ATF for my 530i specific tranny?

[e34musician]

This seems more complicated than I thought. I'm about to drain/fill my ATF this weekend. And I want to be absolutely sure that I use the right ATF. I went to realoem.com to find out my tranny OE part#. According to my mfg date, my transimission part# is 24 00 1 421 215. And according to ZF oil reference guide, http://www.peterschmid.com/zfoilguide.htm

My ATF grade is Dexron II-D, not Shell LA 2634 nor Esso LT 71141.

Is this correct? How did you guys search for yours?

[Russell]

did you check your owners manual?

[e34musician]

did you check your owners manual?

I did. But the owner manual that comes with the car only has the info for 535i, 525i/Turing and M5.

But you may be right. In filling capacity page in the owner manual, it did not specific the model. It just said use 3.2US qt. and use only brand name ATF of Dexron II ... contact your bmw dealer for further info.

[632 Regal]

I already posted this for you.

Dextron III

I use royal purple which is a full synthetic.

[e34musician]

I already posted this for you.

Dextron III

I use royal purple which is a full synthetic.

Thanks Jeff. I got it. Not that I didn't trust you. But someone replied on that tread asking me to check again if my tranny requires the "life time" ATF or not.

I did the realoem.com and ZF oil reference again. Can I just say all E34, 530i use Dexron III and all E34 540i use Shell LA2634? This will be easier for all the newcomers later on.

[e34musician]

Thanks Jeff. I got it. Not that I didn't trust you. But someone replied on that tread asking me to check again if my tranny requires the "life time" ATF or not.

I did the realoem.com and ZF oil reference again. Can I just say all E34, 530i use Dexron III and all E34 540i use Shell LA2634? This will be easier for all the newcomers later on.

Sorry for muliple post. I just found this file. This should answer all the ATF question regarding ZF tranny.

http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/67-4112-101671-968/ATF%20Application%20chart.pdf

[BillionPa]

i use D4 from redline, as it has a lower pour point than Dex3, letting me shift much easier in the winter.

[632 Regal]

Yes as long as they arent Euro cars.

Can I just say all E34, 530i use Dexron III and all E34 540i use Shell LA2634? This will be easier for all the newcomers later on.

[fkong777]

I did the realoem.com and ZF oil reference again. Can I just say all E34, 530i use Dexron III and all E34 540i use Shell LA2634? This will be easier for all the newcomers later on.

Or just use Royal Purple MAX ATF.

[jayh3]

the chart isn't correct. the dealer verified that my 530ia made 3/93 has lifetime fluid. So beware!! The non lifetime fluids may ruin the atf.

[BillionPa]

my 9/93 530iA REQUIRES Dexron 3 type fluids.....

you sure the dealer just doesnt want to milk you for all that rediculously expsensive lifetime fluid?
or maybe they are just incompetent like so many dealers the lot of us have come across, and think any ZF 5HP** trans uses lifetime fluid (the 5HP18 is the only one that doesnt on the 5s)

the only way to know for sure is look on the transmission for the label which tells you what fluid is spec'd. some 5HP18 transmissions have green plugs and spec the Esso lifetime fluid, but our US E34s shouldnt be one of them, as i believe that the Esso fluid did not even exist at the time!!!

looks like the M3 automatic was the version of the 5HP18 that used the Esso fluid.