[kis2012]

2007 N53 325i 70k miles E93 Manual RHD

It can sometimes take a couple of attempts to get First gear when the gearbox is cold and I think I want to change the fluid as I don't think it has been done.

I believe the transmission is a GS6-17BG and the fluid is supposed to be MTF-LT-3

I have read that changing to an ATF will improve shifts.

Is this a good idea, I don't want to shorten the gearbox life?
Is there something better?
I'm in the UK (mild climate).
Thanks

[eljay]

I would use an approved manual fluid and see if that improves the situation. You have low mileage, but 15 years on the fluid.

[kis2012]

Thanks for that. I think I will use the original LT3 fluid.
It seems the lt3 stuff is very viscous and this is what you want for a notchy gearbox I believe.
All the fluid I can find that says it's lt3, also says it's lt2 or lt4 and they are different viscosities. Only the genuine BMW stuff seems to keep that low viscosity.

Unfortunately it's £65 for 2 litres.

[ctuna]

Redline will make the shifts smoother.
It did for me.
Many threads on this already.
redlineoil.com
they have and app to find the one for your
car . I used D4

[Brian86]

X2 on Redline.

D4 ATF or MTL

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Brian86

X2 on Redline.

D4 ATF or MTL

UK edition: https://www.oldhallperformance.com/redline

[Tambohamilton]

I tried a Fuchs oil of the correct grade which didn't help. Then febi oil of the correct grade which didn't help. Now using Liqui Moly toptec 1100 and it's a bit better, though not a miracle cure. So honestly I think it's likely that most of the ATF recommendations (redline etc) will be helpful.

[kis2012]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

BMW LT£ is 6.9 cSt @ 100C
Redline D4 ATF is 7.5 @ 100C
Redline D6 ATF is 6.4 @ 100C

I guess there's more to it than just viscosity but at least you can look that up.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Ive changed my original high mileage oil few years ago (xdrive manual), with the Redline MTL.

I'm driving the car only in winter, so around 10°C to -27°C. No issue at all, didn't see any difference, but old oil was dirty.



I did put liquimoly gl4 in my manual quattro, and after 10k km, 2nd and 3rd gear was grinding. Is it related ??? probably not, a strange coincidence tho, but it cost me a new transmission.

[krhodes1]

I tried the new Redline MTL-LV lower viscosity oil in my 128i and am quite happy with it, I think it shifts better than it did with the original oil (changed at 50K).

Though with either the original BMW oil or the Redline in it, that box isn't as nice to shift as the one in my 328!, which has fresh BMW oil in it. Every car is different.

[tadaska]

I used Redline MTL. Made no difference.

[jacbo]

i changed oil to redline mtl and it did improve shifting to first. it was on 140k miles with original fluid i believe

[kis2012]

Here is the old oil vs the new.
Shifting is a little better but nothing to write home about.

[lowrydr310]

I have the ZF gearbox in my 06 330i and I have the same issue getting it into first gear sometimes. I haven't tried different fluid, just a drain and fill with Fuchs MTF-LT-3, and it made no difference.

Shifting isn't really notchy (aside from the occasional 1-2 shift) it's just difficult to get into first or reverse sometimes. I thought about using Redline D6 but I'm not sure I want to deviate too far from what's recommended. I had great success with redline MT-90 improving notchy shifting in an old Mitsubishi, but eventually had that transmission fail. Not likely related to the fluid, but it's still in my memory.

I'm wondering if bleeding the clutch would improve this? Is it possible air is in the line and the clutch isn't disengaging completely? Sometimes on a cold start it's difficult to get into first or reverse, but pumping the pedal a few times seems to help a bit.

[e90yyc]

My ZF 6MT transmission has only 4K miles on it and even so, engaging reverse when cold can take a couple tries.

I bet if you went back and looked at threads from brand new owners you’d find people complaining of the same thing…

Not knocking attempts to improve the issue—more just sharing that it seems the issue is not related to age or poor fluid condition.

(I used BMW LT-2 because that’s what the sticker on the tranny said. That and LT-2 was also more expensive than LT-3, and more expensive always means more better. )

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

I have the ZF gearbox in my 06 330i and I have the same issue getting it into first gear sometimes. I haven't tried different fluid, just a drain and fill with Fuchs MTF-LT-3, and it made no difference.

Shifting isn't really notchy (aside from the occasional 1-2 shift) it's just difficult to get into first or reverse sometimes. I thought about using Redline D6 but I'm not sure I want to deviate too far from what's recommended. I had great success with redline MT-90 improving notchy shifting in an old Mitsubishi, but eventually had that transmission fail. Not likely related to the fluid, but it's still in my memory.

I'm wondering if bleeding the clutch would improve this? Is it possible air is in the line and the clutch isn't disengaging completely? Sometimes on a cold start it's difficult to get into first or reverse, but pumping the pedal a few times seems to help a bit.

Actually if the clutch wasn't disengaging fully it would help with getting into gear while stationary...up to a point. If you can't engage 1st or reverse from a standstill, push the stick towards the gear and hold it while gradually letting the clutch out. When the clutch begins to turn the transmission input shaft, it'll pop into gear. It's a regular occurrence on my partner's Skoda. Happens very occasionally on my 330d, even though cold shifts into 2nd are pretty clunky.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

If you can't engage 1st or reverse from a standstill, push the stick towards the gear and hold it while gradually letting the clutch out. When the clutch begins to turn the transmission input shaft, it'll pop into gear. It's a regular occurrence on my partner's Skoda. Happens very occasionally on my 330d, even though cold shifts into 2nd are pretty clunky.

That's exactly what I do now and it works.

Someone around here said you can shift into second or third which will help align the gears so you can then go into first, but it's a lot easier to just let the clutch out.

[kis2012]

Actually, I want to update this having lived with it a while since changing the gearbox oil and say it was worth doing and the issue with getting first and second when cold has improved with the new oil.

[Mrmigs2011]

On my n54 the oil didn't help the first and second at all.

What did help was cleaning and regreassing the linkages, new lever bush, stiffer gearbox and engine mounts.

I think the softness of everything gives the gate positions a hard time,

Now my 1-2 shift is flawless, couldn't believe the difference!

Hope it does improve! Don't forget to refresh slave fluid too since that's primary clutch functions.

[Raees89]

Originally Posted by jacbo

i changed oil to redline mtl and it did improve shifting to first. it was on 140k miles with original fluid i believe

Which one did you use? I’m on 109k miles and I’m planning to get MTL 75W80 GL-4 Gear oil. I’ve got an an N53 325i e90 LCI