Attention all 6 speed MT owners! - 1200 miles service bulletin

[JonnyBoost]

does anyone know if the oil the use after the 1200 mile change is different from the original oil for transmission or the diff ?

[gilbertfg]

Originally Posted by JonnyBoost

i have 17,000 miles on the clock and just looked at the invoice and i don't think my car has had this done how bad do u guys think this is??

No worries man!!!! I did my own oil change on the second one because the dealership just changed the engine oil @ 1200 miles. The used oil looked almost like new. I even pulled the oil screen and there were no particles visible. I mean I can't see past the sugar grain size, the filter look new too. I'm about to do another oil change in couple weeks before storing for over a year due to deployment....

[Ant Man]

Originally Posted by JonnyBoost

does anyone know if the oil the use after the 1200 mile change is different from the original oil for transmission or the diff ?

Yes, it's running-in oil hence the 1,200 mile running-in service Then the oils (as posted) on this site are used.

[quackman]

Is it "bad" if my dealership didn't use the "running-in" oil? They just replaced my transmission and had no idea it needed to be changed at 1,200 miles until I asked. They contacted BMW's engineers and yes, this new tranny's oil needed to be changed, so I assume that means they didn't use any running-in specific oil, just the regular.

I'm guessing it's not a big deal; any more info?

[quality_sound]

There is no "running-in oil." It's just the regular fill fluids, they're just replaced early to get any construction oils and wear-in particulate matter out of the engine.

[chmura]

So there is a filter for the 6 speed manual transmission? I never heard of a manual transmission having a filter before.

Anyone have a picture of this filter??

[elp_jc]

Originally Posted by chmura

So there is a filter for the 6 speed manual transmission?

Yep, but I'd call it a strainer, not a filter; it's not that fine of a mesh. It's the big, black bolt (32mm, I think) on the passenger side of the tranny. It's a metal screen, probably there to catch any assembly debris. Checked mine when I changed to RP at 8K miles and it was clean as a whistle. And sorry; no pic. Oh, and unlike the drain/fill plugs, that bolt has a crush washer, so either buy a replacement or have 400-grit sandpaper ready to sand it smooth (what's what I did). Good luck.

[chmura]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Yep, but I'd call it a strainer, not a filter; it's not that fine of a mesh. It's the big, black bolt (32mm, I think) on the passenger side of the tranny. It's a metal screen, probably there to catch any assembly debris. Checked mine when I changed to RP at 8K miles and it was clean as a whistle. And sorry; no pic. Oh, and unlike the drain/fill plugs, that bolt has a crush washer, so either buy a replacement or have 400-grit sandpaper ready to sand it smooth (what's what I did). Good luck.

Good to know. Thank you!

[Hershey]

Thanks for this post!!


Greatly appreciated. Just contacted my SA b/c I had my 1200 mile break in service performed 2 weeks ago and the service invoice did not mention the transmission fluid change performed.

Another reason why this forum is top notch.

[Blue92]

Guys,
This is just a head's up for those that do their own Tranny service; My dealer refused to change the trans fluid at the 30k mile service (diff fluid was changed though..?) and BMW-NA pointed me back to the dealer without any admission that it should/shouldn't be done. I guess my manual & the TIS is suddenly wrong. Anyway, I took it upon myself to do the service. All in all this is a pretty standard MT drain/refill procedure.
What about smoked me is that "someone" had tightened the stamped washer/nut fastener on the cover panel at the driver's rear side until it stripped. At first I thought that the stud was turning...wrong. For those of you that have done the service yourself you know what a headache that was. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. Now I'm wondering if that's why they didn't want to service the transmission in the first place. Maybe "someone" knew about it?
Anyway, after about an hours worth of fighting & prying while turning it at the same time it surrendered. You definately need a pump to refill & be careful with the drain & fill plugs (8mm hex on my '09). They will be tight and don't want to break loose without a "pop" on the wratchet handle. Stripping these out would not be pretty.
Hope this helps another DIYselfer somewhere down the road.

[c7n]

Great thread, thanks for the info!

