How to Read 2000 Bmw 330i Transmission Fluid

This article gives detailed instructions on servicing the transmission in a BMW E46 3 serial vehicle. Even though we used a 2004 325ci to perform this repair, this article tin be applied to any 1998-2006 3 series vehicle with minor modifications to the repair steps.

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So...did y'all hear that rumor floating effectually that all three series cars built between 1998 and 2006 (E46) have "lifetime" fluid fills in their automatic transmissions and they never need to be serviced?

Hmmmm. Well information technology'due south non a rumor. In fact BMW was kind enough to scare the bejesus out of us by plastering a light-green WARNING sticker on the bottom of every E46 tranny verifying this. But what exactly is their definition of "lifetime"? Is it the lifetime of the owner (yikes)? The lifetime of the automobile (not sure what defines that)? Or is it the lifetime of the transmission before it burns up and leaves yous stranded from non being serviced?

The term "lifetime" really means the "service life" of the transmission, which in the case of the BMW E46 is 100,000 miles. In other words, BMW recommends that the transmission fluid does not need to be changed or topped off until after the vehicle surpasses 100,000 miles. This is just a recommendation and not the police. Like every other mechanical function on your vehicle, the manual needs to be regularly serviced to keep it operating correctly. Period...end of story.

The BMW Repair Guide recommends at a minimum an E46 transmission service fluid and filter change every lx,000 miles. This recommendation is for "normal" driving conditions. If you lot track/race your vehicle or are a more ambitious driver, we suggest a BMW E46 transmission service even more frequently.

Tabular array A - E46 Automatic Manual Guide

Model	Year	Manual
323i/Ci/iT	1999-2000	A5S360R (GM) (up to 03/00) A5S325Z (ZF) (from 03/00)
325i (M54 engine)	2001-2005	A5S325Z (ZF) (up to 03/02) A5S390R (GM) (from 03/02)
325i (M56 engine)	2003-2005	A5S325Z (ZF)
325Ci	2001-2005	A5S325Z (ZF) (up to 03/03) A5S390R (GM) (from 03/03)
328i/Ci	1999-2000	A5S360R (GM) (up to 05/00)
330i/Ci/Cic	2001-2005	A5S325Z (ZF) (up to 03/03) A5S390R (GM) (from 03/03)
325xi/xiT 330xi/xiT	2001-2005	A5S390R (GM)
325iT	2001-2005	A5S390R (GM) (upwardly to 03/03) A5S325Z (ZF) (from 03/03)

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E46 iii Series - All Models

BMW	E46	323Ci	M52 2.5L
BMW	E46	323i	M52 2.5L
BMW	E46	325Ci	M54 ii.5L
BMW	E46	325i	M54 2.5L
BMW	E46	325xi	M54 2.5L
BMW	E46	328Ci	M52 2.8L
BMW	E46	328i	M52 2.8L
BMW	E46	330Ci	M54 3.0L
BMW	E46	330i	M54 three.0L
BMW	E46	330xi	M54 3.0L
BMW	E46	M3	S54 iii.2L

Includes detailed function diagrams, role numbers and links to purchase all of the required components needed to consummate this repair.

Before starting this repair, you must have the following required parts.

Fits all E46 models with the GM five Speed Transmission

This is an OEM quality transmission filter and gasket at a budget price. Please verify your manual before purchasing. This is a direct replacement manual filter and gasket.

Fits all BMW models with ZF 5HP-nineteen transmission

This is an OEM quality transmission filter and gasket at a budget price. Please verify your transmission before purchasing. This is a direct replacement transmission filter and gasket.

For apply in all BMW 5 and six speed transmissions

Ruby Line has a reputation with racers and enthusiasts alike for creating products that perform and protect amend than any on the marketplace. Redline D4 is a fully synthetic oil that ensures proper shifting while providing ultimate habiliment protection. For utilise in all five and six speed ZF and GM transmissions, meets Beat M1375.iv specifications.

A5S360R and A5S390R (GM five speed transmission)

Factory fill up plug.

ZF 5HP19 (A5S325Z) 5 speed transmission

This is the same manufactory drain plug that would be installed at the BMW dealership.

A5S360R and A5S390R (GM 5 speed transmission)

Factory oil pan bolts.

For the 5HP19 (A5S325Z) transmission

The heads on the ZF 5HP19 manual's oil pan bolts are notorious for stripping when existence removed. If you are servicing an older transmission that has its original bolts, information technology is suggested that all of them are replaced to avoid time to come issues when servicing.

