I recently got emboldened by all the youtube and FCPEuro videos on maintaining it myself! Changed the front and rear M Sport brake rotors and pads without a problem (used Brembo OEM all around).
Decided to tackle BMW's so called "life time fill" of the transmission and differentials next.
Rear differential fluid change was a piece of cake and oil did not look too bad. Make sure you have the little U shaped fluid extraction tool from FCPEuro, makes it easier.
Transmission, was another story! Bought the FCPEuro kit with the 7 bottle ZF Fluid, bolts and the ZF Pan with integrated filter made by Hengst.
First try and open the fill plug - you don't want to drain it and then find that you cant access or open the fill plug. That would lead to a bad day. You will need a short head allen wrench to get the fill plug open as the exhaust pipe blocks anything bigger. I took a standard one from harbor freight and used an angle grinder to cut to the right size.
After that open the drain plug into a clear jug so you can see color and quantity easily. The drained oil did not look good! It was a dark blackish color and extracted about 4.5L.
Removed the pan and that was when I got really concerned. The magnets had picked up a bunch of metal filaments (see photos) and there was some cloudiness to the oil in the filter bottom but not the extracted jug of oil. Would love your thoughts on what I found in the pan.
BTW, when putting the new pan on, DO NOT tighten the bolts past 10nm (use an accurate and small torque wrench), or you will snap the bolt as I did - thankfully the stub was accessible by a pair of needle nose pliers and I was able to back it out.
So what do metal filaments in the oil mean? Was the transmission going? Was it on its last legs and this fluid change will make it last?
On a very positive note, I had a engine RPM related vibration in the steering column, pedals and floor that the dealer assured me was a $5500 engine mount job. That vibration completely disappeared after the transmission fluid change perhaps indicating it was the transmission/torque converter that was causing it in the first place.
If nothing else, this experience for me puts the lie to BMW's claims of life tine fluids. Perhaps they have an odd definition of what is a lifetime for their marvelous cars. If you have not yet, change your transmission and differential oils - it can only help.
