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      01-03-2022, 04:47 PM   #1
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Picked up a Z4 M roadster at the beginning of Dec. Prior owner had done a good bit of work to get it running and driving like new. PO said that he changed all the fluids, but I have a hard time believing the trans fluid was changed. See pic of the oil I removed today. Replaced the oil with Red Line MTL. Haven't been able to drive it yet, but just rowing the gears while in the garage, I can tell it's shifting much smoother.

MTL is 75W80, but seems thin like ATF. We'll see how it does. May switch to MOTUL 75W90 as I'd like a little thicker oil in the gearbox.
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      01-04-2022, 03:30 AM   #2
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Trans fluid from BMW is lifetime, so he's probably not lying to you saying he's changed all the fluids as he probably didn't know that the tranny fluid can be changed, or he's bought the drivel that BMW tells you. Can't blame him really. Good on you for swapping it out though
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      01-04-2022, 05:11 AM   #3
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I'm a Red Line lubricant fan, using their recommended transmission oils in my Chevy, Ford, and Triumph vehicles. The Triumphs use the MT90. Two things I'd like to point out....MT90 is actually a 75W90 weight GL4 oil...secondly, Red Line recommends their D4 ATF oil for both the 2004 Z4 5spd and 6spd mt's (D6 ATF for 2006-2008 Z4's). So with the MT90 you are going thicker (think it'll be fine unless used in cold climates).

Last edited by 3798j; 01-04-2022 at 05:20 AM..
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      01-04-2022, 07:05 AM   #4
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Thanks for the feedback fellas. I'm in VA, so our climate is not usually too cold. So I'll see how the 75W80 does for a bit and then decide whether to try a heavier weight.

Also, I'm planning to make transmission fluid changes a regular maintenance item,I.e., every 30K or 60K, like the rear diff.
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      01-04-2022, 07:07 AM   #5
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Anytime I buy a car, I always change engine, gearbox and diff oil, brake and clutch fluid so I know exactly what's in there and what my intervals are.

For you new to you Z4M, Royal Purple Syncromesh is popular transmission fluid. That's what I'm currently running in my car and it improved the shifting in my car. Now I just have to take the first shift into 2nd carefully and it shifts wonderfully after that. I would also check the condition of the motor mounts and transmissions mounts. Rogue Engineering transmission mounts are another common upgrade and they do much better than the OEM mounts.
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      01-04-2022, 11:21 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanne View Post
Trans fluid from BMW is lifetime, so he's probably not lying to you saying he's changed all the fluids as he probably didn't know that the tranny fluid can be changed, or he's bought the drivel that BMW tells you. Can't blame him really. Good on you for swapping it out though
Vanne, I thought you'd know better...transmission/differential fluids in a Z4M is not lifetime

The servicing schedule says diff & gearbox oils every Inspection 2.



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Last edited by mmm-five; 01-04-2022 at 11:27 AM.. Reason: Resize attachment
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      01-04-2022, 12:12 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmm-five View Post
Vanne, I thought you'd know better...transmission/differential fluids in a Z4M is not lifetime

The servicing schedule says diff & gearbox oils every Inspection 2.



Besides inspection 2, they get changed at the 1st 1200 miles...
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      01-04-2022, 12:15 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by pungo View Post
Besides inspection 2, they get changed at the 1st 1200 miles...
...and in my case, 1200 miles after I had a new diff under warranty at 80,000 miles and 150,000 miles (insurance paid due to an accident).

...and since the first diff, I was getting mine done as an extra on every Inspection 1.
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      01-04-2022, 01:12 PM   #9
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At this age, I'd replace all fluid, belts and inspect all other wear items. It's just a safe bet and resets the maintenance to 0 under your watch.

Other areas to look into are the bushings, ball joints, boots etc. Might as well check the top motor to see if there were any water accumulation.

I use a cocktail of MTL & MT90. Works great all these years. Not too thin not too thick... just smooth for my shifting pleasure.
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      01-04-2022, 06:34 PM   #10
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I'll be changing the rear diff fluid this weekend. I'm planning to use Castrol Syntrax. I'll probably run the Red Line in the transmission for 500 miles and then change again. After that it should be good for 30K I hope.

