X5M Transmission Fluid

WallyM5 · 01-08-2015, 07:54 AM

I am approaching 100,000 miles and getting ready to do some maintenance. The manual states we should change the fluid at 100K, so that is what I will do. I will also change out the the transmission filter.

After doing some research our transmission uses a fluid that meets shell m1375.4 specifications. Of coarse BMW will sell you the fluid, but it is made by ZF. You can save yourself some money and buy their fluid without the BMW logo:

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/c-22...n-filters.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CJ36DYI/...I3HVFO4NGNEGUS

I am not sure on the amount needed but I will find out and report back. Any helpful information you guys want to share please do. I am going to get BMW's instruction on changing the fluid and will post those as well.

m5james · 08-25-2015, 02:29 AM

Bump for information...I'm thinking of all the E39/39/53 threads where everyone says we should replace the fluid and filter at 30-50k. I've got 64k now, so this would be nice info to have.

smyles · 08-25-2015, 02:54 PM

And there're still people who swear by 3K oil changes. So?

m5james · 08-25-2015, 10:49 PM

Who said anything about ENGINE oil changes? 3k oil changes are as stupid as lifetime fluid changes...one is outdated, the other is absurd. There are COUNTLESS threads where people changed their transmission fluid at reasonable ranges and no issues, but there are just as many who wish they had because their transmissions failed. Go look at pics on Google...lifetime fluid was nothing more than BMW trying to save money since they started including maintenance with their vehicles. Made by BMW or not, it's still a mechanical machine that needs regular fluid changes...the badge doesn't make it exempt and magical.

smyles · 08-26-2015, 06:47 AM

... and there're even more people who just follow manufacturer (ZF) or BMW recommendations, live a happy life and never post on forums. So?

M5Beast_NYC · 08-26-2015, 03:07 PM

I really dont see any negative reason of renewing the oil. I have an e70 X5 with over 100k miles now and it was replaced around 80k or so. I replaced it myself as i noticed the transmission pan gasket was leaking and the dealer replaced it again when they say the mechatronic was leaking.

the point is, as long as you go oem oil and oil gasket, you should be fine and can have the piece of mind.

Toneaero · 08-26-2015, 04:16 PM

Not to side track the original topic any further but I don't think you will find any definitive answer on oil change frequency. I have the old skool way of thinking that oil should be changed every 3k miles too. However, when I asked my service tech, he states that the latest tech doesn't apply to the old dino oil. Today's synthetics are far superior and doesn't require a generic 3k mileage expiration. Rather it should be based on how hard you drive and in what kind of conditions. I'm still on the fence. Hell, I still "warm up" my car before I put it in drive when most BMW related articles I read online states "drive moderately" to warm up.

m5james · 09-06-2015, 10:00 PM

Warming up the engine doesn't warm up the transmission, so warming up the engine only and then driving it hard will hurt the transmission. Drive it moderately so BOTH get up to temp, them start abusing it.

There's no such thing as lifetime fluid, changing fluid too early is a waste of money, but changing fluid after it's too late has proven from things I've read in the past that once it's beyond a certain point, it'll never get better. Fluids have gotten better for engines as well as transmissions, BMW gets away with longer service intervals also partly due to larger capacities than normal but mostly due to synthetics being a better fluid vs dyno and 3k intervals. The transmission I'd assume would be changed around 30k back in the day, so nowadays maybe 60-90k is the key. Who knows...an answer with the most concrete proof would be to remove some of the used fluid and have it sent out to Blackstone for testing. Anyone wanna be the test subject?

WallyM5 · 09-08-2015, 08:14 PM

I will send mine to Blackstone.

m5james · 09-08-2015, 08:20 PM

Will or are? I wrote Blackstone and they're sending me a kit.

RustyX5M · 11-08-2016, 12:53 PM

Did anyone ever determine how much fluid is required?

Also any tips or write ups available for an X5M trans flush?

