Manual Tranny Fluid

[BadGTho]

I know this has been beated to death.. in part by me on other forums.

I want to change my tranny fluid and am looking for advice.

In the white M3 i just went with a synthetic ATF and the car was fine. I currently have a synthetic ATF installed by the PO.. unsure of type.

I get the occassional "stonewall" when shifting into first and from what i've read, the Royal Purple Synchromax might be a good way to go.

If you all would not mind can you do the following?

Fluid:
Pros:
Cons:
Any problems it cured/created:

This can serve as a reference document and get stickied if we get good info.

[KnudsonM3]

I myself used Royal Purple Syncromax.

I know others here did as well.

[TheMadRussian]

My transmission had difficulty shifting in the cold, along with some slight grinding going into reverse gear (but only when very cold).

I replaced whatever was in there before with Red Line D4 ATF, and it cured all of those issues. The transmission shifts much more smoothly when it's cold outside (and when the transmission is cold, as well), never grinds into reverse anymore, and even feels better shifting when the car is warmed up.

Fluid: Red Line D4 ATF
Pros: Shifts smoothly in all temperatures
Cons: None
Any problems it cured/created: Cured rough cold shifting and reverse gear grind

[rowar64]

Fluid: RP Synchromax
Pros: Smooth shifts, availability (most auto parts stores, walmart)
Cons: None
Any problems it cured/created: Rough cold shifting, overall smoother feel

I've used the RL D4 and while I can't see any faults, the RP just seems to feel a bit smoother...probably just imagination though. In all fairness I did both tranny and diff at same time using RP 85-140 in diff.. Can't really go wrong with either.

[PurduinaM3]

I know we talked on the phone, but I figured I'd post up in here anyways..

Fluid: RP Synchromax
Pros: Smooth shifting, availability
Cons: None
Any problems it cured/created: It fixed shifting in the cold weather and made the transmission feel great again. I have nothing to compare it to except for the stock fluid which had never been changed, so I can't speak on behalf of Redline, but I've heard nothing but great things from both fluids.

[BadGTho]

Originally Posted by KnudsonM3

I myself used Royal Purple Syncromax.

I know others here did as well.

thanks for all of the great comments guys...

except for you Leif.. care to fill in the above questions? the goal in all this was not as much to learn for myself but to create a reference point going forward.

kthnx

[KnudsonM3]

whatever dude....You of all people posting a thread like this?

hahaha

Fluid: RP syncomax
Pros: smooth shifts
Cons:none
Any problems it cured/created: N/A

[KnudsonM3]

[99MPower]

Fluid: RP Synchromax
Pros: quality synthetic, smooth shifts
Cons: None that I know of


when we did my buddies TT Stg2 install last weekend, he used RL D4 ATF, and 75-140 diff fluid combo... he loves it. I haven't been able to drive it yet, but he said he likes it alot

[BadGTho]

i can throw this in regarding Mobil 1 ATF.. i used it in the 'stang and the t/a

Fluid: Mobil 1 synthetic ATF
Pros: good lubrication
Cons: seemed almost too viscous and made the tranny quite notchy
Any problems it cured/created: none/none but i was not happy with it and went back to conventional ATF

[BadGTho]

Originally Posted by KnudsonM3

whatever dude....You of all people posting a thread like this?

hahaha

i of all people thought this was a good thing to have on record. i've found that searching on other forums has yielded little in the way of a comprehensive record.

if this succeeds i'd like to do so with other things, plugs, tires, etc... i know that we've all discussed it but it's a good tool in making a decision.

i see that you disagree... so stop posting in this thread.

[Nik99]

I'm going to leave this thread open for myself to update later with my experiences with Royal Purple Synchromax. Right now the car has the BMW standard tranny fluid in it, and i have def felt the stonewall 1-st gear at traffic lights. It actually scared me at first but i've realized it's pretty common place. My plan is to fill her yup with Synchromax let it run for 2-3 weeks and then flush it again. It was suggested to me that that should clear out all the any issues with notch shifter feel. I will report back with my findings.

[gelb3]

I've been using RP Synchromax since I bought my car about 2.5 yrs. ago. The p.o. had been using Redline MTF. I didn't like the way it shifted,plus I didn't know how long it had been in there. About 2 or 3 months ago I started experiencing the stone wall into 1st,only when I was at a stoplight or sign. Sitting completely still sometimes it acts like it does just not want to go.....if I'm moving it's as smooth as ever into first.
I usually change it every 6 months and I've got some waiting to go in. I've also got some Redline from the p.o. and I'm debating trying the Redline again just to see if anything changes.
I'm a RP junkie I use it for all the fluids in my car with never any problems until now.

Fluid: RP Synchromax
Pros: quality synthetic, smooth shifts
Cons: price is kinda on the high side, just started experiencing stone wall into 1st with 4 month old fluid. After 2.5 yrs of loyal Royal Purple, with 6 month change outs.

[99MPower]

Ben... what threads do you want

ultimate spark plug thread?
Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum - View Poll Results
ultimate fluid thread?
The official best-fluids thread (unofficially) - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

both were links in my DIY/FAQ thread

[fiveightandten]

I think it should be noted that the stone wall affect may not necessarily be an internal transmission issue. This can be caused by bad mounts, or worn parts in the shift linkage as well.

And, FWIW, I had issues with some hard shifts now and again. They were pretty low occurrence, but it happened. This hasn't occurred since I replaced the clutch pedal in the car, and I have a theory as to why. The push-rod for the master cylinder has rotational freedom, as well as freedom with respect to its angle relative to the retaining pin.

The pivot bushings are fixed, and the push-rod is anchored rather high. Pedal slop allows the clutch pedal to miss the stop on the firewall and hit the carpet, thus traveling farther than it should. I'd have to get under there again and look harder...but I believe you can actually get a situation where that extra travel causes the master cylinder to actuate *less* than it would with the clutch hitting the stop. Just something worth checking out.


Fluid: Mobil 1 ATF
Pros: Better cold performance than BMW fluid.
Cons: None.
Any problems it cured/created: None.

I'm on my 2nd flush/fill with the Mobil 1 ATF. This replaced the BMW fluid, as my car had always been serviced at the dealer. I'm not sure if it was ever changed before I did it, as the paperwork makes mention of a few fluid flushes that are labelled oddly and i'm not sure if they were referring to the tranny or the diff.

Anyways...I noticed smoother shifts when I first changed it. But either I got desensitized to it, or after a while it reverted to "normal", which is to say it doesn't shift like my Honda (BMW could learn a lot by driving some Japanese cars and taking notes on the gear boxes). I noticed smoother shifts in cold weather before the car is warmed up, and less effort in those instances. That's about it.