Following the discussion about brake fluid changes, I worry about getting my automatic transmission fluid changed.
The fluid was changed, as recommended at 40,000 miles. MB say change it once and once only, but I am not comfortable with that. My car (W211 E Class with 95,000 miles up) would benefit from another change about now? No?
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>> What colour is it?
>>
Dunno. I can't see it. There is no dipstick. Where would I see it?
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>> What colour is it?
>>
Yeah, apparently red, white and blue ones need doing more often than the metallics ...
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I plan to get the ATF changed by the dialysis method.
I have not found anywhere local ( to us ) so will have to travel to one of the few I have found in the region.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxFW0J4UsK4
The Jaguar way on the X type is to drain a third, top up, drain a third and top up
It has no filter, just a strainer, which is another cheap feature.
www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/139358-auto-gearbox-mega-flush-service.html
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I plan to get the ATF changed by the dialysis method.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxFW0J4UsK4
More dials than the space shuttle! Confusion marketing at its best!
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BMW still persist with the idiotic "sealed for life" regime. If I end up buying mine at the end of the PCP, which is currently my plan to do, it will be at, or around 60,000 miles. I will be getting the ATF changed as a priority.
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Where does 60k miles come from, a previous schedule?
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>> BMW still persist with the idiotic "sealed for life" regime. If I end up buying
>> mine at the end of the PCP, which is currently my plan to do, it
>> will be at, or around 60,000 miles. I will be getting the ATF changed as
>> a priority.
>>
I own mine though I'll stick with BMW recommendations, and probably keep it under warranty, frankly I'd rather spend ££ on an extended warranty than on a non scheduled auto trans fluid change.
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>> I own mine though I'll stick with BMW recommendations, and probably keep it under warranty,
>> frankly I'd rather spend ££ on an extended warranty than on a non scheduled auto
>> trans fluid change.
Depends how long you plan to keep it, I guess. I know three people who've run into problems with ZF autoboxes at around the 100k mark (one in a Range Rover Sport, two in BMWs) where dirty fluid has been implicated in one case, and directly blamed in two. The sealed for life idea is designed to reduce first owner / fleet running costs, and is almost universally condemned by experts outside of the dealer networks.
If it comes to it, I'll take mine to the ZF factory in Dortmund who do a drive in-drive out service by their own technicians for a reasonable sum, probably making a small diversion from the family holiday one year. The car will be out of BMW warranty by then, at which point it will be serviced outside of the dealer network as well. These transmissions are eye wateringly expensive to repair or replace, so it's a wise investment if the car turns out to be a keeper.
www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/527361
I mention 60,000 miles only because that it what my car is likely to have on the clock by the time it's out of warranty and its time to make the decision to keep or chop in. I guess it partly depends on what BMW launch in the interim that tempts me, and what deals are available.
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... and the next 1 series is likely to be front wheel or AWD and have 4-cylinder engines. Keep this one past 60k miles I say.
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>> ... and the next 1 series is likely to be front wheel or AWD and
>> have 4-cylinder engines. Keep this one past 60k miles I say.
>>
My thoughts entirely at this moment in time. If it stays reliable, it's likely to be a keeper. The whole family has fallen in love with it as well, which helps. Although SWMBO says I drive it like a c*ck... A trifle harsh, I feel.
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>> The car will be out
>> of BMW warranty by then, at which point it will be serviced outside of the
>> dealer network as well.
>>
Reckon that's likely to be a false economy as it will retain much more value with BMW history.
Mine will be about 25-30k at three years, I'll probably extend the warranty until five years and then take a view. I already have a five year service plan.
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>> Reckon that's likely to be a false economy as it will retain much more value
>> with BMW history.
>>
I think it depends where you get it done. If you use 'Fred in a Shed' who fits the cheapest rubbish he can get away with, perhaps, but a well documented service history from a respected independent BMW specialist that only uses genuine parts wouldn't put any serious buyer off. I have a good BMW indie near me who has taken very good care of a friend's E46 M3 since it was 3 years old. It has 120,000 miles on it now and it doesn't drive or go appreciably differently to when it had 20,000 on the clock. They trade on their reputation, and they really do know their stuff.
I looked at the service plans, but I didn't find the maths particularly compelling for my likely usage and service intervals so opted to take a bit of a gamble. So far (early days I know) it looks as if it will pay off. According to the OBC, the car is going to do about 19k between services. Therefore, the 3 yr / 36k plan is only going to pay for one service, as the second is very likely to fall beyond the 36k cutoff. I checked with the dealer, and these plans only cover services that the car is asking for there and then, and will not pay out for early or pre-emptive ones. I'd never get away with getting a service done 2k early for example to squeeze it in under the plan, so it's pointless. Similarly, the 5 yr/50k plan is only going to pay for two services based on my usage pattern.
