Sign waiver for transmission fluid change?

[BMW Dom]

I took my car to a shop to get a quote on a transmission fluid and filter change. They were very nice, and had a clean shop.

When the tech drove my car and he said that he wouldn’t recommend a transmission fluid change due to the hard downshift. I wasn’t in the car with him.

They said I would need to sign a waiver that if the transmission breaks after they change the fluid, they wouldn’t be responsible.

2009 BMW 328, 127k miles.

Should I sign the waiver, or take it somewhere else?

 

[wpod]

Go elswhere. I would guess the waiver would be for if the fluid change didn't fix the problem or the shop didn't want the , you changed the oil and 2 months later the trans grenaded.

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

Firestone had me sign a waiver before they would exchange the fluid on my 2011 Kia Soul a few years ago when it had only 80k or so miles on it. I signed it and everything was fine. I guess it’s just to cover their butt if something went wrong. Although last year with around 130k on it they flat out refused to do it. 🤷‍♂️

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Depends on how you feel about it. They're obviously looking out for their own best interest which is protecting themselves from customers who attempt to dump a failing unit on their shoulders. After all, technically you're going against their recommendation.

Personally I would be okay with it IF it was a Euro/BMW shop, and I could verify they used the correct amount of fluid and performed the re-learn procedure. IIRC the 6HP has a specific sequence.

 

[jeepman3071]

What kind of shop is it? Specialty BMW shop?

 

[jeepman3071]

Depends on how you feel about it. They're obviously looking out for their own best interest which is protecting themselves from customers who attempt to dump a failing unit on their shoulders. After all, technically you're going against their recommendation.

Personally I would be okay with it IF it was a Euro/BMW shop, and I could verify they used the correct amount of fluid and performed the re-learn procedure. IIRC the 6HP has a specific sequence.

Being a 328 he likely has the GM 6L45

 

[dubber09]

Chances of transmission having issues after tx fluid change are proportionate to the mileage first such change is done at. The higher the mileage the higher the chances.
This is why I change ATF first time at or before 30k miles, full volume replacement, then D/Fs after that every 30k miles.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Being a 328 he likely has the GM 6L45

Good point, in that case I have no idea.

 

[Pelican]

I took my car to a shop to get a quote on a transmission fluid and filter change. They were very nice, and had a clean shop.

When the tech drove my car and he said that he wouldn’t recommend a transmission fluid change due to the hard downshift. I wasn’t in the car with him.

They said I would need to sign a waiver that if the transmission breaks after they change the fluid, they wouldn’t be responsible.

2009 BMW 328, 127k miles.

Should I sign the waiver, or take it somewhere else?

They probably don't have THE proper fluid and want to protect themselves in case of break-downs.
If anything a fluid change with the correct fluid should solve the hard shifting.
Now why are you going to change the ATF so late?
Is it because you're having problems?
Is this the 1st or 2nd ATF change.
If 1st just do drop & fill.
Whatever you do have it done by a shop that KNOWS BMWs.

 

[Kira]

Was price mentioned?
Obviously, if a Mom & Pop shop charges something reasonable, you can decide if you want to deal with that condition.

Do you even know what fluid it takes? You have to know that in order to converse with anybody. Also, you want to know beforehand in case you want to offer to supply the fluid.

EX: If they say, "It don't mattah, they all take the same stuff", and you know better, you leave with confidence.

Have you surveyed any BMW sites for trends/facts/myths and foibles of your car?

Hey, once, a guy at a quick lube joint told me that there were no differences in transmission fluid. What a bozo he was.

 

[CKN]

The shop where I took my wife's Hyundai Santa Fe for a fluid change actually turns cars away with over 100,000 miles on them with no evidence of the transmission being serviced before.

I don't blame them at all.

 

[JTK]

Waivers aside, has this transmission fluid ever been changed?

If it hasn't, on a 14yr/old vehicle with ~127K miles, a fluid change is likely not going to fix anything.

 

[jeepman3071]

Waivers aside, has this transmission fluid ever been changed?

If it hasn't, on a 14yr/old vehicle with ~127K miles, a fluid change is likely not going to fix anything.

I've personally had fluid changes improve shifting on these transmissions. Notice how I mentioned fluid changes and not a flush, never do a power flush on a transmission with this mileage, but new fluid will never hurt anything.

 

[kschachn]

Which shop is this?

 

[RooflessVW]

Waivers aside, has this transmission fluid ever been changed?

If it hasn't, on a 14yr/old vehicle with ~127K miles, a fluid change is likely not going to fix anything.

Sure it might.

 

[JTK]

I've personally had fluid changes improve shifting on these transmissions. Notice how I mentioned fluid changes and not a flush, never do a power flush on a transmission with this mileage, but new fluid will never hurt anything.

I get that and I know from experience new fluid won't hurt a thing. I just don't want the OP to assume new fluid will fix a potential mechanical and/or wear problem.

 

[Kira]

The OP didn't mention whether or not he even feels the hard downshift the tech said he experienced on the test drive.
We don't know the OP's trans-savvy etc.
We need to know more.

I worked with a little man who was well-to-do and loved to buy new cars and tire of them.
The 320i he got bored of was suckulently priced, however, its sunroof encroached on the vehicles headroom so much I couldn't fit behind the wheel.
I considered having a few neck vertebrea removed but decided against it.

 

[zzyzzx]

I'm guessing that this has something to do with it (obligatory Simpsons reference):

 

[slo town]

FWIW, we have a 2011 BMW E90 328i with the auto transmission. It's a GM unit. I dropped the pan and changed the filter and fluids at 25K miles, a drain and refill at 50K and 75K (no pan drop), and then another pan drop with fluid and filter change at 95K miles. Trans works as good as new.

Here is a picture of the 95K mile pan drop. No varnish or other crud.

Scott

 

[BMW Dom]

What kind of shop is it? Specialty BMW shop?

It was a chain shop that also works on European cars. I am not sure that I would trust them to do it, but I was interested in a quote for comparison