Can't decide if I should change tranny fluid

[chiefneil]

Help me out guys, I'm on the fence. I have an '02 X5 3.0i auto (original owner) with 72,000 miles. I would like to keep the car another 2-3 years, so maybe up to 95,000 miles or so (I do about 10,000 miles/yr).

Should I change the tranny fluid? The guys at my local independent BMW shop said yes, but not a resounding yes. My worry isn't as much money wasted, as the change at this late mileage causing problems.

[Quicksilver]

What does your maintainance book schedule say?
Remember auto repair houses are trying to make
money so the advice you get for something that
may or may not need service is going to be biased

[chiefneil]

BMW automatic trannys are officially "lifetime fill". That generally means don't change it until the transmission disintegrates at 90k miles, then buy a new one.

[Quicksilver]

There you have it......

But honestly there are a lot of pros and cons and it's been discussed
a lot around here. Do the search and get their thoughts

[Bimmer360]

here we go again...

[dkl]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

BMW automatic trannys are officially "lifetime fill". That generally means don't change it until the transmission disintegrates at 90k miles, then buy a new one.

The new official word from BMW is to change it at 100k miles, even on their "lifetime fill". So, if you're going to toss the car at 95k miles, then I would just leave it alone.

Otherwise...

Originally Posted by Bimmer360

here we go again...

[motordavid]

...I agree with QwkAg; read the pages of threads
that already exist, flip a coin, take your pick.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by dkl

The new official word from BMW is to change it at 100k miles, even on their "lifetime fill". So, if you're going to toss the car at 95k miles, then I would just leave it alone.

Is that the new official word for newer (post 2004) models, or the new official word for the 2002 model that the OP has? They do have different transmissions.

[dkl]

The auto transmission for the 3.0i never changed for the entire E53 model.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by dkl

The auto transmission for the 3.0i never changed for the entire E53 model.

Good point, thanks. I'll rephrase the question. Has BMW revised the original lifetime recommendation for the E53 models, or has the 100,000 mile limit been recommended for specific new X5 models, which may have new transmission designs?