These plans can be good value if your usage pattern fits them. We took TLC on SWMBOs Cooper S because this car has an 18 month / 18k interval, and she does about 7k a year. It had its first service last week at 18 months old with just over 10k on the clock, and will have its second in another 18 months. The cost of the pack was much lower than the 2 services it will pay for, so it was a no brainer.
My only dilemma with the 140i at the moment is whether to pay the dealer to do an interim oil change at 9-10k, given BMWs sketchy recent history on things like timing chain and turbo longevity, both of which are the among the first casualties of dirty oil. This is going to happen as a matter of course once out of warranty, but I don't want to create problems for myself later on. Neither do I really want to pay BMW dealer labour rates for a "nice to have" though. One to ponder. :)
Last edited by: DP on Fri 5 May 17 at 12:25
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>> >> I think it depends where you get it done. If you use 'Fred in a Shed' who fits the cheapest rubbish he can get away with, perhaps, but a well documented service history from a respected independent BMW specialist that only uses genuine parts wouldn't put any serious buyer off.
>>
Yes, a specialist is more reassuring than an indy, and there are some very well respected specialists (Birds etc), though dealer history is always going to mean more and out of warranty goodwill is only ever likely to happen if the car has full dealer history.
>> I looked at the service plans, but I didn't find the maths particularly compelling for
>> my likely usage and service intervals>>
It really works best if you can build it into the deal when purchasing, and it has some value when selling.
>>Similarly, the 5 yr/50k plan is only going to pay for two services based on my usage pattern.>>
I understand they have now dropped the five year plan.
>> My only dilemma with the 140i at the moment is whether to pay the dealer
>> to do an interim oil change at 9-10k,
>>
Again I trust the manufacturers recommendations, there is some merit in an interim change though I would probably do oil only, the filter is designed for 18-20k changes and by replacing the oil you are effectively extending that so oil only on an interim change is fine, it also reduces the opportunity for error. Reckon a BMW dealer should do oil only for around £100, not a lot in the scheme of things.
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>> I would probably do oil only, the filter is designed for 18-20k changes and by
>> replacing the oil you are effectively extending that so oil only on an interim change
>> is fine, it also reduces the opportunity for error. Reckon a BMW dealer should do
>> oil only for around £100, not a lot in the scheme of things.
I thought the same thing.
If it had a flippin' dipstick, I'd just do it myself with a Pela extractor. No need to undo anything except the oil filler cap in that case. Progress, eh? :)
Last edited by: DP on Fri 5 May 17 at 15:10
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>> BMW still persist with the idiotic "sealed for life" regime.
>>
The Jaguar X type is the same ( but not with Autoboxes which can have the dilution treatment but there is no filter.)
Plenty of reports of no lubricant left in transfer boxes and several DIY ways of dealing with this stupid "design" including drilling a hole (s) in the casing to allow drain/refill.
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>> I plan to get the ATF changed by the dialysis method.
>> I have not found anywhere local ( to us ) so will have to travel
>> to one of the few I have found in the region.
>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxFW0J4UsK4
For some reason I wasn't convinced.
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>>For some reason I wasn't convinced.
>>
There are other makers ( Wynns is one ) of very similar machines that do the same job.
There are many references on Land Rover chat rooms and it is available in a lot of locations specialising in LRs which is a much bigger market..
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>> >>For some reason I wasn't convinced.
>> There are other makers ( Wynns is one ) of very similar machines that do
>> the same job.
>> There are many references on Land Rover chat rooms and it is available in a
>> lot of locations specialising in LRs which is a much bigger market..
I think the reason I wasn't convinced was because the demonstrator hadn't cracked the sincerity thing..... I had the funny feeling that he would have held his cutlery like a pen.
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I've owned automatics since the 1970's and never had a box go nipples up on me. The nearest I got to that was with the excellent Jatco box in my Subaru. The ATF was brown instead of looking like a good St Emilion. so I changed it 5 times in quick succession to get all the old fluid out of the talk converter. When I part exed it at 10 yeras old for the CR-V back in January, the box was still doing its stuff ok, and the colour of the fluid was still claret.
I wouldn't worry too much about the fluid in your Merc, as long as yoos have owned it from new. If not, get it changed for peace of mind.
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Auto Transmission Fluid Changes? - Falkirk Bairn
