Tune and AT Maintenance?

WOPALX · 01-13-2009, 04:15 AM

Gang,

Driving a tuned AT 335 what are peoples thoughts on maintenance of the AT?

BMW does not seam to think changing the AT fluid/oil etc is necessary over the life of the car but I'm thinking running a tune and the additional HP and TQ as a result of this means more attention should be paid to items such as the trans, diff etc. Yes I am AR with engine oil changes at every 7500klm.

So I'm thinking of getting my AT fluid drained and replaced when I do the diff oil for it's 1 yr service (I have a a Quaife LSD installed for about 12mths). Do people think I'm wasting money or it's a good idea?

NOTE: I have no issues with the AT and this is not directed to bash any tune in any way!

Cheers,

S

07-335XI · 01-13-2009, 07:59 AM

i believe its a good idea to change your AT fluid but i think its a pain to change it and BMW would probably give you a hard time just selling you the AT fluid

cbad335 · 01-13-2009, 10:36 AM

I've also been wondering about this.

SfValley335i · 01-13-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07-335XI

i believe its a good idea to change your AT fluid but i think its a pain to change it and BMW would probably give you a hard time just selling you the AT fluid

the AT fluid isnt made to be changed. Big sticker on the trans that says LIFE TIME OIL.

WOPALX · 01-13-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfValley335i

the AT fluid isnt made to be changed. Big sticker on the trans that says LIFE TIME OIL.

BMW also says it's cool to run your engine oil for 25000km

yet most people who run tunes recommend more routine oil changes.

The tranny oil may well be fine for a 'lifetime' under normal loads, but with those of us pushing the envelope with tunes would it not be prudent to change the oil as a preventative measure

NatesGr8 · 01-13-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfValley335i

the AT fluid isnt made to be changed. Big sticker on the trans that says LIFE TIME OIL.

The MT trans says the same thing, this was strange to me.

RBP AW · 01-13-2009, 03:50 PM

Perhaps, but just as changing the engine oil prematurely can have negative effects, the same can be said about AT fluid

techforge · 01-13-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBP AW

Perhaps, but just as changing the engine oil prematurely can have negative effects, the same can be said about AT fluid

Please elaborate?

Xiaofeng · 01-13-2009, 04:30 PM

I've said this many times before, but the way I see it, my definition of the "lifetime" transmission fluid is that "the fluid will still be in the transmission when it breaks, ergo it has lasted the 'lifetime' of the transmission."

Maybe I'm just old-school, but unless the transmission fluid now consists of self-lubricating, self-repairing nanomachines, any standard fluid is going to lose its effectiveness over time after being submitted to intense heat and pressure, especially in an automatic transmission. I plan on changing the fluid in my MT during my 2 year service, whether BMW is willing to cover it or not, and I would advise anyone who is going to keep the car to do the same.

I don't necessarily think you'll need to change it after a single year though, even when running a tune. I find that Bavarian Autosport has a pretty decent recommended maintenance schedule chart that covers a large amount of the BMWs out on the roads today. Worth a look.

http://www.bavauto.com/newsletter/20...ter.pdf#page=4

(*Note that chart is 2 pages long)

midlife · 01-13-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiaofeng

I've said this many times before, but the way I see it, my definition of the "lifetime" transmission fluid is that "the fluid will still be in the transmission when it breaks, ergo it has lasted the 'lifetime' of the transmission."

Maybe I'm just old-school, but unless the transmission fluid now consists of self-lubricating, self-repairing nanomachines, any standard fluid is going to lose its effectiveness over time after being submitted to intense heat and pressure, especially in an automatic transmission. I plan on changing the fluid in my MT during my 2 year service, whether BMW is willing to cover it or not, and I would advise anyone who is going to keep the car to do the same.

I don't necessarily think you'll need to change it after a single year though, even when running a tune. I find that Bavarian Autosport has a pretty decent recommended maintenance schedule chart that covers a large amount of the BMWs out on the roads today. Worth a look.

http://www.bavauto.com/newsletter/20...ter.pdf#page=4

(*Note that chart is 2 pages long)

+100

i have just installed the qaiufe LSD... got it from harold at HP Autowerks... great guy and the best service

back on topic:
note that harold SUGGESTS changing the LSD diff fluid after the first 1,000 miles. after that every few years.

