Re: should one change the transmission fluid on a E36

On 2012-04-23 15:41:57 +0000, Jeff Strickland said:

> "MushroomNZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message 
> news:[email protected]...
>> automatic transmission
>> 
>> no problems , 90K miles
>> 
>> BMW says its for life but  .  . .
> 
> I've not heard of any problems with an automatic transmission in the 
> E36 that are related to the fluid, but the E46s have lots of troubles 
> that look like fluid could be part of the problem.
> 
> I'd encourage you to go ahead and flush the transmission and torque 
> converter, but do not stress about it. Transmission fluid has changed A 
> LOT since I was a kid, and it had to be replaced on a pretty regular 
> basis. Not only has the fluid changed, but the transmission internals 
> have changed too, and the actual work that it does has changed.
> 
> I'm a bit of a sceptic about "lifetime" fluid, but I tend to let the 
> engineers with mechanical degrees make these kinds of calls. I'd 
> suggest that at 90k miles, and no problems, you are in good shape. I 
> don't recall that you said which car you have, and which transmission, 
> but it is important that you (or whoever does the fluid change) know 
> which fluid is specified for your application. The wrong fluid can 
> foam-up inside the transmission, and this will lead to an undesirable 
> result. The wrong fluid can also have any number of other consequences 
> that might actually be worse than leaving the fluid you already have 
> alone.

26 years after purchasing my E36 318ic, transmission went.  As assumed, 
the fluid was changed.  Ran like a song after.  Now my rear diff is 
going.  Dang.

But yes, change your fluid.  It got viscous and the new rebuild was 
super impressive...the difference.