[E90Menace]

BMW Dealership as well as Highly rated Transmission shop both confirmed that I have low transmission fluid.

BMW says adding more fluid could possibly cause damage to the trans
BMW also says that leaving it and running out of fluid will fail the transmission.

The highly rated transmission shop told me that it will not affect anything.

Looking for input, do I get it topped up or do I leave it? I don’t want to cause possibly damage to my trans.

I’m at 213,000 km.

Thank you. (P.s I’ve never topped up the fluid or changed the fluid before)

[IllSic_Design]

Top it up/refill. Don't listen to the dealer, top it up and make sure the fluid is at the proper level. Is the transmission having any issues yet?

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

Top it up/refill. Don't listen to the dealer, top it up and make sure the fluid is at the proper level. Is the transmission having any issues yet?

As far as my knowledge the only issue is the code for low transmission fluid

[CTinline-six]

It would be helpful to know which car/transmission you have.

But yes, top up the fluid. I'm sure the dealership meant that overfilling the fluid can damage the transmission.

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

It would be helpful to know which car/transmission you have.

But yes, top up the fluid. I'm sure the dealership meant that overfilling the fluid can damage the transmission.

2009 323i

[mousefarmer]

Its probably due for a transmission fluid change anyways. I would buy a new transmission pan, gasket & filter, fluid and replace it with new stuff if you like to have it running nice and smooth.

[mousefarmer]

Originally Posted by E90Menace

BMW Dealership as well as Highly rated Transmission shop both confirmed that I have low transmission fluid.

BMW says adding more fluid could possibly cause damage to the trans
BMW also says that leaving it and running out of fluid will fail the transmission.

The highly rated transmission shop told me that it will not affect anything.

Looking for input, do I get it topped up or do I leave it? I don’t want to cause possibly damage to my trans.

I’m at 213,000 km.

Thank you. (P.s I’ve never topped up the fluid or changed the fluid before)

The BMW dealer will tell you not to change the transmission fluid so you will need to buy a new car.

The transmission shop will tell you need a new transmission.

The dentist will tell you you need teeth fixed.

Make your own decisions instead of relying on those who have a conflict of interest.

[Leucosticte]

just add more fluid

[e90yyc]

Yeah—add more fluid. Better yet, change the fluid while you’re at it.

Whether you change it or just top it off, make sure to follow the procedure carefully.

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Yeah—add more fluid. Better yet, change the fluid while you’re at it.

Whether you change it or just top it off, make sure to follow the procedure carefully.

Transmission shop says it will all be around $140 total out the door, that sound right? Sounds kinda low

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by E90Menace

Transmission shop says it will all be around $140 total out the door, that sound right? Sounds kinda low

That sounds low to me as well.

I’d ask for specifics. Is that an actual fluid change or just a top-off?

If you’re doing it yourself and don’t mind a bit of a mess, wouldn’t be a terrible idea to replace the filter as well. You’ll need the pan gasket and bolt set if you go that route.

[deropke]

I think what BMW meant was

If you not going to fill it, then transmission will certainly going to die. However if you will fill it, then the transmission might start to slip, this would only happen if its already broken, but the symptoms were just hidden by gunk inside old oil providing grip and preventing slip, where as new smooth oil would not have these properties and therefore might cause a slip.

Therefore most mechanics don't recommend changing fluid on old neglected transmissions as it will most likely make it worse, however if the transmission was maintained then it will have no problems. In your case you definitely need to fill it up, however topping up instead of doing complete change might be a safer bet (in short term at least), unless you know that fluid has been changed at some point in the past. Although 214k km is on a safer side anyways, but certainly not immune.

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by deropke

I think what BMW meant was

If you not going to fill it, then transmission will certainly going to die. However if you will fill it, then the transmission might start to slip, this would only happen if its already broken, but the symptoms were just hidden by gunk inside old oil providing grip and preventing slip, where as new smooth oil would not have these properties and therefore might cause a slip.

Therefore most mechanics don't recommend changing fluid on old neglected transmissions as it will most likely make it worse, however if the transmission was maintained then it will have no problems. In your case you definitely need to fill it up, however topping up instead of doing complete change might be a safer bet (in short term at least), unless you know that fluid has been changed at some point in the past. Although 214k km is on a safer side anyways, but certainly not immune.

I’ve had it since 70k km, haven’t touched trans oil ever.

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

That sounds low to me as well.

I’d ask for specifics. Is that an actual fluid change or just a top-off?

If you’re doing it yourself and don’t mind a bit of a mess, wouldn’t be a terrible idea to replace the filter as well. You’ll need the pan gasket and bolt set if you go that route.

$140 to drain the trans fluid, and top it up, as well as includes filter etc

[213e90n51]

GM or ZF?

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

GM or ZF?

Gm, he said he’s not gonna use bmw oil cause the price is crazy so he said he will use something appropriate for it that isn’t as expensive

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by E90Menace

Gm, he said he’s not gonna use bmw oil cause the price is crazy so he said he will use something appropriate for it that isn’t as expensive

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."
-Ben Franklin
hunnid dolla bill dude

[E90Menace]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."
-Ben Franklin
hunnid dolla bill dude

I want to spend the Money for the correct stuff and get it properly done! I have no problem doing so,

[e90yyc]

I still don’t see how he can do that work for that price. I would think labour alone would be $100.

[NGEE]

Assume this is auto? Did the dealer locate the reason for the low fluid? Mechatronic sleeve maybe?

[mousefarmer]

Originally Posted by NGEE

Assume this is auto? Did the dealer locate the reason for the low fluid? Mechatronic sleeve maybe?

That would be my guess too unless the pan is leaking a little too.

[mainbearing]

Or someone checked the oil at operating temperature.

Drain and refill takes about 4 qts, for me that is a gallon jug of Valvoline Maxlife at about $20 out the door at Walmart for the GM transmission. A Febi filter was about $12 online, and a (supposedly reusable) pan gasket I think was about the same.

The GM mechatronic sleeve uses a different rubber material than the older ZF version (looked like red silicone that flattened and turned mushy) that got attacked by ZF ATF. The sleeve is a known spot, but my guess is less on the GM than ZF.