Manual Gearbox Oil Changed- Well worth it!

[Mr Tidy]

I had mine changed when it had a service last June, and it definitely felt a bit better afterwards - mind you I fitted a ZHP knob at the same time, so that may also have been a factor!

[markalp]

As BMW think that gearbox/diff lubricants are lifetime fluids does this mean they are never changed when Inspection I / II are performed. If so I'm getting it booked in to get those done next week, I just assumed it would be part of the major service, whoops I mean Inpection II (I really must get up to speed on all this BMW terminology)

[eddiemunster]

I am sure they have life tested their transmissions without oil change and they are fine.

Transmission oil is more about heat dissipation than lubrication, so running it without oil for a short period of time wouldn't really prove anything: it'd be noisier and it'd over-heat fairly quickly. "Oil for life" is a nonsense in engineering terms, what's closer is "It'll do, for a lifetime", but personally I'd change mine every 40k-50k/3-4 years, particularly on those transmissions with LSDs as oil weight can affect their efficiency.

[Mr Tidy]

As BMW think that gearbox/diff lubricants are lifetime fluids does this mean they are never changed when Inspection I / II are performed. If so I'm getting it booked in to get those done next week, I just assumed it would be part of the major service, whoops I mean Inpection II (I really must get up to speed on all this BMW terminology)

Exactly - BMW think they are lifetime, so changing them is not part of either Inspection.

If you want them changed you'll need to ask specifically for it to be done. My Indy didn't do my differential (I've got an E86) as he said it doesn't have a drain plug, but the gearbox does.

[Magicarcher]

I am sure they have life tested their transmissions without oil change and they are fine.

Transmission oil is more about heat dissipation than lubrication, so running it without oil for a short period of time wouldn't really prove anything: it'd be noisier and it'd over-heat fairly quickly. "Oil for life" is a nonsense in engineering terms, what's closer is "It'll do, for a lifetime", but personally I'd change mine every 40k-50k/3-4 years, particularly on those transmissions with LSDs as oil weight can affect their efficiency.

What I said was "..I am sure they have life tested their transmissions without oil change.." IE when they do durability testing on their transmissions they keep the same oil in at the start for the duration of the transmission life without changing it. What I did not say is they will test their transmission without oil.

[Scooba_Steve]

I expect lifetime only means 100k miles though, and I'm sure the bean counters only consider lifetime to be to the end of the warranty period...

[Jamesw]

As BMW think that gearbox/diff lubricants are lifetime fluids does this mean they are never changed when Inspection I / II are performed. If so I'm getting it booked in to get those done next week, I just assumed it would be part of the major service, whoops I mean Inpection II (I really must get up to speed on all this BMW terminology)

I assumed everything would be taken care of at the inspections too. It appears not, as far as I can tell it’s just engine oil, spark plugs and air filter that are changed. Just ticked over 90k so I’ve booked the coupe in this week for coolant, gearbox, diff and engine oil. I get brake fluid done every two years also.

[R60BBA]

Got mine changed at Munich Legends on Saturday.

I deffo recommend it also.

The gearbox is less notchy and much smoother now.