Department 1 - Draining and removing the transmission oil pan

1. Jack and support both ends of your vehicle. Please click here to learn how to properly jack and support your vehicle for this repair.
2. Locate the transmission oil pan. It is located behind the engine underneath the vehicle.
3. BMW used three different transmissions in the E46 3 serial (see Table A above to identify yours). It is very important to verify your role numbers and the bolt count and design on your transmission gasket before first this repair. We can't tell you how frustrating it is to be sent the wrong gasket, only to find out after we have drained and removed the transmission oil pan. Save time and stress and double cheque before you kickoff the repair.
4. Before draining the oil pan, always remove the fill plug outset. Y'all do not desire to find out after the transmission is serviced that the fill plug is stuck and fluid can't be added.
5. Start past lLocating the transmission fill plug on rear left side of transmission. You will notice that there is very little clearance between the plug and the frame of the vehicle - it is impossible to get a regular length 8mm hex socket and wrench in the fill plug. The solution is to simply cut an inexpensive 3/8" bulldoze 8mm hex socket downward with a Dremel tool every bit shown below. This volition give you a custom low contour 8mm hex socket that will piece of work with both a regular three/viii" bulldoze socket and torque wrench. ***Do not use a 1/2" drive hex socket...it will be as well large even later on modifying information technology.
6. Using the modified 8mm hex socket, remove the make full plug from the summit of the transmission. You lot will well-nigh likely need a billow bar to initially loosen the plug.
7. You lot can at present bleed the transmission. Position a 5 gallon drain pan under the transmission drain plug, located at forepart of manual oil pan.
8. Apply a T40 torx bit to remove the manual drain plug. Let oil thoroughly drain from pan. The transmission drain plug is notorious for stripping when attempting to remove. Some model transmissions (well-nigh notably the A5S325Z) have a loftier torque value on their drain plugs, making them nearly impossible to remove without stripping the torx head. If your manual drain plug strips while trying to remove, go to the adjacent step 9. If not, proceed to step 10.
9. If you strip the torx drain plug while trying to remove, you will have to drill and excerpt information technology out. Don't feel bad, we stripped ours too while making this commodity. Use a v/16" titanium drill bit to drill through the center of the plug into the pan. Brand sure to have your bleed pan ready...as soon as you drill through the plug the pan will commencement draining.
10. Spray the manual oil pan bolts downwards with Lead Blaster and allow to soak for about 10 minutes.
11. Use a T27 torx bit to remove the oil pan bolts. The oil pan bolt heads have a tendency to strip on the BMW E46 transmission. I if you strip 1, don't get frustrated...just move on. The stripped bolt heads can be very easily snapped off with a drill. If you strip a torx bolt during removal, proceed to stride 12 for instructions on removing information technology. If you were able to get all of the oil pan bolt out successfully, go on to footstep xiii.
12. If yous strip an oil pan mounting bolt (which is a normal occurrence), use a ¼" drill bit to speedily remove its head. Simply start drilling into the center of the commodities every bit shown below and the caput will quickly twist off. You can hands extract the remainder of the commodities with your fingers after the pan is removed.
13. Remove the oil pan from the lesser of the transmission. Remove the one-time gasket.
14. Use a T40 torx scrap to remove the ii bolts (front end and back) anchoring the transmission oil filter. Remove the filter from the transmission.

Section ii - Reinstalling the oil pan and gasket

1. Thoroughly clean the oil pan inside and out. Using CRC Brakleen , liberally soak the inside and exterior of the pan and scrub with a rag. Remove the magnets and make clean them thoroughly too. The pan should look "new" inside when you are finished. The goal is to remove equally of metal shavings and residue left inside the pan then it does non recirculate with the fresh fluid we volition be adding.
2. If you had to drill out the torx drain plug in section 1, you will now need to extract the old ane out of the pan (if you didn't proceed to next footstep). Soak the plug inside and out with PB Blaster and let sit for five to 10 minutes. Next, hammer a commodities extractor into the pigsty that was drilled into the plug and plough with an open ended wrench to extract.
3. Install the new transmission oil filter following the reverse steps above. Make certain your filter has a prophylactic gasket ring on it as shown below. Torque the ii filter mounting bolts to 9 Nm (6.5 ft-lb).
4. Using a high quality RTV silicone gasket sealant, squeeze out six small spots around the perimeter of the oil pan equally shown below. These are to help hold the new gasket in identify during installation. Lay the new gasket on top of the spots of sealant and let dry for about ten-15 minutes. Put the magnets back in the pan.
5. Reinstall the oil pan on the bottom of the transmission using new oil pan bolts. Don't forget to put the magnets back in the pan. Torque the pan bolts in sequential order (you do not need to apply a cross blueprint). Use one of the following tightening torques on the pan bolts, depending on your transmission model number (check your model number in table A at beginning of this article): A5S360R / A5S390R (GM Transmission) - 10Nm (7 ft-lb) A5S325Z (ZF Transmission) - half-dozen Nm (iv ft-lb)
6. Install a new bleed plug in the pan and torque to i of the following values: A5S360R / A5S390R (GM Transmission) - 20Nm (15 ft-lb) A5S325Z (ZF Transmission) - 35 Nm (26 ft-lb)

Section 3 - Refilling the transmission with fluid

Refilling the BMW E46 five speed transmission is a two stride process. Commencement the manual oil pan must be initially filled. Later on the initial make full, the manual must exist warmed up to its last fill temperature (100F) before topping off with fluid. Per the manufacturer specifications, the vehicle must exist running and the transmission in park while topping off the manual - topping of the manual with the engine off could cause an nether filled transmission.

1. Fill your fluid transfer pump with half-dozen quarts of approved transmission fluid. Pump the oil pan completely full of transmission fluid until it begins to pour back out through the fill hole.
2. Install the new fill plug hand tight. Practice NOT torque information technology yet. Yous will need to remove it to meridian off the fluid after bringing it to the concluding make full temperature (100F).
3. Start the car to warm upward the transmission. Using a BMW diagnostic scanner, claw upwardly to the OBDII port and get to the correct screen that displays the gear box temperature.
4. With your foot on the brake , slowly shift through the gears, pausing 3 seconds between gear changes. Echo this process virtually six times. This will circulate the transmission fluid through the valve torso and other transmission components.
5. When the transmission reaches 100F, leave the vehicle running and in park and keep directly back to the transmission fill hole.
6. Remove the fill plug and finish pumping fluid into the transmission until it starts to menstruation out of the pigsty. Your transmission is now properly filled.
7. Supercede the new make full plug and torque to one of the following values:
8.          A5S360R / A5S390R - 20Nm (15 ft-lb)          A5S325Z - thirty Nm (22 ft-lb)
9. With the engine still running, bank check for any visual leaks effectually the gasket.
10. You can now turn the engine off.

BMW E46 Transmission Service Finished

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Source: https://bmwrepairguide.com/bmw-e46-transmission-service-automatic-1998-2005-3-series/

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