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

[Beedub]

After not driving my car for soo long im finally back in the drivers seat and i honestly dont remember the shift being so notchy and stiff..... The has just turned 11k miles..... id expect it to still ok at such low miles, anyhow im going to swap these out....

whats the best fluids for my drive-train? Really dont want to scrimp here and need something that can stand the test of time plus deal with the temps my 500hp motor throws at them, that ///M diff gets a real hardtime, i LOL'd today as i came out of an island sideways.... That diff is working overtime...

From what i read the stock fluids are of high quality.....

Anything better???

[gcochard]

This has been discussed to death on m3 forum, and many of the arguments are about why you would want to scrimp and NOT get oe fluids. The main motivation behind alternate fluids is the high price of oe.

There is a lot of marketing speak and pseudo science behind the alternatives so I would say stick to OE if you can afford it.

I know a few people on here have good luck with redline. Redline is in my car right now and I could not feel any difference in shifting between stock and redline. I changed the stock out at 17k, and I am at 27k now. Still shifts pretty smoothly.

Maybe the notchiness you feel is due to the storage or the cold?

That's my 2 pence. You do what you're comfortable with.

[Caddyshk]

Tranny = RP
Diff = OE

[BIMMERGUY91]

I love eating scrimps. But I dont like to skimp lol :P I am running pennzoil synchromesh in the trans and OEM in the diff and its alot smoother than stock

[BMW Maniac]

Where do you get OEM for the diff? Isn't it like $60 a quart?

[bluecobra]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

Where do you get OEM for the diff? Isn't it like $60 a quart?

I bought mine at the dealer. Yes, it is pricey - I think it was around $50 per half-liter. You will need 1-1/2 liters, so around $150 for all. The OEM tranny fluid was about the same. Nothing at the dealer is cheap though....

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by bluecobra

I bought mine at the dealer. Yes, it is pricey - I think it was around $50 per half-liter. You will need 1-1/2 liters, so around $150 for all. The OEM tranny fluid was about the same. Nothing at the dealer is cheap though....

ill do alittle research into it i guess..... a good chunk of what your paying is most likely just pure markup.....

[tekmoe]

Everybody has their own opinion. Some stay to stick with OEM. Others say to go aftermarket. That being said, I chose to use Redline 75w140 in the diff and Royal Purple Synchromax in the tranny. Have had both in for the past 15k miles with no ill effects.

[jmillet]

I stuck with OE fluids while the car was under factory warranty, but am now running a 50/50 blend of Red Line MTL and MT-90 in the tranny and 80W-140 in the diff.
My car sees a lot of track time so I went for a little higher viscosity.
Haven't noticed any difference in shifting.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

Where do you get OEM for the diff? Isn't it like $60 a quart?

That's for the version with the "FM" (friction modifier), $45/liter. The non-FM is $14.50/liter.

For the diff and transmission there are one use fill and drain plugs. You'll need those too.

You can take your own container to the dealer and have them pump out .5l increments from the 55gal drum.

83 22 1 467 993 is SAF-XJ (non-FM)
83 22 1 470 080 is SAF-XJ (non-FM) in 55 gal drum
83 22 2 282 583 is SAF-XJ w/FM Booster

33 11 7 525 054 diff plugs (x2)

See this thread, post 21 for another discussion on this topic.

Don't have the transmission plugs or fluid part number handy right this second.

[BMW Maniac]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

That's for the version with the "FM" (friction modifier), $45/liter. The non-FM is $14.50/liter.

For the diff and transmission there are one use fill and drain plugs. You'll need those too.

You can take your own container to the dealer and have them pump out .5l increments from the 55gal drum.

83 22 1 467 993 is SAF-XJ (non-FM)
83 22 1 470 080 is SAF-XJ (non-FM) in 55 gal drum
83 22 2 282 583 is SAF-XJ w/FM Booster

33 11 7 525 054 diff plugs (x2)

See this thread, post 21 for another discussion on this topic.

Don't have the transmission plugs or fluid part number handy right this second.

The tranny and diff fill plugs are one time!?!?! I plan to use Redline for both tranny and diff.

[Finnegan]

Yeah, one time, but really cheap.

[mfanatic325]

Coming to Ron's rescue and backing him up
Here's transmission plug info: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...04&postcount=1

Diff Plug P/N: 23 11 7 531 356

[BMW Maniac]

I guess if you're using lifetime fluid, why wouldn't it be one time use plugs, right?

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Yeah, one time, but really cheap.

Originally Posted by mfanatic325

Coming to Ron's rescue and backing him up
Here's transmission plug info: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...04&postcount=1

Diff Plug P/N: 23 11 7 531 356

Thanks Lon!

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

I guess if you're using lifetime fluid, why wouldn't it be one time use plugs, right?

True, only one time use on all drivetrains except the Ms (S54, S65, S85, etc.). So they probably just use the same plugs as other drivetrains. Thinking about it for a minute, even the oil plug has a one-use component though (the washer). That's really what's one use on these plugs too, as unlike the oil plug, which has a metal washer, these have a thin embedded rubber washer. Oh well, cheap enough that it's not an issue.

[Trev]

My personal experience after swapping out Oil, Trans & Diff to Redline.

Immediately after putting the Diff fluid in I started hearing odd noises in rear end. Only occurred at low speeds & turns past 90 degrees, like around multi story car parks. After many months of investigating I found SIB330102, happens to quite a few M cars.

Solution was to install the OE fluid with FM (Friction Modifiers) PN# 83 22 2 282 583 Grinding noise went away immediately after change.

As to Redline products, not knocking them in the slightest, the work great for engine & trans.

[bluecobra]

Originally Posted by Trev

My personal experience after swapping out Oil, Trans & Diff to Redline.

Immediately after putting the Diff fluid in I started hearing odd noises in rear end. Only occurred at low speeds & turns past 90 degrees, like around multi story car parks. After many months of investigating I found SIB330102, happens to quite a few M cars.

Solution was to install the OE fluid with FM (Friction Modifiers) PN# 83 22 2 282 583 Grinding noise went away immediately after change.

As to Redline products, not knocking them in the slightest, the work great for engine & trans.

I had the same experience with my E46 M3. That is why I stick to the OEM stuff for the diff.

[SmartBastard]

Did mine just 2 weeks ago
Transmission: MTF-LT-2
Differential: Castrol SAF-XJ

[zubydafa]

my 1st to 2nd has gotten reallly notchy as of late. induces grind also when i'm going 1st to 2nd at wot. i almost have to force it into 2nd.

should i change fluids or get this checked out by a shop?

[BMW Maniac]

Originally Posted by zubydafa

my 1st to 2nd has gotten reallly notchy as of late. induces grind also when i'm going 1st to 2nd at wot. i almost have to force it into 2nd.

should i change fluids or get this checked out by a shop?

I would change fluids first. You can inspect the oil for metal shavings or other signs that something internally may be wrong. If that doesn't help, time to take it to a shop to diagnose.

[tekmoe]

Originally Posted by Trev

My personal experience after swapping out Oil, Trans & Diff to Redline.

Immediately after putting the Diff fluid in I started hearing odd noises in rear end. Only occurred at low speeds & turns past 90 degrees, like around multi story car parks. After many months of investigating I found SIB330102, happens to quite a few M cars.

Solution was to install the OE fluid with FM (Friction Modifiers) PN# 83 22 2 282 583 Grinding noise went away immediately after change.

As to Redline products, not knocking them in the slightest, the work great for engine & trans.

Sorry to hear your differential did not like Redline. Fortunately mine loves it. yayyyyuuuhhh

[BMW Maniac]

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