Am I wrong?

"Once_upon_a_pvt" (eagleruwe07)
06/04/2015 at 15:41 • Filed to: None

I think I’m going to order a gallon of Redline mt-90 so I can do a trans and diff fluid swap at 50 k miles on the 135i. Also think I should do the oil and plugs as well.

Anyone think any of this is dumb? Am I wrong? Figured ide see if my line of thinking was way off or not.

DISCUSSION (30)

Party-vi > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 15:43

I get the feeling your transmission gear oil is different from your differential gear oil.

Also, why are you changing the diff fluid? That needs done....almost never I would imagine?

Street Surgeon > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 15:45

MT-90 in the trans, and heavyweight shockproof in the diff and tcase here! Of course... That's just how Mitsus roll.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 15:45

Generally better to use the manufacturer’s specific service lube (and generally schedule, unless you beat on the car) for anything modern. Those fluids tend to be very well tailored.

Redline is good stuff (I use it in the E30), but tribology has advanced significantly since the 80s, and I doubt it will work as well with your car as the BMW service lube.

HammerheadFistpunch > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 15:47

You can do it. If you are trashing the car than its probably a good idea. Make sure that the oil meets BMW’s specs. I know VW has a specific spec for their gear oil thats a little different than GL-5...the Germans are like that. Are you sure a gallon will be enough?

HammerheadFistpunch > Party-vi
06/04/2015 at 15:47

They should be the same, unless BMW requires something special for either.

CalzoneGolem > Party-vi
06/04/2015 at 15:48

50k seems early for trans to me.

crowmolly > Street Surgeon
06/04/2015 at 15:57

What kind of Mitsu? Heavy shockproof can be bad for the R&P and diff in RWD stuff.

Brickman > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 15:59

If you have syncros, you need trans oil with syncromesh fluid.

Street Surgeon > crowmolly
06/04/2015 at 16:00

Pretty much any DSM, GVR4, and a lot of Evos.

crowmolly > Street Surgeon
06/04/2015 at 16:07

I guess they can tolerate the heat better than some of the domestic stuff.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch
06/04/2015 at 16:07

ATF for the trans, gear oil for the diff

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/04/2015 at 16:09

Doesn’t the 135i have a stick?

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:09

I have to agree with Party-vi. I would think that tranny fluid and diff fluid (usually oil) are two different fluids. But, I might be wrong. Also, can’t hurt to change plugs.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:10

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-14352-e82-13…

Should tell you everything that you need

Once_upon_a_pvt > Party-vi
06/04/2015 at 16:12

Mostly because I have no idea how the last 46k have gone for the car. Knowing the roads and tracks around here it could have had the shit kicked out of it for all I know. That and i plan to do a few track days and autocrosses as well.

That being said maybe it isn’t necessary? I’ve never had a mt with this fee miles to be honest

Once_upon_a_pvt > Will with a W8 races an E30
06/04/2015 at 16:14

I based it off the several forums that float around for bmw and 1 series specifically. Most everyone seems to use redline, a lot quoted a few rebuilds as using it as well. That being said if anyone knows for sure if it’s a bad idea to switch that would be good to know. I still have a couple thousand miles to even start worrying about it.

Once_upon_a_pvt > HammerheadFistpunch
06/04/2015 at 16:16

I drive somewhat aggressively where it’s allowed, and plan on doing the nurburgring at least a few time as well as autocross.

From what I’ve read the trans takes 2 quarts and the diff takes a little over 1? But I need to verify that. I don’t exactly trust the forums 100~

Party-vi > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:16

BMW likes calling their stuff “lifetime” fluids. They started with the E46 3-Series, stating the fluid didn’t need to be changed over the lifetime of the vehicle (100,000 miles). I asked BMW of Annapolis to service my transmission and they said they wouldn’t touch it for fear of having it not work afterwards. I would get yours done at 60k if you were worried about it. Most fluid related issues are with automatic transmissions from my experience.

Once_upon_a_pvt > CalzoneGolem
06/04/2015 at 16:18

It is early but idk how the previous owner drove it. 46k in 5 years isn’t a lot, but in where I’m at in Germany it’s a pretty good amount. Lots of cold short trips and fast curvy roads

HammerheadFistpunch > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:20

I envy you. When I do a fluids change (just gear oil) its 2.5 for the front, 3 for the rear and 2 more for the T-case. That’s 2 gallons of just diff oil, and if you suspect water fouling, it all has to change.

CalzoneGolem > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:21

I just drove 45k in 3 years.

Once_upon_a_pvt > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
06/04/2015 at 16:21

Both seem to use the same unless you use atf which apparently is better for cold shifts, but yea idk how much I trust forums

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch
06/04/2015 at 16:22

Yes and most modern manuals use ATF for fluid. My 128i uses ATF, my E36 used ATF, my 1990 T5 uses ATF

Once_upon_a_pvt > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/04/2015 at 16:23

I heard the mtf is better as long as you know tinlet everything warm up, but the atf is more general purpose for all weather. Wasn’t really sure though

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:24

Not a bad idea - it probably won’t break anything - just not the best idea. Redline is a major improvement over ‘80s OEM fluid, and probably cheaper ‘90s and ‘00s, but I sincerely doubt it will be a better fit than the OEM fluid on a higher end new car, especially for shift quality and NVH. Durability will probably be similar.

Modern cars are designed as a system to an enormous extent, and the fluid is designed specifically as a component of that system. Changing any part of that system will affect its performance and attributes, and if the new part was designed with different attributes in mind, adding it will probably result in a sub-optimal solution.

Obviously, that doesn’t mean it won’t work, and if your current fluid is black and reeks to high heaven, anything will be an improvement. Just means it may not work as well as you expect.

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/04/2015 at 16:26

Interdasting. I can’t for the life of me figure out why, since ATF is just hydraulic fluid with high lubrocity and manuals only need lubrication and need very little hydraulic action.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Once_upon_a_pvt
06/04/2015 at 16:28

I just changed the trans and diff fluid on my 128i go with that Turner link I gave you.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch
06/04/2015 at 16:32

Tighter tolerances, better feel and smoother operation.

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/04/2015 at 16:39

I know all about those things...but not as it relates to cars.

AAAANYWAY, I still don’t see how ATF works better for lubrication, but what do I know.

Once_upon_a_pvt > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/05/2015 at 00:51

He’ll yea thanks for the link. Pretty sure that’s all cheaper than ecs too