How to change the oil in an automatic transmission on a BMW E39

Changing the oil in the gearbox is one of the mandatory vehicle maintenance procedures. In this case, the procedure can really be carried out independently, without the help of specialists. This also applies to the BMW E39 - it is easy to change the automatic transmission oil with your own hands. True, it is worth considering that a certain set of tools will be required for replacement.

What oil is better to choose in an automatic transmission for a BMW E39?

A proper oil change in an automatic transmission in a BMW E39 is impossible without choosing the right lubricant. And here it must be remembered: automatic transmissions are extremely demanding on the composition of the lubricant. Using the wrong tool will damage the automatic transmission and cause premature repairs. Therefore, it is recommended to fill the BMW E39 gearbox with genuine BMW oil. This fluid is marked BMW ATF D2, Dextron II D specification, part number 81229400272.

Original BMW ATF Detron II D oil

Be sure to remember the article: the brand name may vary slightly, but the article numbers do not. The proposed oil is used by BMW when filling automatic transmissions of the fifth series, to which the E39 belongs. The use of other options is only allowed if the original lubricant is not available. Select the correct fluid based on official approvals. There are four tolerances in total: ZF TE-ML 11, ZF TE-ML 11A, ZF TE-ML 11B and LT 71141. And the purchased lubricant must comply with at least one of them. Of the analogues, the following can be recommended:

• Ravenol with article number 1213102.
• SWAG with item number 99908971.
• Mobile LT71141.

Another thing to remember is that automatic transmission oil is also used in power steering. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out simultaneous refueling of liquids, buying lubricant in sufficient quantities for both units. But there is a problem: the manufacturer often does not indicate the required amount of oil for a complete replacement. Therefore, lubricant for the BMW E39 must be bought with a margin, from 20 liters.

When do you need to change the oil in an automatic transmission for a BMW E39?

Regarding the frequency of changing the oil in an automatic transmission on a BMW E39, there are several opinions that do not agree with each other. The first opinion is the manufacturer of the car. BMW representatives say: the lubricant in the automatic transmission is designed for the entire life of the gearbox. Replacement is not required, the lubricant does not deteriorate, regardless of the driving mode. The second opinion is the opinion of many experienced drivers. Car owners claim that the first replacement should be carried out after 100 thousand kilometers. And all subsequent ones - every 60-70 thousand kilometers. Auto mechanics periodically support one or the other side.

But how to understand whose opinion is correct here? As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The manufacturer is right: changing the oil in an automatic transmission for a BMW E39 is not a mandatory procedure. But this is true only if two conditions are met. The first condition is that the car only drives on good roads. And the second condition is that the driver agrees to change the gearbox every 200 thousand kilometers. In this case, the lubricant cannot be changed.

But it is worth considering: the BMW E39 was produced from 1995 to 2003. And at the moment there are practically no cars of this series with a mileage of less than 200 thousand km. This means that the oil must be changed without fail. And here are some recommendations for changing the fluid:

• Fat is poured every 60-70 thousand kilometers. It is recommended to additionally check the automatic transmission for leaks. You should also pay attention to the color of the oil and its consistency.
• Oil is bought at a premium. It will be needed to replace and flush the gearbox. The required volume depends on the specific automatic transmission model. The general recommendation is to fill the grease up to the lower edge of the filler hole. The car during the filling process must stand on a flat surface, without slopes.
• Do not mix liquids of different brands. When they work, they react. And this leads to very unpleasant consequences.
• Do not perform partial oil changes. In this case, the bulk of the dirt and chips remain in the box, which subsequently interferes with the operation of the unit.

Subject to all of the above recommendations, you can perform an independent lubricant change in the automatic transmission.

Replacement process

The automatic transmission oil change procedure begins with the purchase of fluid and the preparation of tools. The choice of lubricant has already been mentioned above. The only addition is that you need to buy more oil with a margin - a certain amount will be spent on flushing. The amount of liquid required for cleaning depends on the degree of contamination of the gearbox. The color of the purchased lubricant does not matter. You can’t mix oils of different shades, but there are no such restrictions for a complete replacement.

