what oil do I need for manual gearbox & diff please..

O

oz-boz

Member
 Hastings east sussex
Manual 2004 3.0...I'm having the garage fit new crank case ventilation & breather pipes at the end of the month. Engine oil change. But seeing as my car has done 140k I'm wanting the gearbox and diff oil changed whilst they're at it. I've searched but can't find what oil I need for the gearbox & diff... Or where to buy even.

Could someone please point me in the right direction?
 
tbh.. I dont know if anyone but BMW would know.. they are "lifetime" oils, and I don't remember anyone here saying they had replaced them... :tumbleweed:
 
I changed mine at 35000m with Fuchs fully synthetic, much easier gear change easy to do and not expensive,I cant believe oil does not degrade in time. Opie oils have all the info
 
Thanks I'l have a look at opie oils.
I know they are supposed to be lifetime oils but I've read many people changing them, can't hurt it thats for sure.
 
Go on the Castrol website and do a search of what gearbox oil for your car, they only list one oil for BMWs - Opie sell it and I put it in mine a few months ago. Can't remember what it was now and I've done my back in so can't be arsed going down to the garage to look, otherwise I would. The diff uses different oil to the g/box IIRC

The g/box oil from new is supposed to be "for life" - whatever that means, but there was no way I was leaving 8 year old oil in my gearbox
 
Diff is 'standard' 75w90 gear oil. They have a specific brands list, but any 'longlife' 75w90 gearoil will do imho. Depends also on when you're planning to change it again....

The gearbox is mtf-lt2 spec.
 
Gear oils are funny things, you're best stickng to the car makers stated specs as some older designs of gearbox use zinc bearings which are wrecked by using the wrong oils / and or additives. Also some oil seals require specific oil specs. Always stick with makers recommendations would be my advice where gearbox and engne oils are concerned.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-69413-castrol-syntrans-b-75w-full-synthetic-gear-oil-for-bmw-manual-gearboxes.aspx

http://oilselector.castrol.com/c/uk/eng/recommendation/0f43d3aaa4aeeba5f3cc8db4266e54fc/BMW/Z4-Roadster-E85-%282002-2008%29/Z4-2-5si-%282006-2008%29 Click on "all other recommendations" at the bottom to find gear oil.

Or........ http://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/products/cars/manual-transmission-fluids.html
 
Thanks for the advice...I've had a quick look on opie website... Found CASTROL SYNTRAX LONGLIFE 75W-90 for the diff.
As for the gearbox Castrol Syntrans B 75W Fully Synthetic Gear Oil for Manual BMWs (meeting ZF TE-ML 11 specification).

Does this sound right? It sounds like both oils are the same??

Sorry, newbie!
 
That's the stuff - we cross posted, I sent a few links for you :)

P.S the two oils are totally different, one is a multi grade the other isn't.

Looks like Opie's website is down for maintenance
 
Yeah I see that :rofl:
Thanks for the links...I'd literally just come off the site, your first link didn't work due to maintenance, yet the other link did?? Anyways got there in the end, I know what i need now.

Thanks for taking the time to help :thumbsup:
 
Actually it's probably a good idea to ask how much oil I need!? Am I right in thinking 1ltr for the diff & 3 for the gearbox?
 
Yes the diff is about a litre but I can't recall what I put in the 'box - I think it was about 2 litres 'til it started flowing out of the filler hole. I may be mistaken though because my MX5 took 2 litres and I changed the gearbox oil in that shortly before I sold it so I may be getting them mixed up. I'll have a look for the receipt from Opie to see how much I bought.
 
I bought 2 litres and it was enough so I guess the capacity is 2 litres then.

Just had a look in the owners handbook and on the very last page before the index there's a list of fluid capacities but it doesn't list the gearbox - probably because it's "filled for life" They said that about the final drives on the R1200 series of bikes as well which were launched around 2005/6. Within 12 months they had so many warranty claims for F/D failure they had to modify their thinking :) Filled for life, my arse! :roll:
 
So,

2 x Syntrans B 75W

should be plenty for the gearbox.


Sounds good.

I'm just gonna get both gearbox/diff done too. Also have the diff oil seals to put on too as they were looking a bit like they were leaking verrryyyy slowly over the last two MOTs apparently.



Then it's just new front control arms, a good KDS tracking set-up, and a good wash, and I'm ready for the sunny weather again :D

Dave
 
Sounds like exactly what I need to do! I've seen 1.6L mentioned for the box but have no idea if that's correct. Weepy diff here too.
 
I spoke to BMW yesterday and they confirmed the oil required.

Diff - 1ltr of Castrol Syntrax Longlife 75W 90 (Formerly SAF-XO 75W-90). (BMW LL04)

Gearbox - 2ltr 75W-80. Opie oils recommend Fuchs TITAN SINTOFLUID SAE 75W-80 synthetic manual transmission fluid. (BMW LL04 approved life long oil).

(Bmw did have both oils for sale but it was something like £41 a liter).

As for engine oil. BMW LL04 0W-30
 
Well done for getting capacities Oz. Not so sure about the engine oil grade though, 5W-30 seems preferred though 0W-30, 0W-40 and 5W-40 I've all seen listed as acceptable.
 
oz-boz said:
I spoke to BMW yesterday and they confirmed the oil required.

Diff - 1ltr of Castrol Syntrax Longlife 75W 90 (Formerly SAF-XO 75W-90). (BMW LL04)

Gearbox - 2ltr 75W-80. Opie oils recommend Fuchs TITAN SINTOFLUID SAE 75W-80 synthetic manual transmission fluid. (BMW LL04 approved life long oil).

(Bmw did have both oils for sale but it was something like £41 a liter).

As for engine oil. BMW LL04 0W-30
Click to expand...

I think the diff one is 1.2l from what I've read?!

I just need to get another pair of new plugs for the gearbox so I have them, and find out the torques needed. OK you can do them by hand, but having them either leak or strip off isn't ideal for such components :D

Dave
 
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