X5 Gearbox Oil question

[BIGJO]

Evening all,

A bit of a question...

BMW reckon that their gearbox oil shouldn't need replacing or topping up. Therefore they have sealed it so there is no access to it.

After speaking to a friend the other day who advised me on taking my car back to him when it reaches 100,000 so he can top up the gearbox oil level because apparantlty the new BM's suffer from the oil becoming low and no-one actually topping it up.

Really I should check the levels when it reaches 100k but before I do so has anyone else heard of this? Or had any experience in this problem?

Thank you

[pacerpete]

Never mind checking it, get it changed ! Along with the filter screen. The oil is fairly pricey, but a lot cheaper than a replacement gearbox !

[BIGJO]

Thank you Pete - have you heard of this? I don't think there's a way of changing the oil because the gearbox is sealed however, the guy said he can top it up from the engine bay (the gearbox dipstick thingy)?

[irish320i]

No problem at all in changing it and if you intend keeping it changing it every couple of years will do no harm

[shadrack]

x5 auto boxes are sealed for life, and it can cause them to fail if disturbed

[BIGJO]

Ah man I'm so confused lol and I don't want to take it to BMW to change the oil because they will take me to the cleaners...I'd rather get someone else to do it who is competent enough

[DanThe]

If you bring it to me I have a special way of opening up the box so the oil can be changed, price is £500

[BIGJO]

[Zerotonine]

Listen to Pacer, he knows his stuff.

[georob]

The same is said about my RS6 C5 gearbox, now i'm away to spend 3k to replace said "sealed" gearbox....

I'd get fluid changed on the X5, not a hard job to do.

I'm sure they are quite a similiar design to the RS6...

[Andyboy]

It all depends on what gearbox it has. All 3.0 petrols and earlier 3.0d cars Up to October 2002 build use the GM box. These have a well known issue with the torque converter solenoid. It fails, followed swiftly by the rest of the gearbox. If yours has this box and 100k or more, it needs changing. The oil lasts well but a new filter and top up with the correct oil is a good plan.

[bmpaul]

Even though they are sealed for life there is a drain plug on the box and can be refilled. I did this on my supposedly filled for life box on my e38 728 with the zf box. As said before the oil is pricey but since I did it she runs lovely I'm glad I did it

[rich318i]

check google them X5 boxes have a life span of 80k.

[turk]

I just happen to have 20L of gearbox oil, a new filter and gasket for the gearbox.

I changed my last range rover's gear oil (same engine as x5) and it was black and the filter was full of shit. Made all the difference to gear changes, especially on inclines. It would tend to stick in 2nd or 3rd and not change. Very annoying.

Let me know if you're interested and ill dig em out ;) Can also do the change for you.

[BIGJO]

Hi thank you all for your input and information. Does anyone know what the oil type is? I suppose I should just Google it or call BMW. I'm going to change the oil as soon as possible

[irish320i]

Turk are the filter and gasket genuine if so how much posted to Ireland

Regards

[alpina123]

my x5 is on 160k did the oil when the torgue converter sheared its splines gearbox is still original by the way its a 2003 30petrol