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Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 11:00 pm
by Entwicklung34
Hey there, just looking for a bit of advice please before I attempt to do a partial change on the atf.

I've don't a lot of research about this on here and other sites, and they all seem to suggest the correct fluid for my car would be called zf lifeguard 6. However to be safe I ordered from my dealer and they gave me bottles labelled ATF2. The dealer searched up my car using the registration and found the oil that way, but they have givenme wrong partsbefoe which doesn't fill me with confidence. Does anybody here know for definite the oil type I should be using?

Car in question is a facelift 2004 e53 x5 3.0d 6-speed auto.

Any advice much appreciated.

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 12:38 pm
by Entwicklung34
Ah my apologies, I posted this late last night, maybe it should be in the problems section?

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:40 pm
by Horizon
Has it got a BMW part number on the bottles. ? Are you just changing the oil, or the pan and filter too.
I've just had my X3 gearbox serviced  ( at Transmission Specialist ) and he used genuine plastic sump and filter from ZF and ZF Life Gaurd6 oil
£ 275

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 5:27 pm
by Entwicklung34
Hey there, thanks for the reply - the part number is 83222305396. Sold in litre bottles and was £26 per bottle!

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 5:36 pm
by Horizon
[quote="Entwicklung34"]
Hey there, thanks for the reply - the part number is 83222305396. Sold in litre bottles and was £26 per bottle!
[/quote]

https://www.schmiedmann.co.uk/en/bmw-z4 ... 3222305396

They are quoting same BMW part number for lifeguard 6 ATF2

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 7:27 pm
by Entwicklung34
That actually makes me feel a lot better... thank you very much I can't believe I didn't think to Google the bmw part number. Seems funny how it's bottled under different names though doesn't it, if it's the same exact fluid :s

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 7:47 pm
by Horizon
[quote="Entwicklung34"]
That actually makes me feel a lot better... thank you very much I can't believe I didn't think to Google the bmw part number. Seems funny how it's bottled under different names though doesn't it, if it's the same exact fluid :s
[/quote]
If they sold it in the lifeguard 6 bottles people would shop around and buy it elsewhere I guess

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 9:24 am
by Alan Gunn

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 8:29 am
by Entwicklung34
Excellent find that mate...  :'( I've been totally ripped off, but need to get the job done today so i'll have to take it on the chin  :blink:

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:23 pm
by Entwicklung34
Just managed to access the gearbox and the label says use only bmw oil part #83220142516. This is different from what bmw dealer gave me (part number posted earlier)? Any ideas?

It also gets worse... I found there must have been a slight leak on the transmission sump, AND a cv boot is totally ripped in half. :(

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:37 pm
by X5Sport
That part is for the same stuff but in 20L containers as part of a change kit.  The stuff you have is under the 1L container part number.

If you do a check on Realoem you will find:  http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... 3220142516

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:11 pm
by Entwicklung34
X5Sport you know your stuff - thank you.

I had such a nightmare getting the covers off the bottom of the car due to rusted bolts, that's as far as I got this morning due to other commitments.

I now need to find the right filter/gasket kit and some extra fluid, as well as a CV boot... oh and a few extra hours of car fixing time! :(

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:16 pm
by Horizon
[quote="Entwicklung34"]
X5Sport you know your stuff - thank you.

I had such a nightmare getting the covers off the bottom of the car due to rusted bolts, that's as far as I got this morning due to other commitments.

I now need to find the right filter/gasket kit and some extra fluid, as well as a CV boot... oh and a few extra hours of car fixing time! :(
[/quote]
Go on real OEM and go to gearbox section and it lists the correct service kit / sump filter for your car. Then just type that number into google or eBay and loads pop up.

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 7:31 pm
by Entwicklung34
Horizon... Thank you!! #legend

Today's surprise set-back has really put me off my game as I just expected to have the new oil in there and all sorted after a couple of hours. It took me longer than that to get the bolts off the front tray they were so rusted!

I got two bolts off the weird metal undertray and that took seeeerrrrrrrrrious effort as the little bolts holding on all the plastic side covers were rusted too, as well as the plastic screws rounding at the slightest tough. I have transfer case oil too but if it's underneath that metal undertray I doubt i'm going to be able to get it off!! (I wouldn't mind i'm not even an amateur at this i've worked on cars, mainly bmw's, all my life but this just took the p#ss today)

Well, tomorrow is a new day...

All I can say is thanks so much to all of you for your help so far, and I really mean that - u've got me through a hard day!

Re: Auto transmission fluid - ATF2 ?

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 7:59 pm
by X5Sport
Do you have the instructions for changing the gearbox oil too?  It isn't a simple drain and fill.