Re: Auto Transmission Service

[Henri Baccouche <henrib@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

Interesting post..........a few questions :

When you say  60000 mile  trans service :

Are you dropping the pan to change the filter and 5.5 litres of "dark, thick,
and syrupy" ATF
or are you doing a 13.1 litre complete trans flush using a flushing machine
through the trans cooler lines ?

The two 5HP30's at over 200,000 miles, these are the (never rebuilt) original
equipment units  ?
Driven by conservative or "sporting" drivers ?

As far as the Redline D4 :

It has to be an all or nothing proposition.........either it's all Redline D4
or it's
the Shell/Esso factory fill.

Or are you suggesting that you can mix Redline D4 with the Shell/Esso factory
fill them.........?


All the best ,
Henri


> All that said, we have successfully used several different fluids in the ZF
> 5HP30 transmissions, as well as the later "lifetime fluid" transmissions.  We
> have
> had good success with Red Line D4 as well as a product from Southwestern
> Petroleum.  We also use the factory fluids for those customers who prefer
> it.
>
> The remaining question about whether it is necessary or prudent to service a
> transmission filled with "lifetime" fluid also does not seem to have an easy
> answer.  By 75 or 80,000 miles, the fluid is dark, thick, and syrupy.  On
> visual inspection, the stuff looks awful.  The question, though, is whether
> it is reasonable to spend the money on a transmission service if it may not
> lengthen the life of the transmission.  There is currently no consensus
> among BMW specialty shops on this one either.  We are currently recommending
> transmission service at 60,000 miles, and we seem to be getting good results
> from this schedule.  We have two 5HP30's at over 200,000 miles now, and both
> seem fine.

>
>
> In response to the question of the delay in engagement of reverse, there is
> a well known problem inside the valve body of the early 5HP30's.  If the
> problem is caught early enough, replacement of the reverse checkball is
> generally enough to cure the problem.  There are, however, a number of
> changes and improvements in the valve body and some o-rings, etc., to the
> transmissions made before '96.  The valve body can be rebuilt with a ZF kit
> that includes updated parts, or there is a complete ZF-rebuilt valve body
> available.  Definitely do not put off these repairs, or the delayed reverse
> engagement will deteriorate into no gear engagement with a damaged clutch
> drum.
>
> Nate Smith
> Optimal Auto Care - BMW
> 2335 Soquel Drive
> Santa Cruz, CA  95065
> 831-476-1332
> 831-476-1567 fax
> nate@domain.elided
> ----- Original Message -----

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