I have to do transmission oil changes in 3 BMWs in the next couple of weeks. 2 of mine and one friend's. I have a 17mm allen wrench from my VW days but what is ideal for getting the oil in the gearbox? I've seen some pretty snazzy stuff in the Groit's catalog but I'd like to know what works best on older(e28,e30 and e24) bimmers.
I'm planning on using Redline MTL. Any thoughts or other suggestions?
transmission oil change
I use a length of tubing attached to a funnel, i stick the tubing down the engine bay, and get under the car to stick into the fill hole. Then I pour the redline into the funnel. The funnel is graduated so I just fill one whole quart, and then .3 quarts. I check the fill level with a bent bread twisty or other makeshift tool and put 'er back together. As many others have suggested, make sure to take out the fill plug before the drain plug, in case the fill plug gets stuck. No fun if you cant get any oil back into the tranny. Good luck
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Threeshifter
- Posts: 704
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
I just changed to redline MTL. I used a pump that was designed for 1 gallon a bottle. I used a 1 gallon 10w40 motor oil bottle as a transfer vessel. The pump had an output hose with a nozzle with teeth designed to stick into the filler hole. This is kind of nice because you do not have to go from over to under the car. There is a portion of lube at the bottom of the bottle that might not get sucked into the pump if the hose does not touch the bottom.
I noticed a signing of my transmission with the redline MTL. Many others have had the same experience. I do not notice it as much anymore but it is still there. Kink of sounds like a turbo whistling.
There is a thread here about the singing.
I noticed a signing of my transmission with the redline MTL. Many others have had the same experience. I do not notice it as much anymore but it is still there. Kink of sounds like a turbo whistling.
There is a thread here about the singing.
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smackmybutter535i
- Posts: 426
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Rich in Tupelo
- Posts: 2917
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Spring Hill, TN
How much oil does our trans take? I thought it was 4 quarts? I bought 4 quarts of MTL, so, I'm guessing thats gonna be more than enough, lol?
How much oil do our diffs take, and it's the 75-90, correct?
Do you own a bentley manual yet? The tranny will hold between one and two quarts if manual. The G265 holds more.
Rich
[QUOTE="kendogg"]How much oil does our trans take? I thought it was 4 quarts? I bought 4 quarts of MTL, so, I'm guessing thats gonna be more than enough, lol?
How much oil do our diffs take, and it's the 75-90, correct?[/QUOTE]
I think diffs take 2 quarts.
edit: bentley says 1.9 quarts for 528 and 533, 2.0 for 535. I guess it depends on diff upgrades too though.
[Edit by pdx 528e on [TIME]1109650515[/TIME]]
How much oil do our diffs take, and it's the 75-90, correct?[/QUOTE]
I think diffs take 2 quarts.
edit: bentley says 1.9 quarts for 528 and 533, 2.0 for 535. I guess it depends on diff upgrades too though.
[Edit by pdx 528e on [TIME]1109650515[/TIME]]
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Threeshifter
- Posts: 704
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
My independent mech says excess oil may get pushed through the seals when it heats up if overfilled. Two bottles of each redline product should suit your needs, unless you want to flush the transmission with more than one fill. If you dont have a G265 your transmission will definitely need 1.3 quarts.
[Edit by pdx 528e on [TIME]1109651221[/TIME]]
[Edit by pdx 528e on [TIME]1109651221[/TIME]]
[QUOTE="Peete"]Any thoughts or other suggestions?[/QUOTE]
Getting Trans Fluid into your Manual Trans with the StaLube pump and a Listerine bottle is a simple task. The Listerine bottle is short enough to allow pump operation with a moderate vehicle height and the tube is long enough to go into the transmission filler opening, by feeding the tube up over the exhaust pipe next to the filler plug. Have a friend available to add fluid to the bottle, as it will take about 1-1/2 bottles to fill the transmission up.
http://automotive.hardwarestore.com/11- ... 48771.aspx
Getting Trans Fluid into your Manual Trans with the StaLube pump and a Listerine bottle is a simple task. The Listerine bottle is short enough to allow pump operation with a moderate vehicle height and the tube is long enough to go into the transmission filler opening, by feeding the tube up over the exhaust pipe next to the filler plug. Have a friend available to add fluid to the bottle, as it will take about 1-1/2 bottles to fill the transmission up.
http://automotive.hardwarestore.com/11- ... 48771.aspx
[QUOTE="SmokinDav"]Where's the best place to buy the 17mm allen socket?[/QUOTE]
I got a set of 3 big internal hex attachments for a ratchet. for like $10 from AutoZone. I think that's where I bought my set of 6 or 7 smaller ones, too. IIRC, the diff is a 10mm allen socket, and I think the tranny plugs are different, depending on which transmission you have.
I got a set of 3 big internal hex attachments for a ratchet. for like $10 from AutoZone. I think that's where I bought my set of 6 or 7 smaller ones, too. IIRC, the diff is a 10mm allen socket, and I think the tranny plugs are different, depending on which transmission you have.
