ok tranny and diff fluid time i think....

[tekmoe]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

What about running Mobil 1 or Redline with a LSD additive?

Redline doesn't need any additive - it already has it. http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=134&pcid=4

Originally Posted by Redline Website

75W140 GL-5 Gear Oil
Popular for cars and light trucks like Ford Mustang, Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, and Jeep Cherokee
Contains additional friction modifiers for suitablity with clutch-type limited slip differentials - for most LSDs, no additional friction modifiers are required
This product is not designed for use in most manual transmissions or tranaxles, since the extreme slipperiness may cause synchronizer mesh issues that lead to shifting problems
Recommended for API GL-5, GL-6, MT-1, MIL-L-2105E, and SAE J2360

[tikamak]

I have a notchy 2nd gear as well, 1st to 2nd gear change frightens me and my car has a very low tolerance level, you have to execute the shifting technique flawlessly in order to have a smooth shift.

I just drove today my friend's M3, that car is just a dream come true when it comes to shifting, i wish there would be someone dedicated enough to figure out if there's something wrong with the transmission or clutching mechanism or if it's just the way it was designed.

[BMW Maniac]

Originally Posted by tikamak

I have a notchy 2nd gear as well, 1st to 2nd gear change frightens me and my car has a very low tolerance level, you have to execute the shifting technique flawlessly in order to have a smooth shift.

I just drove today my friend's M3, that car is just a dream come true when it comes to shifting, i wish there would be someone dedicated enough to figure out if there's something wrong with the transmission or clutching mechanism or if it's just the way it was designed.

Not sure if you are aware but you can't compare the transmission from a Z4M and M3....they are different.

[tikamak]

I am aware of that, i wasn't comparing the 2 transmissions as if they are the same, i'm comparing from an M car to another M car in gear change feel.

That's why I asked if there was someone dedicated enough to discover why our transmission behaves differently and if this was a design flaw that can remedied somehow or just how the car was intended.

[mgwatson48]

I hate the transmission in my M... There's seriously nothing worse than having to be careful when shifting... Brutal.

[tikamak]

Has anyone ever tried fitting an e46 M3 transmission in the Z4M?

what would be needed? maybe a shorting drivetrain axle in order to complement the longer transmission from the e46 M3 ?

has anyone opened the ZF type H gearbox from the Z4M to make notes on what could be wrong not allowing us to be careless when shifting ?

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by tikamak

Has anyone ever tried fitting an e46 M3 transmission in the Z4M?

what would be needed? maybe a shorting drivetrain axle in order to complement the longer transmission from the e46 M3 ?

has anyone opened the ZF type H gearbox from the Z4M to make notes on what could be wrong not allowing us to be careless when shifting ?

why??

the getrag box in our cars is strong, shifts well and is a solid unit... the z4m and 3.0si is how old now and how many have failed world wide??? hell ive read about 1 i think..... and that was a syncro problem..... Weve strapped blowers to the these cars, turbos pushing 650rwhp, and still the gearbox takes the power......

my gear change has always been butter smooth, i get no crunching and i like the feel, its due a fluid change now and im certain it'll restore my usual buttery bmw change back to how i like it...

AFAIK the 1m uses the same gearbox....

[tikamak]

Well then i must change my transmission fluid once the drain plugs gets here.
I don't have buttery smooth shifting unless i perfect the shifting technique.

shifting gears in the M3 is hella a lot more fun though :P

[mgwatson48]

Compared to my MINI, this transmission feels like junk. I'm really hoping the RE trans mounts make a BIG difference...

[BMW Maniac]

Originally Posted by tikamak

I am aware of that, i wasn't comparing the 2 transmissions as if they are the same, i'm comparing from an M car to another M car in gear change feel.

That's why I asked if there was someone dedicated enough to discover why our transmission behaves differently and if this was a design flaw that can remedied somehow or just how the car was intended.

Um....yes, our transmission behaves differently from another M car with the same motor, because they are different. The transmission was probably never intended to be manufactured for a M car, but was the only one probably in the then current BMW inventory that would fit and would probably be sufficient. I'm not sure how much of a long term test was done prior to releasing the car to the public, but I'm guessing the issues were few and far between to be concerned about a recall

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

Um....yes, our transmission behaves differently from another M car with the same motor, because they are different. The transmission was probably never intended to be manufactured for a M car, but was the only one probably in the then current BMW inventory that would fit and would probably be sufficient. I'm not sure how much of a long term test was done prior to releasing the car to the public, but I'm guessing the issues were few and far between to be concerned about a recall

i like the stock gearbox.... its fine imo...

[elerner61]

I went with OEM in the diff (always forget how nice and smelly diff fluid is) and Redline MT-90 in the tranny.