BMW says to change the motor oil every what ? 15,000 miles... they crazy??
i have a tune and i change my oil every 4 - 5,000 miles max.

i plan on changing my diff oil per harold, and my AT fluid every few years MAX.

my 2 cents

cvc 22349a · 01-13-2009, 07:58 PM

I definately plan on changing my AT fluid after the warranty period.
Anyone know if there's a fill plug though?

Xiaofeng · 01-13-2009, 09:29 PM

IIRC, your transmission should have both a drain and a fill plug. The drain plug is on the bottom of the transmission, while the fill plug is nearby but on the side of the transmission.

Your differential though, only has a fill plug, so you'll need a tool to siphon out the old fluid before replacing it with new fluid.

01-13-2009, 04:15 AM	#1
WOPALX Lieutenant Colonel 86 Rep 1,993 Posts Drives: 335i Sedan Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (2)	Tune and AT Maintenance? Gang, Driving a tuned AT 335 what are peoples thoughts on maintenance of the AT? BMW does not seam to think changing the AT fluid/oil etc is necessary over the life of the car but I'm thinking running a tune and the additional HP and TQ as a result of this means more attention should be paid to items such as the trans, diff etc. Yes I am AR with engine oil changes at every 7500klm. So I'm thinking of getting my AT fluid drained and replaced when I do the diff oil for it's 1 yr service (I have a a Quaife LSD installed for about 12mths). Do people think I'm wasting money or it's a good idea? NOTE: I have no issues with the AT and this is not directed to bash any tune in any way! Cheers, S
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01-13-2009, 07:59 AM	#2
07-335XI Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 293 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: bcdefghijklmnopqrstuwxyz iTrader: (5)	i believe its a good idea to change your AT fluid but i think its a pain to change it and BMW would probably give you a hard time just selling you the AT fluid
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01-13-2009, 10:36 AM	#3
cbad335 Lieutenant Colonel 62 Rep 1,736 Posts Drives: '09 E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA iTrader: (17) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i Coupe [7.34]	I've also been wondering about this.
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01-13-2009, 03:50 PM	#7
RBP AW Private First Class 10 Rep 189 Posts Drives: AW 335i MT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newport Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Perhaps, but just as changing the engine oil prematurely can have negative effects, the same can be said about AT fluid
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01-13-2009, 04:30 PM	#9
Xiaofeng Captain 35 Rep 712 Posts Drives: 2007.5 E90 335xi Montego/Lemon Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 E90 335xi [0.00] 1991 325iX [0.00]	I've said this many times before, but the way I see it, my definition of the "lifetime" transmission fluid is that "the fluid will still be in the transmission when it breaks, ergo it has lasted the 'lifetime' of the transmission." Maybe I'm just old-school, but unless the transmission fluid now consists of self-lubricating, self-repairing nanomachines, any standard fluid is going to lose its effectiveness over time after being submitted to intense heat and pressure, especially in an automatic transmission. I plan on changing the fluid in my MT during my 2 year service, whether BMW is willing to cover it or not, and I would advise anyone who is going to keep the car to do the same. I don't necessarily think you'll need to change it after a single year though, even when running a tune. I find that Bavarian Autosport has a pretty decent recommended maintenance schedule chart that covers a large amount of the BMWs out on the roads today. Worth a look. http://www.bavauto.com/newsletter/20...ter.pdf#page=4 (*Note that chart is 2 pages long) __________________
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01-13-2009, 07:58 PM	#11
cvc 22349a Colonel 164 Rep 2,556 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (11)	I definately plan on changing my AT fluid after the warranty period. Anyone know if there's a fill plug though?
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01-13-2009, 09:29 PM	#12
Xiaofeng Captain 35 Rep 712 Posts Drives: 2007.5 E90 335xi Montego/Lemon Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Colorado iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 E90 335xi [0.00] 1991 325iX [0.00]	IIRC, your transmission should have both a drain and a fill plug. The drain plug is on the bottom of the transmission, while the fill plug is nearby but on the side of the transmission. Your differential though, only has a fill plug, so you'll need a tool to siphon out the old fluid before replacing it with new fluid. __________________
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