E63 Gearbox / Trans Fluid Change
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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