List of parts and tools needed to change the oil in an automatic transmission BMW E39:

• Lift up. The machine is fixed in a horizontal position. In this case, it is necessary to keep the wheels in a freely suspended state. So a moat or overpass will not do; you will need an elevator. In certain cases, you can use a set of connectors. But they will require you to hold the car tightly to avoid unpleasant consequences.
• Hex key. Required for drain plug. The size varies depending on the automatic transmission model and must be selected manually. Several experienced drivers recommend using an adjustable wrench to unscrew the cork. But it must be used with care so as not to deform the part.
• 10 or a wrench to unscrew the crankcase. But it is also recommended to prepare keys for 8 and 12 - the size of the screw heads is sometimes different.
• Screwdriver with a Torx section, 27. Needed to remove the oil filter.
• New oil filter. When changing the oil, it is worth checking the condition of this part. In most cases, it needs to be replaced. It is highly recommended to purchase quality original or equivalent BMW parts available in the region.
• Silicone gasket for gearbox housing. Buying a rubber gasket is not recommended, as it often leaks.
• Silicone Sealant A new gasket is required after the transmission pan has been cleaned.
• Socket wrench (or ratchet) for unscrewing the bolts holding the pallet. The size of the bolt depends on the transmission model.
• This stands for WD-40. Used to remove dirt and rust from bolts. Without WD-40, it is difficult to remove the automatic transmission sump and the sump protection (the bolts get stuck and do not unscrew).
• Syringe or funnel and hose for filling new oil. The recommended diameter is up to 8 millimeters.
• Clean cloth for cleaning the tray and magnets.
• A hose that fits into the heat exchanger tube.
• Means for flushing the transmission pan (optional).
• Container for draining waste fat.
• K+DCAN USB cable and laptop with standard BMW tools installed. It is better to look for a cable in the following format: USB Interface K + DCAN (INPA Compliant).

It is also recommended to find an assistant. Your main task is to start and stop the engine in time. By the way, there is an important point regarding washing. Some drivers recommend using gasoline or diesel fuel to clean the pan. You should not do this - such liquids react with oil. As a result, sludge appears, the lubricant becomes clogged, and the service life of the automatic transmission is reduced.

The last thing to remember is the safety rules:

• Avoid getting liquids in your eyes, mouth, nose, or ears. You should also be careful when working with hot oil, it can leave very unpleasant burns.
• For work, you need to choose suitable and loose clothing. It is worth remembering that clothes will definitely get dirty. No need to take what is a pity to spoil.
• The machine must be securely fastened to the lift. Any carelessness in this matter may result in serious injury.
• Tools and parts must be handled carefully and carefully. Spilled oil can cause a fracture, sprain or other injury. The same applies to the wrench thrown at your feet.

The first stage

The first step is to drain the used oil from the box itself. First, the crankcase protection is removed. It is recommended to wash it and treat the bolts with WD-40 to remove rust and scale. By the way, it is worth unscrewing them carefully so as not to damage the silumin fasteners. The plastic tray is also removable. Next, the bottom of the gearbox is cleaned. It is necessary to remove dirt and rust, and clean all bolts and plugs. This is where WD-40 comes in handy again.

Automatic transmission BMW E39 with crankcase removed

Now we need to find the drain plug. Its location is indicated in the service book, which is recommended to always have at hand. Look for the drain plug from below, in the gearbox oil pan. The cork is unscrewed and the liquid is drained into a previously prepared container. The cork is then screwed back on. But this is not yet a complete drain of the automatic transmission oil on the BMW E39 - you still need to remove the pan and replace the filter. The process looks like this:

• Carefully unscrew the bolts around the perimeter of the pallet. The pan is removed to the side, but it is worth remembering that there is still used oil in it.
• After removing the automatic transmission parts pan, the remaining oil will begin to drain. Here again you will need a container for waste fat.
• Remove the oil filter with a Torx screwdriver. It cannot be cleaned, it must be replaced. It is worth buying a spare part according to the recommendations in the service book. One option recommended by drivers is VAICO oil filters.

But it is worth considering: if you stop at this stage, only 40-50% of the used lubricant will be removed from the system.

The second stage

At the second stage, the automatic transmission is actively flushed (with the engine running) and the sump is cleaned. You should start by removing used oil and metal chips from the sump. Chips are easy to find: they stick to magnets and look like a dark, dark brown paste. In advanced cases, metal "hedgehogs" form on the magnets. They should be removed, pour out the used oil and thoroughly rinse the pan. Several experienced drivers recommend flushing the pan with gasoline. But this is not the best idea. Gas station workers believe that special cleaning products should be used.

