318D E46 Gearbox - should I change the fluid?

[Scoobman]

Hi posted this up on BMW land but no reply...so perhaps you guys can help.

Firstly I will admit that I dont know a huge amount about BMWs. My E46 D is my faithfull daily hack.

Car
318D
Mileage 200,000 kilometers

1. Is the gearbox a sealed for life unit?
2. A touch notchy when very cold. Reverse, 1st, 3rd are touch sloppier than you find on a new car. It works fine, If it aint broke dont fix it.

When I dropped the gear box oil out of MK3 golf Gti on about 200,000miles - it didnt realy resemble oil any more. It was like a brown oily watery gunk.

So to prolong the life of the box. Should I leave the oil in and forget it. Or change it?

Anything else anyone can think of I should change as a preventative measure to try to see 350,000km

(I dont think the car has swirl flaps. I turbos I understand are Ok on 318ds, I have just changed the fuel filter)

Thanks

[Scoobman]

up

[8Tech]

The car will have filled for life oil but this is the opinion of BMW. The transmission manufacturers specify oil changes at around 60,000m. Depending on gearbox type, you will need to identify a coloured sticker on the side to see which oil it takes. It may well have a replaceable oil filter too.