[tylerdurdon]

Good morning fellow enthusiasts.

I come to you in need of confirmation as to what I have to do.

I need to replace my transmission fluid (ZF). I've searched the forums but am having a difficult time finding my answers.

1.) I know that since it's a manual transmission, I don't have that sleeve, but until now, I thought I had a pan-filter. I read in a post that I do not. Is this correct? No transmission filter on the manual transmission?

2.) I was also skimming an M3 thread on the subject and they mention the transmission cooler and having to empty that. In the DIYs for the 335 (and other non-M3 vehicles), I've seen no mention of it. Do we have a transmission cooler on this puppy as well?

Thanks for any help guys (and potentially gals).

[EndOfAnEra]

1) No filter. Just a drain and fill plug.

2) No trans cooler

What fluid are you thinking of using? I will probably go with Redline when I am ready to change fluid.

[tylerdurdon]

Sweet! Then I'll flush it this weekend.

I already bought the stock fluid...probably overpaid a ton, but I was also overdue (by way too much).

The parts guys up at my local dealer still have their heads in the clouds with the tranny fluid. My car has almost 150k miles on it and he was trying to tell me I shouldn't change the fluid because it's "lifetime."

Thanks for the help!

[ednyc2nc]

U pick red line over synchro max by royal purple? ?

[bmwsinceday1]

Originally Posted by ednyc2nc

U pick red line over synchro max by royal purple? ?

Interesting- but why pick either? isnt what we're needing GL-5 spec? If not, please advise..........

[climax_e92]

I used Redline at 81k miles. Made a ton of difference. Shifting is way smoother. Not as notch as before.

[31 Hz]

Just did this job and this tool made it very easy. (I can't STAND cheap hand pumps that leak fluid all over the place.)

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-58...ial-fluid.aspx



You can find it elsewhere, but if you do shop elsewhere make sure you get the version with the ball valve (yellow handle in photo above) at the end of the fill tubing.

BTW I used Redline D6 ATF, although my research indicated that for hard/track use a slightly thicker fluid like Redline MTL would be more appropriate.

Finally, I'm sure you've read it elsewhere but I also recommend removing the FILL plug first to ensure that 1) it's not stuck; 2) you have adequate clearance for the tools that you are using (there's not a lot of extra room).

Edited to show that I used D6 ATF, not D4.

[roundle]

I replaced my 2011 328iT 6MT's fluid for the first time at about 70K miles.

While the transmission wasn't having trouble, I noticed that it was starting to feel a little notchy when cold. After the fresh fluid, it was again butter-smooth.

The BMW Dealer's tech told me that the stuff that came out was "darker than what went in" but still pretty clean. He also mentioned that most customers do not bother to change the MT fluid.

The fluid change was cheap. It's just a liter or two of fluid and 20 min of labor. No filters. Just a drain hole and a fill hole.