 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  03-25-2008, 03:21 PM | #1 | | Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 46 |  Manual Transmission Fluid
On a 1998 318ti Sport, I have changed the tranny fluid with Valvoline MTF 85w-90, and for some reason it doesnt seem to feel as solid as it used to. 2nd gear pops out alot more often, and it just isnt as smooth as before.
What kind of fluids are you using in your 318ti? Please state the year as well, because different years seem to have different specs; I didnt have an owners manual to work with so I tried what worked before in my SE-R...
I cant say Im pleased with it, so looking for some suggestions
Thanks!
-Conan |  |  | | 03-25-2008, 03:31 PM | #2 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
1996 ti, i used royal purple synchromax and have had no issues. between the UUC trans mounts, my shoft shift kit and synchromax, i've had no shifting issues any longer. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 03-25-2008, 03:53 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Waco/Austin, TX Posts: 233 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti  1996 ti, i used royal purple synchromax and have had no issues. between the UUC trans mounts, my shoft shift kit and synchromax, i've had no shifting issues any longer. | Which UUC tranny mounts did you use? Did you get the enforcers too? How hard is the install? I've been thinking i need to replace mine. I've yet to do anything with the tranny fluid in my current car so subscribing to this thread  __________________ 1997 318ti Schwarz II
FB | | | | | 03-25-2008, 09:55 PM | #4 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
reds with enforcers. it definitely added some additional noise, but they keep things in place much better. i also had red UUC engine mounts, but just couldn't take the vibration and massive additional noise. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 03-25-2008, 10:11 PM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Waco/Austin, TX Posts: 233 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti reds with enforcers. it definitely added some additional noise, but they keep things in place much better. i also had red UUC engine mounts, but just couldn't take the vibration and massive additional noise. | What do you have for the motor mounts instead? __________________ 1997 318ti Schwarz II
FB | | | | | 03-25-2008, 10:15 PM | #6 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
stockies  my old shop i used in IL even recommended against M3 motor mounts because they'd likely pass through too much vibration. i noticed a good deal of difference in how much the shifter would move around (with full poly, it wouldn't move at all and was awesome in it's "snick-snicketyness"), but it still shifts very well. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 03-25-2008, 10:25 PM | #7 | | Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 58 |
in my owners manual it sez its a lifetime fluid... i have no issues even in the least bit with my tranny... should i change it? | | | | | 03-25-2008, 11:29 PM | #8 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
manual trans? i would (and have). i don't believe in "lifetime" fluids __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 03-25-2008, 11:31 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,587 |
You might as well change it. The manual takes barely over 1 quart I believe, so it's cheap insurance. | | | | | 03-25-2008, 11:53 PM | #10 | | Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 58 |
Quote: Originally Posted by CirrusSR22 You might as well change it. The manual takes barely over 1 quart I believe, so it's cheap insurance. | i figured. i have man. trans. i don't really believe in lifetime fluids either but i was just checking to see what others had done... thanks. what type or brand would be best? any recommendations? | | | | | 03-26-2008, 02:31 AM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,587 |
Triple_A, what year is your car? E36's somewhere through 1997(?) used ATF which is simple to find. You can probably go with a synthetic ATF like Mobil 1. Get under your car and look for a big sticker saying it uses ATF.
The newer cars used "MTF-1" or "MTF-2". From the research I've found the stuff is technically a GL-4 gear oil. Something like 75w-80. You can buy the real MTF fluid from the dealer for a LOT of money. I think they also sell it in 5 liter containers only. From the experiences of others, manual transmission fluid like Royal Purple Synchromax is a great alternative to the factory fluid. Do some searches on here, and I think there are some discussions about fluid. | | | | | 03-26-2008, 02:47 AM | #12 | | Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 58 |
its a '98 ... i will do some research. thank you. | | | | | 03-26-2008, 03:41 AM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oxford, Ohio Posts: 868 |
+1 Cirrus... great advice | | | | | 05-04-2008, 01:04 PM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 188 |
Do you need a pump to refresh the fluid? | | | | | 05-04-2008, 03:19 PM | #15 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
Quote: Originally Posted by BMW_318TI Do you need a pump to refresh the fluid? | the fill port is up quite high so about the only way to fill it with with a hose attached to a pump. if you're very creative, you might be able to do it without one, but it'll be much easier with a pump. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | |
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