BMW ZF6 gearbox service

Sexual Chocolate

Lads I've received a couple of quotes from two well known BMW indys for a gearbox fluid change or service kit as one garage called it.

One garage is 300 and the other is 500, big difference. I'm gonna phone each one on Monday to find out more as I was quoted via Messenger. Between now and then I thought I'd ask here.

I can only assume that the €500 job is offering more or do places vary that much in price ? I do know that the ZF oil itself can be expensive........

What is typically involved in servicing of these boxes and what would be a fair price ?

challengemaster

https://www.rmeuropean.com/bmw-e90-325i-transmission-fluid-change.aspx

https://www.car-parts24.com/ZF-Oil-change-Kit-automatic-transmission-for-BMW-6HP19-6HP21

Kit including replacment oil pan seems to be €200.

Sexual Chocolate

Fcuk me there's a lot involved in that, especially with pumping the fluid in. The €200 kit would obviously reflect more on the €500 quote I'm assuming.

Is it true BM say you don't need to service these but ZF say other wise or is that just the ZF8 box ?

challengemaster

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Fcuk me there's a lot involved in that, especially with pumping the fluid in. The €200 kit would obviously reflect more on the €500 quote I'm assuming.

Doesn't look like much work at all to me. I'd say the €500 quote is an absolute rip off if it looks like it takes an hour and the parts are €200.

Sexual Chocolate

challengemaster wrote: »

Doesn't look like much work at all to me. I'd say the €500 quote is an absolute rip off if it looks like it takes an hour and the parts are €200.

Was referring to the temperature part of the fluid at the end. Technical would probably be a better word.... Suppose now that I think of it that would be more in line with the €300 quote which also replaces the pan/sump.

nogoodnamesleft

I have looked into this for my autobox on my 5 series (8HP). The ZF service kit is available here:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/zf-getriebe/8824048

The procedure looks to be involved...filling the box...letting the box get to a certain temperature...filling some more.... stepping through the gearbox...filling some more....holding revs at 2000rpm.....filling some more all the while keeping the temp range between a certain range.

Some of the you tube videos reference that the transmission cooler isnt purged of all the old oil. I think the most fool proof way to ensure the box as as much fluid as it requires would be to measure the volume drained and put the same volume back in.

Esel

Does the gearbox need to be flushed partially a number of times and refilled with fresh oil each time?

ARGINITE

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Is it true BM say you don't need to service these but ZF say other wise or is that just the ZF8 box ?

BMW originally sold many car with sealed for life transmissions, what BMW defined as life is debatable I'd be changing the fluid every 50 - 100K miles.

I did a fluid change for the ZF 5HP18 recently in my E38. Original quote from BMW for 3 liters of transmission fluid was €210. After determining what fluid to use I got 20 liters for €120, a new filter and sump gasket €50. Then it's a fairly easy process (but very messy) to change the fluid as long as you have a lift and the necessary BMW software to read the transmission fluid temperature.

Wailin

Been thinking about doing this on my own zf8hp box and it seems the most difficult part is access. Getting the car up high enough off the ground for comfortable clearance would not be easy, for me at least. The actual service itself looks straightforward once you follow zf's instructions.

Wailin

Esel wrote: »

Does the gearbox need to be flushed partially a number of times and refilled with fresh oil each time?

Yes, to ensure full oil replacement you need to flush it and go through gears a few times.

Sexual Chocolate

Booked the car in for next week. From what I can gather the garage uses Liqui Moly fluid for these gearboxes as opposed to the ZF fluid. Should there be any concern ?