[Kolyan2k]

It's a bit confusing since M cars require everything drained at 1200 miles while M235i with M-Performance LSD don't. If there is no need for new fluids after break-in, whats the intervals then?

[2fer6]

M cars are shipped with break in fluids designed specifically for their engines and parts. We don't have special break in fluids in our cars and therefore they don't need to be drained. Instead we follow the standard CBS maintenance intervals ( aka replace things when the car tells you to ).

M performance LSD is not the same one in the M2/3/4 so they cannot be compared. It is also shipped with "lifetime" fluids and as such never needs to be changed.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Killramos

M cars are shipped with break in fluids designed specifically for their engines and parts. We don't have special break in fluids in our cars and therefore they don't need to be drained. Instead we follow the standard CBS maintenance intervals ( aka replace things when the car tells you to ).

M performance LSD is not the same one in the M2/3/4 so they cannot be compared. It is also shipped with "lifetime" fluids and as such never needs to be changed.

The thing is life time fluids is marketing bs. Someone also noted that 1M and M235i have the same transmission but intervals are different (correct me if I am wrong)

[2fer6]

Honestly I think the clutch packs on the LSD will go before the fluid is in bad enough shape to make a difference. ie Complete rebuild. The diff isn't designed for regular maintenance in any case ( wonder why its not offered as a factory option? ).

As for the transmission you are probably right that its the same unit, and likely not manufactured by BMW in any case. I believe its a getrag unit that is also used in a lot of other cars as well.

At this point it is just pure speculation as to why the maintenance intervals are different between BMW, the OEM supplier, any changes that have been made to the transmission within the past 5 years.

Overall, don't worry about the break in service as you don't have break in fluids. Beyond that if you want the transmission fluids changed prior to their scheduled replacement date that's going to be on you for cost and outside of the inclusive maintenance program.

A lot of people on here had early oil changes done on their cars, me included, at 6 months rather than the specified 1 year interval but we had to pay for it for example. Just depends how paranoid you are about BMW being chintzy on maintenance items.

[Kolyan2k]

Yeah I hear you.....on my s2k it was 15k for diff and 30k for tranny. I understand that diff in M235 is not torsen and I don't know much about maintenance on those.

I guess I should be ok till at least 30k on my tranny fluid.

[EEBreh]

Trans fluid was filthy when I changed it at 1200 miles. Its reasonably cheap to change the fluids, I would do it. I'm not buying that the M cars have break in fluids.

[Kolyan2k]

Read Mike's old school BMW maintenance, pretty much recommendation is to flush engine, tranny, and diff at 1,200 miles and then tranny and diff every 30k miles, engine oil every 7k

That's how it was until BMW introduce free maintenance program and all of a sudden all same fluids became "life time"

[Pparana]

Change mine once a year, lots of track use, both have clutch packs that wear and contaminate the fluid causing abrasive wear. I use redline oils slightly different viscosity than oem.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Pparana

Change mine once a year, lots of track use, both have clutch packs that wear and contaminate the fluid causing abrasive wear. I use redline oils slightly different viscosity than oem.

How easy is it to change fluid in M performance LSD? Are there fill and drain plugs? And how much it takes?

[Solarphil]

Changing the diff lube isn't hard, but you will need an extraction syringe, I picked up a CTA 7073 for about $40.

It takes one quart, I used Redline 75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil.

[augerpro]

Would the xdrive transfer case be similarly easy to service?

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by augerpro

Would the xdrive transfer case be similarly easy to service?

Servicing the xDrive transfer case is supposedly not difficult, but there are two things to be aware of:

1. Use BMW transfer case fluid ONLY. The fluid is pricey, but no non-OEM fluids are acceptable in the transfer case.
2. The clutchpack control system needs to be reset every time you change the fluid. I don't know if aftermarket coding tools have this option.