When I get a chance to go to my Father in law's, I'll put the car on his lift and get a real good look at the bushings, boots, etc.
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      01-05-2022, 06:16 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3798j View Post
I'm a Red Line lubricant fan, using their recommended transmission oils in my Chevy, Ford, and Triumph vehicles. The Triumphs use the MT90. Two things I'd like to point out....MT90 is actually a 75W90 weight GL4 oil...secondly, Red Line recommends their D4 ATF oil for both the 2004 Z4 5spd and 6spd mt's (D6 ATF for 2006-2008 Z4's). So with the MT90 you are going thicker (think it'll be fine unless used in cold climates).
I can say I have RedLine D6 in my 128i manual and it is awesome. At first I thought it was too "video-gamey" because it basically takes ALL the resistance out of the shifter movement and well, feels like a flight sim joystick, but thankfully keeps the snick snick in the engagement. Anyway sometimes you don't realize whats good for you because it wasn't until I drove the same gearbox with Royal Purple Synchromesh did I realize the result with D6 was to my preference. Shifting is much faster. And it doesn't seize up or at all in colder weather whereas the RP needed warming up all the time. And still better than the rubbery Honda base Civic feel that modern BMW's post hydraulic steering have. Its possible the previous owner didn't remove enough of the previous gear oil before adding RP, can't speak to that, but in my 128i it was no comparison to his car.

I'll be doing my research to see if D6 is a safe application for the Z4M gearbox.
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      01-05-2022, 07:44 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky1 View Post
I can say I have RedLine D6 in my 128i manual and it is awesome. At first I thought it was too "video-gamey" because it basically takes ALL the resistance out of the shifter movement and well, feels like a flight sim joystick, but thankfully keeps the snick snick in the engagement. Anyway sometimes you don't realize whats good for you because it wasn't until I drove the same gearbox with Royal Purple Synchromesh did I realize the result with D6 was to my preference. Shifting is much faster. And it doesn't seize up or at all in colder weather whereas the RP needed warming up all the time. And still better than the rubbery Honda base Civic feel that modern BMW's post hydraulic steering have. Its possible the previous owner didn't remove enough of the previous gear oil before adding RP, can't speak to that, but in my 128i it was no comparison to his car.

I'll be doing my research to see if D6 is a safe application for the Z4M gearbox.
Good description and I agree. Red Line say the Z4M takes their D4 ATF.
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      01-05-2022, 09:55 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3798j View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky1 View Post
I'll be doing my research to see if D6 is a safe application for the Z4M gearbox.
Good description and I agree. Red Line say the Z4M takes their D4 ATF.
I too saw the Red Line recommends D4 for the Z4M. FCP Euro lists D4 as compatible. MTL does not show up if you search for 'transmission fluid' while filtering for a Z4M. But if you dig up the item on their site, it says it compatible. ECS Tuning also says it's compatible. But I didn't like the inconsistency of the FCP Euro site, so I asked a local speed shop that specializes in BMW race cars. They said MTL or D4 is fine. MTL is a little thicker than D4. One of the guys there will Z4M uses a mix of D4/MTL. Apparently D6 is even thinner than D4. So better for cold climates but doesn't offer as much wear protection.
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      01-06-2022, 09:04 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmm-five View Post
Vanne, I thought you'd know better...transmission/differential fluids in a Z4M is not lifetime

The servicing schedule says diff & gearbox oils every Inspection 2.



Non-Ms and some newer M vehicles have "lifetime fluids", but yes BMW recommended trans/diff flushes on our Z4Ms.
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      01-07-2022, 09:10 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmm-five View Post
Vanne, I thought you'd know better...transmission/differential fluids in a Z4M is not lifetime

The servicing schedule says diff & gearbox oils every Inspection 2.



Lol yeah I know that, but the amount of BMW techs that will tell you otherwise.. lol

Makes it a good point to have a rough idea yourself.

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      01-07-2022, 03:46 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanne View Post
Lol yeah I know that, but the amount of BMW techs that will tell you otherwise.. lol

Makes it a good point to have a rough idea yourself.

I also have an F31 3-series auto, and it seem everything is “lifetime”
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      01-07-2022, 06:08 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmm-five View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanne View Post
Lol yeah I know that, but the amount of BMW techs that will tell you otherwise.. lol

Makes it a good point to have a rough idea yourself.

I also have an F31 3-series auto, and it seem everything is "lifetime"
My '04 Z4 2.5i is an auto and the owner's manual says the transmission fluid is lifetime. But I changed it anyway. BMW must define lifetime as 100K miles figuring that folks will sell and move on by then.
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      01-10-2022, 08:38 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomjonesBT33 View Post
Picked up a Z4 M roadster at the beginning of Dec. Prior owner had done a good bit of work to get it running and driving like new. PO said that he changed all the fluids, but I have a hard time believing the trans fluid was changed. See pic of the oil I removed today. Replaced the oil with Red Line MTL. Haven't been able to drive it yet, but just rowing the gears while in the garage, I can tell it's shifting much smoother.

MTL is 75W80, but seems thin like ATF. We'll see how it does. May switch to MOTUL 75W90 as I'd like a little thicker oil in the gearbox.
5 years ago I bought a CPO Wrangler from a popular Jeep dealer. Upon final inspection of the car I noticed that the brake fluid was still dark. The dealer acknowledged that they don't change "all the fluids" when they state "change fluids" in the CPO work list. Seems what constitutes "fluids" is up to interpretation in the Automobile sales profession.
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