just did my own AFT fluid/filter change ...

[Master ACiD]

that atf was dark thats for sure, but i must point out the pan wasnt actually dirty. ive seen atf pans with half inch thick crust on them. now thats dirty. ive seen filters so full of junk the inlet hole was barely noticable. youre filter was dark, but it wasnt full of crust like one might expect.
then again, you sure are not hurting anything by changing the filter and oil. that we can all agree on.

 

[Jim 5]

My neighbor has a BMW 2000 BMW 323i with the automatic transmission. He took it to an indie mechanic for his first trans fluid change at 90k miles and was told that he's better off not to change it.

I never understand this. He is experiencing no transmission problems or symptoms.

 

[wavinwayne]

Quote:

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My neighbor has a BMW 2000 BMW 323i with the automatic transmission. He took it to an indie mechanic for his first trans fluid change at 90k miles and was told that he's better off not to change it.

I never understand this. He is experiencing no transmission problems or symptoms.

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IMO, the indie mechanic is simply trying to avoid a future headache if your neighbor's tranny fails after the fluid/filter change. It would not be the mechanic's or the fluid's fault, but the avg. customer is not likely to see it that way.

 

[wquiles]

They way I am reading it, specially their comments, it would appear that there is in fact benefit from changing fluid sooner than later.

Once I do my second pan drop, filter/fluid change, I will get another sample and sent it out for comparison.

 

[unDummy]

Don't forget to post it in the ATF UOA section.

BTW, this is proof that lifetime ATF is a joke.

If no secret that no automaker has publicly defined what a 'lifetime' is.

 

[Russell]

Great information. I agree, there is no such thing as a lifetime fluid. Even so, I would have expected it to look worse.

FYI, My first change on my 1995 BMW 525i with the french GM 4 speed auto was at 75,000 miles with no problems then or now. knock on wood! I suspect the original fill was Dexron II.

 

[99]

Quote:

---

My neighbor has a BMW 2000 BMW 323i with the automatic transmission. He took it to an indie mechanic for his first trans fluid change at 90k miles and was told that he's better off not to change it.

I never understand this. He is experiencing no transmission problems or symptoms.

---

That's an old wives tale. It's always best to change the fluid and filter.