1996 BMW M3 5MT - shift quality with 4 fluids

[S12]

Originally Posted By: KenO
'Factory' fluid is BMW MTF-LT2.


Are you sure about that? My Bottle of Pentosin states on the bottle that it is transmission gear oil for ZF manual transmissions manufactured during and after 1997. There is nothing that says BMW on the bottle. I believe there was a definite switch from Dexron III to Pentosin by ZF NOT BMW.

 

[KenO]

Originally Posted By: S12
Originally Posted By: KenO
'Factory' fluid is BMW MTF-LT2.


Are you sure about that? My Bottle of Pentosin states on the bottle that it is transmission gear oil for ZF manual transmissions manufactured during and after 1997. There is nothing that says BMW on the bottle. I believe there was a definite switch from Dexron III to Pentosin by ZF NOT BMW.



I'm sure the Pentosin says that, because thats what Pentosin makes it for. If you go tot he dealer to purchase the fluid - it's MTF-LT2, or now LT3 I believe. It'll come in a 5L jug with BMW labeling on it.

 

[dailydriver]

Red Line claims that their D4 Dex 3 slushbox fluid gives one GL-4 level wear protection, but I'm SURE many on here can, and will, shoot down that claim in FLAMES!

 

[MolaKule]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Quote:
No, mainly because those are all significantly thicker than ATFs as far as I know.


Most ATF's (except for DexronVI-type fluids) are 7.5 cSt@100C.

Synchromax is 7.7 cSt@100C:
http://royalpurpleconsumer.com/wpcontent/uploads/PS_Synchromax.pdf

Motul ATF is 7.6 cSt@100C:
http://www.motul.com/system/product_descriptions/technical_data_sheets/149/Multi_ATF_(GB).pdf?1358764115

Quote:
in terms of wear, I have to imagine a modern high-end ATF is going to be at least as good as what the car was designed for
If wear is no concern, continue upon your chosen path.


The four MTL fluids closest to a Kinematic Viscosity of 6.1 (About the same viscosity as a DexronVI) or so are the:

Castrol Syntrans FE 75W,

the BMW LT-3,

Honda MTII.

Another fluid in this category is the Ford FML-XT-11-QDC
Dual Dry Clutch.

These are low 6.X viscosity MTL's with a Manual Transmission specific additive package with a GL-4 protection rating.

 

[badtlc]

There is also Fuchs fe 75w.

 

[MolaKule]

Here is an expanded list:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/manual-transmission-fluids-and-their-viscosities.198101/