New buyer E53.

[dubwud]

[quote="chelsea"]
The gearbox oil can be brought for as little as £30 for 7 litres if you don't mind a non name brand.....just make sure it meets or exceeds the bmw specification and is api listed standard.....there is loads of bumf around about how important it is to use dexron/zf etc etc tranny oil for the box, don't necessarily get sucked in by this as all oil is now made to a certain standard for application and it has to at least meet the specification/application.
[/quote]

I bumped in to a guy at the weekend who worked for a well-known (and highly reputable) local BMW specialist. He said exactly the same. The gearbox oil should definitely be replaced, regardless of BMWs recommendations of a car-life component. One of my closest friends is an oil specialist and salesman, so hopefully he’ll be able to advise the most suitable replacement for the car.