Need advice - Which ATF oil ?

[wan520i]

Hi All, Need you guys advice URGENTLY to choose which ATF oil best or ok to use in my auto transmission box-ZF 5HP18. Unfortunately not many choice I have from local spare part shops here, seems like they have only Vaico ATF Long Life and another is Vaico Dexron III. Can I know how many of our bros here use Vaico? I have downloaded the list of recommended oil ( http://www.europeantransmissions.com/Bulletin/DTC.BMW/BMW%20transmissionfluidchard.pdf ) , GB ZF-5HP18 is fitted on E34-530i and on E36-M3, recommended ATF oil on the E34 is Dexron III, on M3 is ESSO LT71141. Does it mean best ATF for my GB is ESSO LT 71141 ? where to buy and how much? Will I go wrong if choose Vaico Dexron III ? actually I am not so confidence with the brand Vaico..., your comment about Vaico please. Thanks.

 

[IanDaddy]

This info is from ZF

Automatic transmissions
Note footnotes and maintenance recommendations ZF automatic transmissions page 3.
5HP18
According to BMW oil pan fill aperture label:
1. without oil pan fill aperture label
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) according to lubricant class 11B
=> Refer to the following pages for approved commercial products
2. with oil pan fill aperture label (green plugs)
ZF Lifeguardfluid5 (ZF No. S671 090 170)
=> BMW Oil No. 8322 9407807
Warning: use of incorrect lubricant can cause transmission failure



If you have green plugs you can use ZF Lifeguard 5. Esso LT 71141 is more a standard like DexronIII not a product.

 

[Alex5522]

Bro i being using VAICO V60-0007 ATF Longlife since last JUN/10, so far ok for me.

 

[wan520i]

Thanks for reply.

Ian, ZF Lifeguardfluid5 is clear gold color oil, I think this is more suitable for newer car. Currently my GB oil is red color, last time filled with BMW atf.

Alex, is your car E34 525?

Anyone here has left over Esso ATF LT71141 for sale? need about 8 liters. (Esso is packed in 20 liters drum)

 

[Alex5522]

Nope mine was E46 320i M52TUB20

 

[Herbert]

Wan,

My advice to you is to use ZF Lifeguardfluid5 since your auto gear is of ZF. About RM 52.00 per bottle ( 1 litre) from Bavaria Auto.

 

[tckhor]

Wan520i, The info you want may be found here : http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/..._1/service_portfolio/passenger_cars/5HP18.pdf

 

[wan520i]

THANKS for All replies !!! These info plus a hidden Guru (via massive sms) has made my direction much clearer...

If I can remember correctly, mine GB has Green label, I will go for ZF Lifeguard5.

Found one spare shop in KL selling RM40 / liter.., er...do you guys think got imitate ZF oil in the market??

 

[Herbert]

THANKS for All replies !!! These info plus a hidden Guru (via massive sms) has made my direction much clearer...

If I can remember correctly, mine GB has Green label, I will go for ZF Lifeguard5.

Found one spare shop in KL selling RM40 / liter.., er...do you guys think got imitate ZF oil in the market??

I am sure there are imitations ZF ATF in the market. For the sake of saving RM 12.00 per litre, you risk damaging your auto trans. My advice is always buy from reliable spare parts shops such as Bavaria Auto.

 

[wan520i]

Just changed my GB ATF oil today, poured in about 6 liters of ZF Lifeguard5, didn't flush my GB, but just opened oil pan, changed the filter & gasket, then refill accordingly to the procedures. I know there are still some red color old ATF retained in the torque converter, hope it is not so harmful to mix them with new ATF oil.

Also discovered that mine GB has black label, instead of green label as I mentioned above. I think ZF Lifeguard is also suitable and better for black labeled GB right?

Bought the ZF oil at Mu**ch segambut, cost me Rm40/liter. BA is selling at RM43/liter.

Thanks for all replies.

 

[chylee11]

i am planning to change my atf as well, not sure which GB model i have but its with Green label on the oil pan. Can I assume that the ZF5 is the correct fluid? car is e46 325 local spec.

Also is the capacity of green label GB 6ltrs as well? Thanks all.
Need to go BA to do shopping this weekend!

 

[IanDaddy]

i am planning to change my atf as well, not sure which GB model i have but its with Green label on the oil pan. Can I assume that the ZF5 is the correct fluid? car is e46 325 local spec.

Also is the capacity of green label GB 6ltrs as well? Thanks all.
Need to go BA to do shopping this weekend!

I think local E46 325i comes with ZF5HP19. I have that too and have been using ZF lifequard5.

 

[morpheus5039]

Just changed my GB ATF oil today, poured in about 6 liters of ZF Lifeguard5, didn't flush my GB, but just opened oil pan, changed the filter & gasket, then refill accordingly to the procedures. I know there are still some red color old ATF retained in the torque converter, hope it is not so harmful to mix them with new ATF oil.

Also discovered that mine GB has black label, instead of green label as I mentioned above. I think ZF Lifeguard is also suitable and better for black labeled GB right?

Bought the ZF oil at Mu**ch segambut, cost me Rm40/liter. BA is selling at RM43/liter.

Thanks for all replies.

Yes you can fill with ZF LIFEGUARDFLUID5, even withougt the Green plugs, as long as it is under the 11B category oil.
Please check: http://www01apps.zf.com/kst464/ZF_InteroeleV2_manager/Work/2011-04-01/TE-ML 11_en0700.pdf

You can find it from www.zf.com (product & service > technical information > lubricant and steel > list of lubricant > TE-ML 11)