"Sealed for Life" Automatic Gearbox

jayok

Apparently the Automatic gearbox in my BMW is "sealed for life" meaning that the fluid need never be changed. However, there seems to be some differing opinions on this fact. BMWs stance it all should be ok, but others feel the fluid should be changed say every 60k. Would anyone know best thing to do here. i.e. I don't want to waste money on a fluid change if it's not necessary, but if it's better then I will spend it.

Anyone?

Anan1

I'm in the same situation with my A8, as are certain Mercedes drivers. My advice is to have the fluid & filters changed - i've seen pictures online of what came out of relatively low-mileage gearboxes.

mike65

Agree, the first thing I did when I got mine was change the fluid - it made a difference. So the idea the unit is sealed for life is ridiculous.

Mike.

Volvoboy

Would like to know what BMW considers as ''For Life'', 15 years??




-VB-

SouperComputer

Volvoboy wrote:

Would like to know what BMW considers as ''For Life'', 15 years??




-VB-

Well thats just the thing, "lifetime" is a very relative term. 100K miles is probably a fair figure, but it depends on how hard it has been driven.

Its built-in obsolescence IMO

Esel

But if it's sealed, how do you unseal it? :eek:

maidhc

SouperComputer wrote:

100K miles is probably a fair figure, but it depends on how hard it has been driven.

Not in a modern car it isn't. Double it at least.

Cmar-Ireland

esel wrote:

But if it's sealed, how do you unseal it? :eek:

Good question, I'm curious to know. Might get it done with mine!

nialler

Mercedes issued a bulletin last year stating that the auto boxes are no longer sealed for life they said that life meant warranty term on the car. I had the fluid and filters changed on my S320 at 84k miles made a huge difference to the car, unfortunately on that particular car you cannot drain the torque converter so there'll always be a little old fluid in there.

If yer beemer is out of warranty conway transmissions is yer only man, fantastic job and a really nice guy.

unkel

I've been interested in this myself. The box on my '96 BMW 735 (137k miles) is "sealed for life" as well as are all current BMW autoboxes afaik

Here is a huge poll of BMW owners and their experiences with their autoboxes. Their are mixed experiences and opinions and the jury seems to be out there

I scanned the thread for cars with the same engine / tranny as my car and the vast majority of high mileage cars did not have any issues. Before I read the poll, I was thinking of having it done, but I've since decided against it

My tranny still has silky smooth gear changes. If it hadn't, I would go for the change

Cmar-Ireland

My gearbox is changing smoothly too, but I haven't had an auto bmw before to compare it to. It a '95 525tds with 82k. Should I consider getting the oil and filters changed?

mike65

If its fine don't bother I'd say. You know if the fluid is tired if you pull the dipstick (assuming its got one) and the contents are dark and/or smelly. The other giveway is sluggish changes where the revs rise for 'too long' before the change happens.

esel - sealed for life is just a manufacturers technical recommendation, the unit still has bolts you can undo.

Mike.

Esel

I think dark tranny fluid or burnt smell are a 'walk away' situation. I certainly wouldn't wait until then to change oil/filter. On a '95 car, unless the service history shows a previous change, I personally would be getting it done just for peace of mind. Basically with an auto box the strategy is to avoid/prevent possible problems, or else you could be facing a very large bill at some point.