diy trans service

[themoog]

I'm going to do a fluid / filter swap on my X5. I need to be sure of correct parts though so can anyone advise.
The car is a 2001 E53 4.4i. Its got a green sticker on the trans which has 83229407807 on it. From my research that equates to Mobil LT something (cant remember the number off hand) Is it the same trans as a range rover of that period? Does anyone know the filter part number? What size hex key is needed for fill and drain plugs?
Any info would be great thanks.

[cooa99]

Best best is to go to BMW and let them print you out the parts you need ... which i am assuming will contain the part numbers and they should be able to tell you if you have a metal or plastic sump

Based on my X5 3.0D Sport. the price list from the dealer was Oil costing £21.12 per Ltr which I would have needed between 5 & 8 depending oif I was changing the draining the torque converter.  Mine has a plastic sump/pan with the filter built in and cost £75.78.

Ebay route for the kit needed seems cheaper but I am sure other more knowledgeable people on here can give more detailed advice ....

[themoog]

Well i have been doing my research. Elms BMW filter (part no 24152333911) kit is £65.92 + vat. This includes gasket and new bolts.
A Range Rover L322 filter is £23.20 without bolts. I have located a company that list the filter for a BMW and RR- for £7.50+vat. I actually bought the ccv pipes for our other 4.4 E53 from them and they were listed RR...
Anyway, the bmw chap said the fluid is atf4 when i told him the number from the sticker. They want £21.09 per litre. I can get 5ltrs of LT 71141 for £48. I just need to confirm that its is the correct fluid.
It makes very interesting reading the deeper you dig...

[Steamyrotter]

I was advised many gearbox changes ago that i should get the OEM filter.
There were a lot of rouge filters going around that either didn't filter properly, or the filter gauze came away and got sucked uptot eh pump then starving the box of oil...

As I had done so much with the thing I wasnt going to argue..
OEM route contained Filter, Sump Gasket, New sump bolts and filler & drain plug washers

Was also advised that GM spec Dexron 6 fluid in the 5l40e now on every rebuild....
I am using the Gulf Dex6 fluid in mine (and have for the last 2 1/2 years) with no issues.
It is cheaper to buy and more readily available.

Not sure what box you have on yours (GM / ZF) and the state of any warranties etc.
Just stating what I have experience in.

[themoog]

Well I found a Range Rover specialist less than 10 miles from me. They are supplying the filter kit and 6ltrs of fluid for circa £80. They know the filter supplier and use there products a lot so I should be ok. I will do it in the next few weeks and report back.

[cooa99]

[quote="themoog"]
Well I found a Range Rover specialist less than 10 miles from me. They are supplying the filter kit and 6ltrs of fluid for circa £80. They know the filter supplier and use there products a lot so I should be ok. I will do it in the next few weeks and report back.
[/quote]

Just out of curiosity,

since you are doing diy ...., How are you able to jack the whole car up, level and work underneath?

[themoog]

Ah.. There is a ramp that leads up to my garage so i will reverse up that then jack up the front and level it. Good question.

[Steamyrotter]

I have done a few gearbox changes on mine with it on front wheel ramps..

Obviously need to have it back down and level to fill it afterwards though

[cooa99]

[quote="themoog"]
Ah.. There is a ramp that leads up to my garage so i will reverse up that then jack up the front and level it. Good question.
[/quote]

Is that not dangerous?

The ramp  would not really be supporting the weight of the car unless your rear tyres are resting on a horizontally flat portion of your ramp?

[themoog]

It will be fine. Handbrake on, wheel chocks.

[Steamyrotter]

[quote="themoog"]
It will be fine. Handbrake on, wheel chocks.
[/quote]

You mean there is an X5 which actually has a working handbrake??!!!

Blimey...

[fenj66]

yes, its called "park"!!

[themoog]

I thought that was just E39's... Our 2 X5 handbrakes work fine. My old E39 was rubbish until I adjusted it as per factory instructions. Then it was ok. I must admit tho', backing the adjuster wheel off several clicks seems a bit odd but its the way the lever inside the drum works.

[Entwicklung34]

Hi. Speaking from experience with my 530d 2000. I changed the gbox oil over at roughly 140,000 miles and it's been perfect since. Not sure if you"re having the same worries I had about it! The oil mine needed was something like texaco 4310L but that might be slightly inaccurate, it's been a while!! Sorry I don't have more advice to offer... However, I don't have a huge ramp so I parked the car at the end of my garden, drivers side wheels on a kerb and jacked up the front and reat passenger side and supported with axel stands to level it out. Plenty of clearance and safe enough for me.

[themoog]

Here is something I just thought about. If I'm reversing up my ramp and then jacking up the front, would the self leveling come into action when I start it up? The front wheels would be extended but the rear will be normal ride height. Any ideas?