96 318ic/m44/auto lost automatic transmission fluid

[applefan]

was on the way home last friday , going around 40mph, all of a sudden transmission error light came on and it stopped shifting. couldn't pull over immediately as it was a narrow street with no shoulder.

Anyway, long story short, I had to tow the car home. When looked at it few days ago, the nut that holds the atf cooling line came loose and squirting atf fluid out. tightened it , no more leaks now, but car won't move since it emptied most of the precious lifetime fluid while it gave problem last friday.

any recommendation what fluid can be used on these sealed trannys with life time fluid ? and how long will it run before it needs changed again?
Transmission is A4S 310R/auto and the green label on it not readable at all Thanks!

[applefan]

nobody changed atf on the 318ti ?

[bazar01]

Search on youtube and Pelican has a procedure too.
I do not believe on lifetime auto transmission fluid. Lifetime means for the life of the transmission only which will be short anyway if not taken cared of. Not a human lifetime in my opinion.
So that means if you had it inspected earlier, they could have caught the hose leakage when it was just minor.

[applefan]

Thanks for chiming in bazar01!
Closest I found is "Red Line D4 Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid" , but no local stores sells it
I am surprised nobody in the forum replaced atf on their ti. lifetime fluid sounds like lifetime to me

[b0m]

I replaced mine with valvoline dex/merc from autozone. Ran fine for 40K so far.

[applefan]

Originally Posted by b0m

I replaced mine with valvoline dex/merc from autozone. Ran fine for 40K so far.

You da man! Thank you. This is exactly what I wanted to know

Did you change the filter also ?

[b0m]

Filter and gasket. They were cheap enough so I changed them out at the same time.

[applefan]

Originally Posted by b0m

Filter and gasket. They were cheap enough so I changed them out at the same time.

Thanks! that helps

[b0m]

Any time.

[DaRvDrUmS]

Swapped mine with the Redline ATF. Ordered it at bavauto.com iirc. Did the gaskets and filter kit as well..

[applefan]

i am sold on valvoline dex/merc cheap and recommended by b0m and local beemer mechanic as well. I did the whole work last saturday and the transmission shifts nice and smooth now. Time will tell the rest, but I am happy with it for now. filling up atf with engine running wasn't fun, the atf smells nasty too! This indeed was a tough job to tackle

[bazar01]

Yep, satisfied with Valvoline Dex/Merc as well on a 2003 325. These transmission fluids are not lifetime. You will have problems if you don't change them regularly.
It's nice to have an auto but I still prefer manual shifts.