SMG Fluid ????

[Jay Atl]

My friend just bought an 04' 3.0 with the SMG ...... what does it have for fluid, and when does it need to be changed ?
where do you chk the fluid ???

Thanks Jay

[scottpettit]

a lifetime fluid. However...

If he has a ton of miles on the car, or is experiencing shifting problems, then I suggest that you contact Bavarian Auto and ask them which fluid they recommend. Then you can contact this forum about how to do it.

There is no tranny dipstick so there is no way to check the level other than via the fill plug.

If you are in the Modesto, CA area, I'd be happy to let you use my lift.

Scott Pettit
www.zscca.org

[scottpettit]

www.bavauto.com

[Jay Atl]

Its takes that Pentosin 11s fluid they use in the hydraulic suspensions and power steering on some of the big sedans, wow ..... that stuff seems pretty thin for a gearbox, but, I guess.... whatever !

[scottpettit]

[lpcapital]

I would check with Redline what fluid the recommend. I've used their product in all my transmission and they have always worked great for me.

If you'd like I can look up on the TIS the instruction for you: I've never worked on an SMG so I'm not sure how easy or hard is to replace fluid. Keep in mind however, that the SMG uses an hydraulic system to select the gear: that's could be a reason why it require a dual purpose lubricant.
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1998 Z3 1.9 (my baby)
2003 Z4 2.5i (my babe's baby)

[lpcapital]

...and cam across this.

It mentions "air in the lines" so you might wanna leave it alone. I'm gonna look up the TIS what it says and report back. How many miles on the car? If less than 100K I would just leave it alone...
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1998 Z3 1.9 (my baby)
2003 Z4 2.5i (my babe's baby)

[joel]

I've never worked on the smg on either of my Z4's because I never had any reason to.

Both vehicles have been driven mercilessly. First was sold with about 22000 total miles, 10,000 of which were on track; second we still own with about 18000 total miles, maybe 8000 track.

Because I've never worked on the smg, I could be incorrect, but I believe the smg control hydraulic units DO NOT SHARE fluid with the transmission itself. After examining the url with the working diagrams, I cannot see how it could be otherwise. In other words, I BELIEVE the trans oil could be changed in the usual way and take the usual trans oil while the smg oil probably should only be checked and topped off as necessary at the smg reservoir which appears to be near the firewall.

As I said earlier, I've done neither to my cars so I have no doubt a normally driven car could go the life of the car with no service. Just to give you an idea of the level of use my current 18000 mile car has received, we've used/replaced about a dozen sets of HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKE PADS, 3 or 4 sets of brake discs, the rear differential mount bushing, both front shock tower to firewall braces broken, and all 4 wheel bearings...engine, trans, and diff dandy so far!!! Trans and diff oil never touched.

[Jay Atl]

thought if it were easy and cheap I'd drop the fluid out and replace it, I've got the car up on my lift at home... the car has 60K on it, my friend found it at Carmax, so we don't know much about the history of the car ........ seems to run and drive out fine, so I think I'll just leave it alone !
The noisy rear tire may very well turn out to be a noisy wheel bearing I'm thinking though ......... Wheel bearings shouldn't be bad at 59K

[Jay Atl]

[joel]

good thought...but I thought you said "my friend" just bought an smg.

Sounds like the typical line at the shrink's office!!

[joel]

By the way, I just noticed you mentioned the noise sounding like a bad rear wheel brg @59K.

Mine are both bad currently @18K, but you know how I drive mine. I have new ones on the garage floor right now that are going in before it's next trip to the track.

By the way, you really do need a special tool to change out the rear bearings. I don't think you'll be able to pull it off with a hammer.

[Jay Atl]

It is a friend of mine, I've had 2 Z3's currently own a 01' M and this is is his first Z, he bought the car on Thurs and he had to leave town suddenly with work for 2 months, so I told him I'd take it to my place and put it up on my lift and chk it out and maybe run it over to the alignment rack and check that also ......... He bought it from Car Max for a pretty good price, and you don't know much history on a car from them, I did see some paint work on the front, I whole the front plastic nose was replaced and painted ....... and It is a bad wheel bearing .. Carmax gives you a 30 day warranty I guess, I don't know if they do the work in their shop themselves or what ....... So, I want to make sure the alignment is Ok, or it has not been hit hard !!
18K and wheel bearings shot already ??? wow ........

Thanks for you input ......... Jay

[Jay Atl]

Pretty funny ..... It IS a friend of mine, I've had a Z3 for 7 yrs, I'm just helping him chk it out a bit, Carmax has a 5 day no questions asked returns policy,and he got a ph call the same day he bought it to leave town the next morning for 2 months ... So, just to make sure it wasn't run over by a train, or the gearbox filled with 90 wt oil and sawdust to get it sold ..... I'm trying to chk the obvious !

Thanks ...... Jay

[joel]

[joel]

The dealership where I'm buying my parts, Classic BMW, campaigns 2 Z4 roadsters in Grand-Am and tells me they put new front wheel bearings in every other race weekend! Last time out the right front completely self-destructed and the rears are growling. It probably would be good idea to do an alignment check if you have a warranty; could have been a bump.

The original 18" sport wheels won't hold up to the stress of track work with Hoosiers mounted; bent all 4 without impact damage. Replaced with forged.

Bottom line: in spite of these issues and considering the way I use the car, this may be the best car I've ever owned!

Incidentally, also own a full race ex- Grand Am Cup Z3 Cpe.