. it is starting when it is close to change the gear and until it is not changing getting worse. In the same time the diff oil has been change too. I have been told i have to change the prop shaft bearing as it cause the problem. I done it my self so for sure it's done. after 1 week the vibration came back. The gear box has no fault code. Iwas thinking it can has low level oil. how can I check the oil level in the gearbox? Is it worth it to try to put some extra oil and see it's help or not?

Thanks for any advise

[nitrodave]

did this on my e46 325ci manual with 140k a couple of months ago when it was in for a couple of other jobs. Gearbox has been slightly whinny, so asked them to drain and refill.

The difference it made was night and day! Totally silenced it up, super smooth gear changes... well worth it IMO

[jayemm89]

I also replaced the gearbox oil on my e46 330 at 117k, big differnence.

Epic thread revival, btw.

For those that are interested, changing the gearbox oil used to be part of the service schedule and still is on the M models. However, BMW at some point started introducing a service plan which covered you for x number of services or whatever for a fixed fee. When that happened, gearbox oil mysteriously became a lifetime fluid.

My father had a similar thing happen with FIat vans. He asked his local garage to change the gearbox oil at 70k on one of his vans, despite them assuring him it was not necessary. When they cracked the gearbox open there was basically no oil in there.

[Zoltan1217]

The problem really started after the gearbox has been serviced and this is why I think it might has not enough oil in it.