[Kolyan2k]

Called BMW to ask them how much it would cost....they said they have no idea since car is new and they would need to find out the pricing, also spoke to me like I am some weirdo who wants to change fluids this early and pay for it out of pocket

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Called BMW to ask them how much it would cost....they said they have no idea since car is new and they would need to find out the pricing, also spoke to me like I am some weirdo who wants to change fluids this early and pay for it out of pocket

So did my dealer lol

[huma]

Is there a diy write up on changing the transmission oil? I've done it on honda's before, don't know how much more difficult it would be for the 2 series.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by huma

Is there a diy write up on changing the transmission oil? I've done it on honda's before, don't know how much more difficult it would be for the 2 series.

Its the same for manual. Tranny has drain and fill plugs, Diff only fill plug, need to suck out the fluid

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by BentZero

So did my dealer lol

I called another dealer, they quoted something like $220-250 for tranny and $190 for diff.

Thing is I dont really trust the dealers, I've heard many stories of oil changes that were not even done and yet they charge top dollars. And at the same time I dont want to void the warranty on those 2 parts if something goes wrong and then they gonna blame me for changing oil . Local BMW mechanic quoted $250 for both + fluids, others can probably do it cheaper. For $100 bucks Honda tech done engine, tranny, diff, clutch, brake fluids, and accessory belt on my S2k everything took him like an hour max. I bet its the same 1 hour on all cars if you know what you are doing....

[SteveInfante]

I'm about to hit the 30K milage mark so what is everyone using for the trans fluid? I was thinking of using Royal Purple Synchromesh.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

I'm about to hit the 30K milage mark so what is everyone using for the trans fluid? I was thinking of using Royal Purple Synchromesh.

For some reason Red Line recommends ATF in BMW manuals but I wouldn't use that. I was thinking going stock for tranny and maybe Mobil1 for diff. That's what I use in my s2k

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I called another dealer, they quoted something like $220-250 for tranny and $190 for diff.

Thing is I dont really trust the dealers, I've heard many stories of oil changes that were not even done and yet they charge top dollars. And at the same time I dont want to void the warranty on those 2 parts if something goes wrong and then they gonna blame me for changing oil . Local BMW mechanic quoted $250 for both + fluids, others can probably do it cheaper. For $100 bucks Honda tech done engine, tranny, diff, clutch, brake fluids, and accessory belt on my S2k everything took him like an hour max. I bet its the same 1 hour on all cars if you know what you are doing....

Part of the cost is that the genuine BMW tranny oil is ungodly expensive - I think they make it out of unicorn tears. IIRC, I paid $160 for a 4L bottle from BavAuto when I got my 328i. Figured I would use the OEM stuff for the first change for warranty purposes. I have enough left to do the M235i, assuming it takes the same stuff. Out of warranty, both will get redline.

The BMW diff fluid is expensive too, but it is exactly the same stuff Land Rover uses, and you can get it from them for much, much cheaper. IIRC, $10/L vs. $30/L.

I must admit, I was much more anal about the 328i than I am about the M235i. Mostly because I intend to own the wagon 20+ years from now, and the coupe probably not.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

For some reason Red Line recommends ATF in BMW manuals but I wouldn't use that. I was thinking going stock for tranny and maybe Mobil1 for diff. That's what I use in my s2k

Lots of manual transmissions use ATF, it is not even remotely unusual. But reality is manual transmissions aren't really all that fussy as a general rule. The exact same third-party transmission might well have several different fluids specced by the various manufacturers that use it in their cars.

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Part of the cost is that the genuine BMW tranny oil is ungodly expensive - I think they make it out of unicorn tears. IIRC, I paid $160 for a 4L bottle from BavAuto when I got my 328i. Figured I would use the OEM stuff for the first change for warranty purposes. I have enough left to do the M235i, assuming it takes the same stuff. Out of warranty, both will get redline.

With that price and with a 4L bottle being good for two cars, I'm assuming you have a manual transmission.

You want expensive? The ZF transmission in an M235i automatic takes around 8 liters. While you can get ZF branded fluid for $27/quart, pricing for BMW branded fluid is between $70 and $80 a quart online.