01-08-2015, 07:54 AM	#1
WallyM5 Private First Class 42 Rep 139 Posts Drives: X5M, R63 AMG, F-450 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Central Coast, CA iTrader: (0)	X5M Transmission Fluid I am approaching 100,000 miles and getting ready to do some maintenance. The manual states we should change the fluid at 100K, so that is what I will do. I will also change out the the transmission filter. After doing some research our transmission uses a fluid that meets shell m1375.4 specifications. Of coarse BMW will sell you the fluid, but it is made by ZF. You can save yourself some money and buy their fluid without the BMW logo: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/c-22...n-filters.aspx http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CJ36DYI/...I3HVFO4NGNEGUS I am not sure on the amount needed but I will find out and report back. Any helpful information you guys want to share please do. I am going to get BMW's instruction on changing the fluid and will post those as well. __________________ "An on ramp is a terrible thing to waste" EuroCharged Tune--QTP 3" Cutouts--V1 Hardwire--K&N Carbon Delete OEM Muffler Mod--(Best Mod Ever) 15mm Front Spacer--20MM Rear Spacer
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-25-2015, 02:29 AM	#2
m5james Colonel 431 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	Bump for information...I'm thinking of all the E39/39/53 threads where everyone says we should replace the fluid and filter at 30-50k. I've got 64k now, so this would be nice info to have.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-25-2015, 02:54 PM	#3
smyles Major 1023 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: '21 X5 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	And there're still people who swear by 3K oil changes. So?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-25-2015, 10:49 PM	#4
m5james Colonel 431 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	Who said anything about ENGINE oil changes? 3k oil changes are as stupid as lifetime fluid changes...one is outdated, the other is absurd. There are COUNTLESS threads where people changed their transmission fluid at reasonable ranges and no issues, but there are just as many who wish they had because their transmissions failed. Go look at pics on Google...lifetime fluid was nothing more than BMW trying to save money since they started including maintenance with their vehicles. Made by BMW or not, it's still a mechanical machine that needs regular fluid changes...the badge doesn't make it exempt and magical.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

08-26-2015, 06:47 AM	#5
smyles Major 1023 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: '21 X5 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	... and there're even more people who just follow manufacturer (ZF) or BMW recommendations, live a happy life and never post on forums. So?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2015, 03:07 PM	#6
M5Beast_NYC Major 158 Rep 1,314 Posts Drives: 15 M5 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (6)	I really dont see any negative reason of renewing the oil. I have an e70 X5 with over 100k miles now and it was replaced around 80k or so. I replaced it myself as i noticed the transmission pan gasket was leaking and the dealer replaced it again when they say the mechatronic was leaking. the point is, as long as you go oem oil and oil gasket, you should be fine and can have the piece of mind.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2015, 04:16 PM	#7
Toneaero Private First Class 19 Rep 170 Posts Drives: X5M Join Date: May 2013 Location: MN iTrader: (0)	Not to side track the original topic any further but I don't think you will find any definitive answer on oil change frequency. I have the old skool way of thinking that oil should be changed every 3k miles too. However, when I asked my service tech, he states that the latest tech doesn't apply to the old dino oil. Today's synthetics are far superior and doesn't require a generic 3k mileage expiration. Rather it should be based on how hard you drive and in what kind of conditions. I'm still on the fence. Hell, I still "warm up" my car before I put it in drive when most BMW related articles I read online states "drive moderately" to warm up.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-06-2015, 10:00 PM	#8
m5james Colonel 431 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	Warming up the engine doesn't warm up the transmission, so warming up the engine only and then driving it hard will hurt the transmission. Drive it moderately so BOTH get up to temp, them start abusing it. There's no such thing as lifetime fluid, changing fluid too early is a waste of money, but changing fluid after it's too late has proven from things I've read in the past that once it's beyond a certain point, it'll never get better. Fluids have gotten better for engines as well as transmissions, BMW gets away with longer service intervals also partly due to larger capacities than normal but mostly due to synthetics being a better fluid vs dyno and 3k intervals. The transmission I'd assume would be changed around 30k back in the day, so nowadays maybe 60-90k is the key. Who knows...an answer with the most concrete proof would be to remove some of the used fluid and have it sent out to Blackstone for testing. Anyone wanna be the test subject?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-08-2015, 08:14 PM	#9
WallyM5 Private First Class 42 Rep 139 Posts Drives: X5M, R63 AMG, F-450 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Central Coast, CA iTrader: (0)	I will send mine to Blackstone. __________________ "An on ramp is a terrible thing to waste" EuroCharged Tune--QTP 3" Cutouts--V1 Hardwire--K&N Carbon Delete OEM Muffler Mod--(Best Mod Ever) 15mm Front Spacer--20MM Rear Spacer
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-08-2015, 08:20 PM	#10
m5james Colonel 431 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	Will or are? I wrote Blackstone and they're sending me a kit. __________________ '10 BMW X5///M - Alpine White on Sakhir Orange - JB4 w/ HCP Stage 2 BEF, NGK 97506 @ .20, SS tubing & BMC filters, gutted cats, AC Forged 312 22's, H&R 2" '98 BMW 740iL - ///E39 M5 6spd swap, fully built engine (sleeved, P&P, cams), 3.46 LSD, H&R Stage 2/Bilstein HD, Magnaflow 14816's '97 BMW 328ci - ///E36 M3 clutch & L/W flywheel, Z4///M 18's
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-08-2016, 12:53 PM	#11
RustyX5M Private 3 Rep 65 Posts Drives: e70 x5m Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	Did anyone ever determine how much fluid is required? Also any tips or write ups available for an X5M trans flush?
	Appreciate 0 Quote