transmission fluid change question

[Don]

I plan to change my tranny and differentrial fluids this weekend. How important is it for the car to be up on all four corners rather than just jacking and stabilizing from one side. I realize it's a level issue but won't the fluid drain completely anyway since the drain is very near the botom of the casing?

Thanks, Don

'98 540i manual
Original owner

[fritracer]

Do all 4 corners. That way you get all the fluid out and can refill to the proper levels. The drain plug for the trans is in the center of the pan as is the differential plug. To get the car high enough on 1 side will prevent a good portion of the fluid from draining. Doing it right the first time will save a lot of agrivation later. Fritracer
Cincinnati, OH
2000 540ia Sport Package 9/99 Silver/ Black
img=168887[/IMG]

[Craig in Canada]

[edjack]

On a level surface, jack up one side, open fill and drain plugs, let it down to drain. Make sure the trans and diff are warm.

Jack it up, replace drain plugs (wrap some Teflon tape on the trans fill plug, or it will weep).

Fill each with 2 quarts of lube. Lower the car and let the excess drain out.

Raise the car and replace the fill plugs. The car must be level to ensure that the lube is topped up.
Ed in San Jose. BMW CCA member since 1987 (Nr. 62319). Golden Gate Chapter. '97 540i 6 speed. Build Date 3/97. Aspensilber over Aubergine leather.

[JimLev]

and it's fill plug is on the rear cover. Get new aluminum crush washers and the 14mm allen hex to remove these diff plugs.
The tranny drain is on the bottom, fill is on the drivers side, both are NPT tapered threads, you just need a long handle wrench to remove them.
Make sure you can get the fill plugs out first before you take the drain plugs out....for obvious reasons!
If you can't get all 4 corners up you could always jack up a corner to remove the drain plugs, then lower the car so all of the fluid comes out.

Jack up the fill side (put the drain plugs back in), then fill the case with fluid. With the fill plug still out, lower the car to the (level) ground to let any overfill run out. Then jack it back up and put the fill plug back in. It's more work, but if you can't get all 4 corners up this will work just fine.

[JimLev]

Don the tranny holds 2 quarts and the diff takes 1.7 quarts.
You won't get all of the old stuff out so don't worry about filling the tranny with 2 quarts and seeing a little run out the fill hole.
Same for the diff.

[Don]

Thanks to all. I somehow feel more secure under the car without all four up in tha air on stands.

[Ed CT]

being under the car! LOL

Don - be sure to open the FILL plug before you drain the fluid.
Ed CT
1998 528i (aka, best car I ever owned!)
5-Speed
Aspen Silver
Aubergine Leather
Zeckhausen CDV
Nokia CK-7
D-Con Cache on Fuel Pump Cover

[Filehorse]

$9.95 Made in China cast iron jack stands. I did that once and decided that this was NOT the place to cut corners on quality...!!


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
81,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[Ed CT]

Ed CT
1998 528i (aka, best car I ever owned!)
5-Speed
Aspen Silver
Aubergine Leather
Zeckhausen CDV
Nokia CK-7
D-Con Cache on Fuel Pump Cover