It is necessary to thoroughly rinse both the pan and the bolts from oil. The insulating silicone gasket is then removed and replaced with a new one. The joint must also be treated with silicone sealant! The platform is now in place and carefully secured. After that, you need to unscrew the filler plug and pour oil into the automatic transmission. For these purposes, it is more convenient to use a syringe. It is necessary to fill in the gearbox up to the lower edge of the filler hole. The cork is then screwed into place.

Next you need to find a heat exchanger. Outwardly, it looks like a block like a radiator, with two nozzles located side by side. The exact description is in the service book of the car. In the same document, you need to find the direction of oil movement through the heat exchanger. Hot fat enters the heat exchanger through one of the nozzles. And the second serves to remove the cooled liquid. It is he who is needed for further washing. The process looks like this:

• The oil supply hose is removed from the nozzle. It must be carefully removed to the side without damaging it.
• Then another hose of a suitable size is attached to the nozzle. Its second end is sent to an empty container to drain the used oil.
• The assistant receives a signal to start the engine. The shift lever must be in the neutral position. After 1-2 seconds, dirty oil will come out of the hose. At least 2-3 liters should flow. The flow weakens - the motor fades. It is important to remember: the automatic transmission should not work in the lack of oil mode! In this mode, wear increases, parts overheat, which, in turn, will lead to untimely repairs.
• The filler cap is unscrewed and the automatic transmission is filled with oil approximately to the level of the lower edge of the filler hole. The plug is closed.
• The procedure is repeated by starting the engine and cleaning the heat exchanger. Repeat until a relatively clean oil is filled. It is worth remembering that the lubricant is purchased with the expectation that the gearbox is so clean. But it is not recommended to get involved in flushing, otherwise there will be no lubricant left to fill the gearbox.
• The last stage - the heat exchanger hoses are installed in their places.

BMW E39 heat exchanger with used grease drain hose

Now it remains only to fill the oil in the automatic transmission and deal with the automatic transmission settings.

The third stage

The oil filling procedure has already been described above. It looks like this: the filler hole opens, the automatic transmission is filled with grease, the hole closes. Fill to the bottom. It is worth noting: the color of the liquid does not matter. A suitable replacement oil may be green, red, or yellow. This does not affect the quality of the composition.

But it's too early to start the engine and check the operation of the gearbox. Now you have to adjust the BMW E39 electronics accordingly if the gearbox is adaptive. It is worth noting: some drivers believe that the setting will be superfluous. But it's better to do it anyway. The process looks like this:

• The laptop has BMW Standard Tools installed. Version 2.12 will do. If necessary, it can be installed on a computer, but the car owner hardly has a home PC in the garage.
• The laptop is connected to the OBD2 diagnostic connector located in the car. The program is necessary to determine the presence of automatic transmission by default.
• Now you need to find an adaptive reset in the program. Here the sequence is:
  • Find the BMW 5 series. The name changes depending on the location. We need a group of cars of the fifth series - these include the BMW E39.
  • Next, you need to find the real E39.
  • The Transmission item is now selected.
  • Next - automatic transmission, gearbox. Or just automatic transmission, it all depends on the version of the program.
  • The last bullets are: Fittings followed by clear fittings. There may be several options here: clear accommodation, reset settings, reset accommodation. The problem is that the previous settings are restored.

Why is it necessary? Used and drained oil has a different consistency than new fluid. But the automatic transmission is configured to work on the old fluid. And then you need to restore the previous settings. After that, the gearbox will already be configured to work with used oil.

The last step is to start the gearbox in each of the modes. The car has not yet been removed from the lift. It is necessary to start the engine and drive the car for half a minute in each mode available for the automatic transmission. This will allow the oil to flow through the entire circuit. And the system will complete the adjustment, adapting to the new lubricant. It is highly recommended to heat the oil to 60-65 degrees Celsius. Then the automatic transmission is switched to neutral (the engine does not turn off!), And the lubricant is added back to the box. The principle is the same: fill up to the bottom edge of the filler hole. Now the plug is screwed into place, the engine is turned off and the car is removed from the lift.

In general, the process is completed. But there are a number of recommendations related to changing the oil. Immediately after the replacement, it is advisable to drive at least 50 km in a calm mode. It is worth remembering: a complex operating mode can lead to an emergency stop. And there is a chance that you will have to reset the emergency program that is already in the official service. Last recommendation: check the condition of the oil every year, in addition to changing the fluid every 60-70 thousand kilometers.