[IS350]

Will the car's computer call for an earlier oil change than the 15k, after the 1200, if driven harder?

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by IS350

Will the car's computer call for an earlier oil change than the 15k, after the 1200, if driven harder?

Yes - mine has multiple times.

[Nicname]

just to be 110% sure, as a DCT owner, I really dont have to worry about anything? I just get my oil changed correct?

[urBan_dK]

Guys,

My dealer is giving me the runaround on doing the transmission service. There is no evidence it was even done at break-in - all my service record says is "oil service" and the dealer history pulled up listed an incorrectly coded 1200 mile service entry for the E46 M3. So I'm not exactly comforted.

There have been 2 other oil services since, the last one even had the differential oil done. Again, no transmission oil service.

How do I escalate this to get them to do the service? My service adviser states that since I am coming in for the service based on time rather than mileage (1 year since last oil service and 11k miles) that they can't do the transmission portion of the service.

~Brad

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by urBan_dK

Guys,

My dealer is giving me the runaround on doing the transmission service. There is no evidence it was even done at break-in - all my service record says is "oil service" and the dealer history pulled up listed an incorrectly coded 1200 mile service entry for the E46 M3. So I'm not exactly comforted.

There have been 2 other oil services since, the last one even had the differential oil done. Again, no transmission oil service.

How do I escalate this to get them to do the service? My service adviser states that since I am coming in for the service based on time rather than mileage (1 year since last oil service and 11k miles) that they can't do the transmission portion of the service.

~Brad

Service Advisor -> Service Manager -> General Manager

If none of that works. Then ask for the regional BMW rep to call you. If they refuse, call the BMW USA number and tell them that you cannot get anywhere and you need their help.

[italyix]

I asked my SA yesterday and he said its a lifetime fill. He then whispered that its bullpoop and its should be done. I left him a voicemail with the SIB number. Lets see what he says.

Turns out it was never done, not even at the 1200 mile service.

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by italyix

I asked my SA yesterday and he said its a lifetime fill. He then whispered that its bullpoop and its should be done. I left him a voicemail with the SIB number. Lets see what he says.

Turns out it was never done, not even at the 1200 mile service.

Assuming you have 6MT, it is bull poop. Should be no problem getting it done if he has the SIB.

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by Singletrack

Service Advisor -> Service Manager -> General Manager

If none of that works. Then ask for the regional BMW rep to call you. If they refuse, call the BMW USA number and tell them that you cannot get anywhere and you need their help.

Thanks. I managed to get the SA to approve changing the transmission fluid after bringing in a receipt from the old dealership (where they neglected to change it) and a copy of the SIB.

[kchu221]

hey guys i was wondering if you guys can let me know if my dealer performed all the necessary service for my 1200 mile service??

1 11-42-7-837-997 SET OIL FILTER

9 07-51-0-009-420 TWS SYNTHETIC OIL

3 83-22-1-467-993 DIFFERENTIAL OIL

4 83-22-0-406-941 1/2 LITER

those are the numbers showing on my maintenance performed standard scope, on my invoice from the dealer... I'm kind of paranoid that they didn't perform the transmission oil change....

[M-P0WER]

Originally Posted by kchu221

hey guys i was wondering if you guys can let me know if my dealer performed all the necessary service for my 1200 mile service??

1 11-42-7-837-997 SET OIL FILTER

9 07-51-0-009-420 TWS SYNTHETIC OIL

3 83-22-1-467-993 DIFFERENTIAL OIL

4 83-22-0-406-941 1/2 LITER

those are the numbers showing on my maintenance performed standard scope, on my invoice from the dealer... I'm kind of paranoid that they didn't perform the transmission oil change....

I just had my 1,200 mile service done and this looks correct for the 6MT. The last item on the list is the transmission oil. 4 x 1/2 liter (2 liters total).

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by M-P0WER

I just had my 1,200 mile service done and this looks correct for the 6MT. The last item on the list is the transmission oil. 4 x 1/2 liter (2 liters total).

ohh okay forsure, how about the microfilters?? dont they need to change that out too??