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Threeshifter
- Posts: 704
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
I bought a 17mm driver from MSC. They were very accommodating in that they did not require any special account setup, minimum purchase, vendor ID or anything. They can ship to you door. I go the part # from a book
The only problem is that the one that I bought was quite long. Not a problem on the drain but too long to use on the filler because of the close proximity of the under body. I used a metal cutoff saw to cut about half of the shank off so I can still use it with a drive and now I have a stub that I can use with a box wrench to get the filler plug.
My first unsuccessful attempt was to use a lug bolt with the 17mm head and a set of vise grips. It is worth the money to invest in a 17mm driver as you do not want to strip the plugs and they can be stubborn.
The only problem is that the one that I bought was quite long. Not a problem on the drain but too long to use on the filler because of the close proximity of the under body. I used a metal cutoff saw to cut about half of the shank off so I can still use it with a drive and now I have a stub that I can use with a box wrench to get the filler plug.
My first unsuccessful attempt was to use a lug bolt with the 17mm head and a set of vise grips. It is worth the money to invest in a 17mm driver as you do not want to strip the plugs and they can be stubborn.
Just bought the 17mm hex bit socket on Ebay - it was even made in Germany!
I tried Sears.com, MAC Tools and Snap-on and they all just sell the sets. I already have a set up to 10mm so I just need the one 17mm socket.
I could have bought a 17mm allen wrench and cut it to fit my 17mm socket but I figured I'll just go ahead and buy the right tool for the job.
I usually end up buying different tools whenever I have a new car to work on. So far with the E28 it's been a 10" 1/2-drive extension to reach the exhaust down pipe nuts and this 17mm allen socket to change my gear oil.
I guess that means one of two things:
1) I haven't done much work on the BMW (just wait until sub-frame bushing replacment) - which is suprising as I only paid $2,000 for it and it has 225,000 miles on it! All I've done to it since I bought it in July is change the oil, new starter, drive shaft center bearing and guibo. Amazing car!
or
2) I have owned a lot of cars that I have had to wrench on and I have a large tool collection.
I tried Sears.com, MAC Tools and Snap-on and they all just sell the sets. I already have a set up to 10mm so I just need the one 17mm socket.
I could have bought a 17mm allen wrench and cut it to fit my 17mm socket but I figured I'll just go ahead and buy the right tool for the job.
I usually end up buying different tools whenever I have a new car to work on. So far with the E28 it's been a 10" 1/2-drive extension to reach the exhaust down pipe nuts and this 17mm allen socket to change my gear oil.
I guess that means one of two things:
1) I haven't done much work on the BMW (just wait until sub-frame bushing replacment) - which is suprising as I only paid $2,000 for it and it has 225,000 miles on it! All I've done to it since I bought it in July is change the oil, new starter, drive shaft center bearing and guibo. Amazing car!
or
2) I have owned a lot of cars that I have had to wrench on and I have a large tool collection.
Thanks for the replies. Is the singing very noticeable on the highway? I can get Lubro Moly products at my local import parts store if that will be better.
I run MTL in my 87 Golf and it's quiet. Weird.
Sounds like the funnel and long hose is the ticket since I have that already.
Thanks for the reminder on the fill plug. I did that on my 93 Passat. I drained the tranny then couldn't find the fill hole. VW wasn't going to tell me either. The shop that replaced the throw out bearing and clutch filled it for me.
I run MTL in my 87 Golf and it's quiet. Weird.
Sounds like the funnel and long hose is the ticket since I have that already.
Thanks for the reminder on the fill plug. I did that on my 93 Passat. I drained the tranny then couldn't find the fill hole. VW wasn't going to tell me either. The shop that replaced the throw out bearing and clutch filled it for me.
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RetiredDoc
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Aiken SC
You can pick up the 17mm socket wrench for about $15.00 on ebay right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... ename=WDVW
For filling both the transmission and the differential I use a 60cc catherter-tipped syringe with a length of tubing attached to it. The catheter tipa and the tube diameter allows the oil to flow fairly easily
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... ename=WDVW
For filling both the transmission and the differential I use a 60cc catherter-tipped syringe with a length of tubing attached to it. The catheter tipa and the tube diameter allows the oil to flow fairly easily
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smackmybutter535i
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
[QUOTE="Peete"]Any thoughts or other suggestions?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE="rodpaine"]Getting Trans Fluid into your Manual Trans with the StaLube pump and a Listerine bottle is a simple task. The Listerine bottle is short enough to allow pump operation with a moderate vehicle height and the tube is long enough to go into the transmission filler opening, by feeding the tube up over the exhaust pipe next to the filler plug. Have a friend available to add fluid to the bottle, as it will take about 1-1/2 bottles to fill the transmission up.
http://automotive.hardwarestore.com/11- ... 48771.aspx [/QUOTE]
Thats Exactly what I'm usin'
[QUOTE="rodpaine"]Getting Trans Fluid into your Manual Trans with the StaLube pump and a Listerine bottle is a simple task. The Listerine bottle is short enough to allow pump operation with a moderate vehicle height and the tube is long enough to go into the transmission filler opening, by feeding the tube up over the exhaust pipe next to the filler plug. Have a friend available to add fluid to the bottle, as it will take about 1-1/2 bottles to fill the transmission up.
http://automotive.hardwarestore.com/11- ... 48771.aspx [/QUOTE]
Thats Exactly what I'm usin'
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smackmybutter535i
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006