BMW ZF "lifetime" 75w90, 200k(?) mi, 2008 335xi 6 speed

[fn42]

had this sitting around for a while and finally sent it in.
AFAIK this fluid has 200k miles on it, I bought the car around 100k miles and never changed the fluid myself until it got notchy shifting into 3rd (liqui moly MTF 75w90 fixed it)
Yes I know I should have changed it sooner. Looks like it was well overdue

 

[mightymousetech]

How would a rear diff fluid help shifting?!?

 

[RooflessVW]

How would a rear diff fluid help shifting?!?

This is a manual transmission...

 

[Oliveoil2]

Doesn’t look bad. Good for another 200k

 

[mightymousetech]

This is a manual transmission...

So was actually testing MTF-LT-3, not 75W90. Big difference.

 

[drtyler]

MTF-LT-3
It's a low viscosity manual transmission fluid. Seems to be good stuff.
I changed it in my 3 series around 50,000 miles, and the 100C viscosity was around 5.4 cst. Aluminum was 26, iron was 57, copper was 33, and manganese was 232.

 

[BMW Dom]

How would a rear diff fluid help shifting?!?

There is 75w-90 MTF

 

[mightymousetech]

There is 75w-90 MTF

But that’s not what the car came with.

 

[mightymousetech]

MTF-LT-3
It's a low viscosity manual transmission fluid. Seems to be good stuff.
I changed it in my 3 series around 50,000 miles, and the 100C viscosity was around 5.4 cst. Aluminum was 26, iron was 57, copper was 33, and manganese was 232.

Have tried AC Delco friction modified and Redline MT-LV and have now gone back to MTF-LT-3. Best yet.

 

[BMW Dom]

But that’s not what the car came with.

I never said that is what the car came with. You claimed it was a differential oil, and it's obviously not

 

[mightymousetech]

I never said that is what the car came with. You claimed it was a differential oil, and it's obviously not

Well, the differential does call for a 75W90, while the transmission does not.

 

[BMW Dom]

Well, the differential does call for a 75W90, while the transmission does not.

Isn't MTF-LT-3 a MTF 75w90?

 

[mightymousetech]

Isn't MTF-LT-3 a MTF 75w90?

Not even close. Having used both often, the MTF-LT-3 is much thinner.

 

[BMW Dom]

Not even close.

Then what is it?

 

[mightymousetech]

Then what is it?

Not sure, but seems much closer to the G1/G2 75W85 diff oils in the newer cars.

 

[benjy]

all my manuals get Redline real synthetics, MT 90 flavor + other drivetrain fluids are Redline as well, expensive but worth it IMO! there are NO such animals as lifetime fluids only until the warranty runs out!!

 

[BMW Dom]

Not sure, but seems much closer to the G1/G2 75W85 diff oils in the newer cars.

Based on? Every website I have looked at shows 75w90 GL-4.

 

[mightymousetech]

Based on? Every website I have looked at shows 75w90 GL-4.

Based on actually filling these things dozens of times, including my own cars. The 75W90 OSP diff fluid is much thicker.

 

[BMW Dom]

Based on actually filling these things dozens of times, including my own cars. The 75W90 OSP diff fluid is much thicker.

Why are you still talking about diff fluid? The 75w90 falls into a viscosity range, just like a 10w-30.

 

[drtyler]

I have an old 5 liter jug of MTF-LT-3 from 2012 which has 75W and GL-4 in the label.

The newer (circa 2017) one liter bottles have 75W-90 and GL-4 on the label. However, the oil is NOT 75W-90. It is still the lighter 75W as I did VOA of the newer bottled oil. 100C viscosity was 6.9 cst. The label is incorrect.