Gearbox and Diff oil recommendations please?

[True-Blue]

Afternoon all,

Going for an engine Oil, Gearbox oil and Diff oil change on my 30i manual. Have Mann filters already.

I’m ok on the engine oil front, but what’s the current thinking on the Diff oil and gearbox oil and how much do I need to order?

Going to get my garage around the corner to do it as too much of a faff on axle stands.

[bigwinn]

If it’s the same as the m54 engines and a manual it’s a litre in each

Check your diff- later cars only had a full plug, not a drain and fill so you have to suck the old oil out

Gearbox is 75w80 and gearbox 75w90 from memory but whatever brand you go for it will be better than the slop that’s in there!!

Stuart

[True-Blue]

If it’s the same as the m54 engines and a manual it’s a litre in each

Check your diff- later cars only had a full plug, not a drain and fill so you have to suck the old oil out

Gearbox is 75w80 and gearbox 75w90 from memory but whatever brand you go for it will be better than the slop that’s in there!!

Stuart

I’ll leave the physical changing of fluids to the little garage around the corner, they’re old school… they’ll get the apprentice to suck it out with a big bendy straw

[flybobbie]

I used Reline MT-LF, best oil so far for reasonable gear change.
Gone through BMW's, ATF, Sintopod finally Redline MT-LF which has been the best.
2 quarts (as it comes) is just enough for the manual gearbox.

[True-Blue]

I used Reline MT-LF, best oil so far for reasonable gear change.
Gone through BMW's, ATF, Sintopod finally Redline MT-LF which has been the best.
2 quarts (as it comes) is just enough for the manual gearbox.

Great, thanks

[mcbutler]

Afternoon all,

Going for an engine Oil, Gearbox oil and Diff oil change on my 30i manual. Have Mann filters already.

I’m ok on the engine oil front, but what’s the current thinking on the Diff oil and gearbox oil and how much do I need to order?

Going to get my garage around the corner to do it as too much of a faff on axle stands.

As per the BMW manual bud - ALWAYS

[True-Blue]

Afternoon all,

Going for an engine Oil, Gearbox oil and Diff oil change on my 30i manual. Have Mann filters already.

I’m ok on the engine oil front, but what’s the current thinking on the Diff oil and gearbox oil and how much do I need to order?

Going to get my garage around the corner to do it as too much of a faff on axle stands.

As per the BMW manual bud - ALWAYS

BMW don’t recommend the gearbox and diff oil is changed.

[smorris_12]

There's nothing magic about diffs or manual gearboxes so there's no reason *not* to change the oil if an owner is feeling conscientious. However, they genuinely are lifetime oils - they'll easily last 20 years without chemically breaking down and reducing their efficacy. BMWs stance is that if there is a mechanical failure it won't be the fault of the oil so there's no need to change it.

I have done various ones over the years and the BMW ones come out quite clean. There's no breathers so water doesn't get in unlike Discos I've done where a brown emulsion slops out.

[Rucky]

Just use the official Castrol Site they explain exactly what is recommended - Transmax or Syntrax etc, grades and quantities by Registration :
https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-ki ... ype=retail

[flybobbie]

I know when i first dropped the gearbox oil i used a ramp belonging to a chap that specialised in Land Rover repairs.
He recognised the fluid that came out as the same ATF Land Rover use.

[flybobbie]

Just use the official Castrol Site they explain exactly what is recommended - Transmax or Syntrax etc, grades and quantities by Registration :
https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-ki ... ype=retail

No mention of manual transmission oil req.

[Rucky]

No mention of manual ????
It clearly recommends Syntax.

Castrol screenshot for generic e89 3.0i manual

Screenshot_20230326-174817.png (166.63 KiB) Viewed 236 times

[Rucky]

Sorry se what you mean!

[Rucky]

Sorry se what you mean!