E36 transmission fluids

[BGarside]

Couple of quick questions regarding my '95 328i.

I hear Redline D4 is favoured for smoothing out notchy manual gearboxes but can I use it in my (latest) gearbox, which has a sticker indicating 'only fill with BMW lifetime oil' rather than ATF, as is used in some other, apparently similar, E36 'boxes? The car has the ZF 5-speed 'box. I ask the question as D4 appears to be ATF...

The car has an open diff, but my local indy charged me to fill it with 75W140 oil as he thought that was the correct stuff. Reading around, opinion seems to be that 75W90 is correct for open diffs and 75W140 is only for LSDs. Anyone know which is correct?

Cheers,

Ben

[helix402]

[quote=helix402]This is what you need in the diff:

[nosuchuser]

BGarside said:

Couple of quick questions regarding my '95 328i.

I hear Redline D4 is favoured for smoothing out notchy manual gearboxes but can I use it in my (latest) gearbox, which has a sticker indicating 'only fill with BMW lifetime oil' rather than ATF, as is used in some other, apparently similar, E36 'boxes? The car has the ZF 5-speed 'box. I ask the question as D4 appears to be ATF...

The car has an open diff, but my local indy charged me to fill it with 75W140 oil as he thought that was the correct stuff. Reading around, opinion seems to be that 75W90 is correct for open diffs and 75W140 is only for LSDs. Anyone know which is correct?

Cheers,

Ben

What colour is the sticker on the gearbox?

[g3org3y]

I've been looking at this recently as I plan to do the manual box and diff fluid on my 328.

For the transmission (auto and manual) the Haynes manual recommends Dexron II ATF. I'll be using this.

For the open differential, it seems the recommendation is 'hypoid gear oil'. I did a bit of research and it suggested 75W90. I'll be using this. It complies with the specs, including API GL-5. I'm not sure whether I should actually use a fully synthetic however? If anyone can confirm that would be helpful.

Edited by g3org3y on Wednesday 12th April 19:41

[helix402]

Please see my answer for the correct diff oil. It was what the E36 left the factory with. (It has just been superseded by another BMW supplied oil but I won't complicate the issue as the Castrol is what you need).

[g3org3y]

helix402 said:

Please see my answer for the correct diff oil. It was what the E36 left the factory with. (It has just been superseded by another BMW supplied oil but I won't complicate the issue as the Castrol is what you need).

Thanks for the info. Castrol ordered.

Edited by g3org3y on Wednesday 12th April 20:38

[BGarside]

nosuchuser said:

What colour is the sticker on the gearbox?

I think it was orange. Stated fill-for-life oil rather than ATF anyway.

[BGarside]

helix402]elix402 said:

This is what you need in the diff:

Cheers for that. I had a feeling it should be 75W90!

[g3org3y]

To update, I did indeed replace the grearbox and diff fluids on my E36.

Ended up being problem free.

As per Helix402, used Castrol Syntrax for the diff. Used Dexron II ATF for the gearbox.

Used one of these (well actually two, one for each) which made the job very easy.



For the diff, there's not much space to manoeuvre. I found this adaptor very helpful:



Allow you to get a spanner on the end so it can be rotated with ease.

[nosuchuser]

Cool. How's if feel after x amount of miles?