How reliable are transmissions on 94 525i?

[Anton CH.]

Buddy of mine is looking at a 94' 525i w/ 125k mi auto.

[winfred]

generally trouble free up to 120 or so, with regular service you can sneak up on 200k and they can get goofy in their old age

[RobPatt]

I've got a 93 525ia w/127K and it's fine..... considering getting the dinan a/t chip but don't want to tempt fate..... , Rob.

Buddy of mine is looking at a 94' 525i w/ 125k mi auto.

[Dick Schneiders]

and I have had no issues with either of them. One car has 160,000 miles and the other has 140,000 miles.

Dick Schneiders

Buddy of mine is looking at a 94' 525i w/ 125k mi auto.

[George Davis]

I hate to be the only one sounding a negative note here, but according to the tranny shop that rebuilt mine, they can die at any time after 100k. Death can be sudden, with no hint it's about to happen. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

[Russell]

I have 100,000 on mine. I serviced it (fluid, filter, cleaning and BG additive) for the first time at 77,000 just after my purchase. Ran fine before and after service. Still seems ok now. Just worried/concerened/watchful.

and I have had no issues with either of them. One car has 160,000 miles and the other has 140,000 miles.

Dick Schneiders

[Dick Schneiders]

around 20,000 mile intervals. This doesn't get all of the fluid, but doing this regularly is a good idea, I think. I also drop the pan and change the filter, along with the fluid, every other tranny fluid drain or about every 40,000 miles.

This schedule isn't as often as some people, but I know that it is a lot more often than a lot of people - some think these trannys never need the fluid changed!

When I first bought the cars, I changed the filter and fluid and then drained and refilled the fluid a couple of more times within a few hundred miles or so. I did this to get as much of the old (and unknown age) fluid out of the system as I could and replaced with fresh fluid.

Dick Schneiders

I have 100,000 on mine. I serviced it (fluid, filter, cleaning and BG additive) for the first time at 77,000 just after my purchase. Ran fine before and after service. Still seems ok now. Just worried/concerened/watchful.

[Dick Schneiders]

it doesn't seem to be what happens to the vast majority of the auto trannys in these cars. Sure, some will fail after 100k (some will also fail before 100k), but if they are given regular fluid and filter changes, they should last much longer than that.

The main problem is that many owners think wrongly that they don't need to ever change the fluid and filters in these trannys, often because their tranny shops tell them that they are sealed trannys with lifetime fluid - which is totally wrong.

Dick Schneiders

I hate to be the only one sounding a negative note here, but according to the tranny shop that rebuilt mine, they can die at any time after 100k. Death can be sudden, with no hint it's about to happen. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

[Russell]

Thanks for your advice.
My car does not have a dipstick. It just seems rather difficult to do my own trany service without a lift and no dipstick. My indy charges about $175 for a complete service inlcuding filters and oil. Have not (afraid to) priced the dealer.

Do you have any shortcuts?

Thanks again.

around 20,000 mile intervals. This doesn't get all of the fluid, but doing this regularly is a good idea, I think. I also drop the pan and change the filter, along with the fluid, every other tranny fluid drain or about every 40,000 miles.

This schedule isn't as often as some people, but I know that it is a lot more often than a lot of people - some think these trannys never need the fluid changed!

When I first bought the cars, I changed the filter and fluid and then drained and refilled the fluid a couple of more times within a few hundred miles or so. I did this to get as much of the old (and unknown age) fluid out of the system as I could and replaced with fresh fluid.

Dick Schneiders

[winfred]

91 was about the only year the chevy tranny came with a dipstick

Thanks for your advice.
My car does not have a dipstick. It just seems rather difficult to do my own trany service without a lift and no dipstick. My indy charges about $175 for a complete service inlcuding filters and oil. Have not (afraid) priced the dealer.

Do you have any shortcuts?

Thanks again.