For stubby sockets I picked up some from ZDMAK tools on ebay. Good pricing, decent quality and the 8mm for the tranny is ...8mm.

[RobMCoupe]

Originally Posted by elerner61

I went with OEM in the diff (always forget how nice and smelly diff fluid is) and Redline MT-90 in the tranny.

For stubby sockets I picked up some from ZDMAK tools on ebay. Good pricing, decent quality and the 8mm for the tranny is ...8mm.

What is your impression on Redline MT-90? It seem to shift better compare to OE tranny fluid. Dealer replaced my Redline during insp II and my shifting seems harder when car is cold. It also whine during decel.

[Finnegan]

What method/pump are you guys using to do the refill? I just got the ZDMAK stubby extensions, and I'm trying to figure out a good way to do the refill with the limited space I have while working in the garage under the care w/o a lift.

[elerner61]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

What method/pump are you guys using to do the refill? I just got the ZDMAK stubby extensions, and I'm trying to figure out a good way to do the refill with the limited space I have while working in the garage under the care w/o a lift.

I was on my back as well (no lift, ramps under the rears, big blocks of wood that I have under the fronts).

For the diff, the OEM bottles have a pull out spout. I used a short piece of tubing on the spout and could fit the bottle in the open space around the diff. tip down and squeezed.

For the tranny I used a fluid pump like this right in the Redline bottle. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILMAR-QUART...ccab6d&vxp=mtr

[elerner61]

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

What is your impression on Redline MT-90? It seem to shift better compare to OE tranny fluid. Dealer replaced my Redline during insp II and my shifting seems harder when car is cold. It also whine during decel.

I only have about 10 miles on the new fluids so jury is still out. Seems to shift a little smoother than OEM, but only very slightly and I think I've got a tranny that seems less notchy than others. The fluid hasn't been colder than 55 degrees (warming up here in the Northeast, woohoo!) so that will have to wait. I'll keep my ear out for the whining (hope I can hear it over my daughter's!)

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by elerner61

I was on my back as well (no lift, ramps under the rears, big blocks of wood that I have under the fronts).

For the diff, the OEM bottles have a pull out spout. I used a short piece of tubing on the spout and could fit the bottle in the open space around the diff. tip down and squeezed.

For the tranny I used a fluid pump like this right in the Redline bottle. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILMAR-QUART...ccab6d&vxp=mtr

Thanks. I've got a very large container (filled by the dealer) for our two transmissions, so I was thinking of using a smaller (cleaned) container and spout. Since that's what you did, seems I'm on the right track. I have the gear oil pump as well, but it just seems like more to go wrong there than using good ol' gravity plus a squeeze. Better control on the amount of fluid as well too since the bottle more or less provides a measuring system as well.

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by Beedub

why??

the getrag box in our cars is strong, shifts well and is a solid unit... the z4m and 3.0si is how old now and how many have failed world wide??? hell ive read about 1 i think..... and that was a syncro problem..... Weve strapped blowers to the these cars, turbos pushing 650rwhp, and still the gearbox takes the power......

my gear change has always been butter smooth, i get no crunching and i like the feel, its due a fluid change now and im certain it'll restore my usual buttery bmw change back to how i like it...

AFAIK the 1m uses the same gearbox....

Z4M's have ZF transmissions. The Getrag unit from the E46M3 would not fit...

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

Um....yes, our transmission behaves differently from another M car with the same motor, because they are different. The transmission was probably never intended to be manufactured for a M car, but was the only one probably in the then current BMW inventory that would fit and would probably be sufficient. I'm not sure how much of a long term test was done prior to releasing the car to the public, but I'm guessing the issues were few and far between to be concerned about a recall

Yup...

[elerner61]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Thanks. I've got a very large container (filled by the dealer) for our two transmissions, so I was thinking of using a smaller (cleaned) container and spout. Since that's what you did, seems I'm on the right track. I have the gear oil pump as well, but it just seems like more to go wrong there than using good ol' gravity plus a squeeze. Better control on the amount of fluid as well too since the bottle more or less provides a measuring system as well.

To be honest, the pump was cleaner and easier to use. If I were to do it again, for the diff I would find a clean container that could hold all 1.5 liters, pour all the diff fluid in there and then use the pump.

[elerner61]

While it's on my mind, when I changed the diff fluid I had more left over then I thought I would (about 150 ml out of 500ml in the last bottle). I made sure the car was level by measuring the floor to wheel arch distance, if anything it was even a little higher on the right side. I definitely couldn't have put in more.

Have people had similar experiences?

[Caddyshk]

IIRC the capacity is 1.1L