Quote Originally Posted by swenpro
Cambridge- I've really appreciated this poll on changing tranny fluid. As you may know, I also have a '94 540i. It just rolled over 100k last night! So I've driven the car now for ~1500 mi and I still get awful hard shifts, 2nd to 3rd, at moderate speeds when the engine is warm. From talking to Tiger, it sounds like I probably need to have a valve body rebuild done. Whether I do that now or later, I think I definitely need to at least change the fluid and filter (maybe o-rings too) now.

As the "designer/moderator" of this thread, I'm wondering what you've decided to do on your 540i tranny. Did you go ahead and put in the Penzoil MVATF as you said? Any follow-up you can provide would be helpful
I'm leaning toward changing the filter and o-rings along with whatever fluid happens to be in the pan. I'm leaning toward the MVATF. I haven't done the work yet, but figure I will before the winter's over.

I guess I'm just building up my courage... Some have claimed some pretty awful horror stories when they changed their fluid after 100,000mi (e.g. valve body fills with crud, clutch friction pad adhesive melts, etc, etc). I'm developing an opinion that these stories may be the exceptions rather than the rule. From our "very scientific" informal poll I'm seeing only a 13 percent failure rate. It seems ZF builds a pretty solid tranny that lasts with proper care.

As for the MVATF, IMHO I feel it will do as nicely as the Shell LA2634. I don't think it's that hard to make a modern semi-synthetic that will compete with the 13+ year old Shell fluid. Originally the tech data printed by Pennzoil showed it being a replacment for the Shell fluid ... and then they stopped showing the third page. I'd guess there is some game being played by the lawyers & accountants on this one. Nor do I expect ZF to certify any and all new fluids for a 13+ year old tranny; They've moved on to other things I'm sure.

Anyway, that's what is rolling through my brain right now. Am I ? I guess it all gets down to what level of risk you're willing to assume.