BMWAG’s position on automatic transmissions

A oil change is recommended after 120,000 km since losses in comfort may occur over time despite the life-time oil filling. The reasons for this are mainly ageing and wear of the fluid, which can lead to a reduction in the additives in the automatic transmission oil depending on the load and driving style. An oil filter kit is offered for the oil change in the automatic transmission. It contains all of the parts that are needed for a oil change. The customer may describe the following fault patterns:

These fault patterns are significantly improved by an oil change, provided there is no mechanical fault in the automatic transmission. Therefore, an oil change should be recommended to the customer after 120,000 km. After the oil change and a short run-in phase, the customer will immediately notice a considerable improvement in comfort. In the automatic transmission, wear can be minimised and thus the total mileage can be improved.

When topping up with the transmission oil, ensure that the vehicle is secured against rolling away and is parked on a horizontal surface.

An oil-level adjustment is necessary in case of certain fault memory entries in the automatic transmission and after repairs (e.g. mechatronics exchange, converter exchange, transmission exchange).

The required oil quantities may vary with each oil change. It is important to follow the repair instructions for the oil-level adjustment. Only use the automatic transmission oil that is suitable for the vehicle in question. For part numbers, see EPC or repair instructions.

Only remove the transmission oil sump when cool.

DIAGNOSIS AND FAULT ELIMINATION
If there is a leak in the area of the oil sump, it must first be checked whether the liquid is condensation or oil (rub the liquid between your fingers or smell it). If it is water, no repair is necessary since it is probably condensation from the drainage hose of the heating and air conditioning system.

After checking the screw connections for a tight fit (close to the leakage) using the tightening torques, clean the oil-coated components and mounted parts with cold cleaner. After cleaning, apply powder spray to the dry components and let the drying time elapse. After the drying time, perform a lengthy test drive.

Following the test drive and after the vehicle has cooled down, search for the leak. Light “perspiration” of the sealing rings and screws the transmission is acceptable. If droplets still form, only replace the affected components as instructed in the approved repair instructions.

Complaints by the customer regarding the shift quality may have many causes (if there is no fault memory entry):

A turbine-type noise when reversing slowly is not caused by a fault in the automatic transmission but by unfavourable tooth meshing noises in reverse gear. This noise does not result in failure of the automatic transmission.