I have a 2016 BMW 320i touring auto with 71k miles on it (UK car). The ZF automatic gearbox is a big bonus of owning this car and I want to run this thing to 100k, so naturally I want to look after the transmission. In my experience so far it seems like when you get a BMW you are told the car knows how to look after itself, it tells you how clean the oil is and what it needs, and when, through the iDrive system. And your key fob holds a record of all the servicing done, which you are seemingly limited by BMW to either an oil and filters change and general look over it (and of course the BMW dealer stamp on the iDrive), then an inspection 1 which includes brake fluid and inspection of all components, then inspection 2 which is likely the same but with spark plugs and air filter. My first issue is that the cars oil change intervals on the iDrive are 15k miles, which I am keen to do it at half of that to be honest. Then looking at my mileage I googled the ZF transmission and the company themselves say it needs fluid and filter change at 70k. I have also read that I will have wanted the differential oil changing sooner than now, despite the full and correct BMW service history on the idrive. So far, one garage has contacted BMW and were told the gearbox , differential and fuel filter are all considered “lifetime items” by BMW (presumably cos they want the warranty to run out at 100k and boom repair central?) and so are sealed up/hard/impossible to service - with idiots often leaving the gearbox worse off than it was before and leaking. So basically I either try to forget about these things and sell it at 100k hoping all is well, or I go and get the gearbox and diff oil done for about £1k asap. On top of that BMW forums seem to awash with various opinions of when to do these items? Anyone else confused?

  • zMadMechanic@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    You’re right, BMW would prefer you don’t do any of that extra preventative maintenance. They’ve calculated it’ll last to 100k miles, hence “lifetime”, and that’s when you bend over and buy a new one.

    If you’d prefer to keep it longterm and/or care about longevity/resale value to the right buyer… do the fluid changes for diff and transmission. Also transfer case and front diff if it’s X drive.

    Sold a 2007 X3 with 263,000 miles and I don’t think it would’ve lasted that long without regular fluid changes on the diffs, tranny and transfer case