E86, 2008, 80k, gearbox and diff oil change worth doing?

[Meds]

Hey guys..
My Coupe has an appointment next week at the workshop.
(originally to swap a suspected bad alternator but we've since found that's not required, long story)
Rather than me cancel the slot, I'm thinking it might be a good oportunity to refresh gearbox and diff fluids.

2008, 80k, manual.

Question, is it worth doing at relatively low age/miles ?
If yes, is there anything I need to let my mech' know, any gotchas?

Thanks.

 

[Micke]

I did mine last year when I bought the coupe. I did have paperwork that both hd been done few years ago. The gearbox oil has been definitely replaced, the siff oil not. Glad that I did both as the time required was not that much and an easy thing to do.
Mine has a mileage of ~80k also.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I had the gearbox fluid replaced in my previous E86 at 82K miles as I had no reason it had ever been done previously.

IIRC the diff isn't so straightforward as I don't think there is a drain plug.

 

[Micke]

True, the diff does not have a drain plug but you just need a big syringe, a bit of aquarium tube and a some time. In my case a friend did it while I was doing the gearbox at the same time.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

but you just need a big syringe, a bit of aquarium tube and a some time.

Or an oil suction tool, like what many places use for an engine oil change.

 

[STC_Zed]

Definitely worth doing.

It’s neither expensive nor difficult to do. I swapped to Redline gearbox oil as I did in my wife’s old 125i, her current 330i and my 130i. It seems to improve the gear change no end especially when combined with a new white shifter bush.

I’ve not done the diff oil yet, primarily because it’s not quite so easy to get at as it is on E8x / E8x cars, but it’ll get done this year.