1994 325 Trans Service.

[Fabian]

I have a 1994 325 and I want to change the automatic transmission fluid and filter. The only thing is I cannot find any information on how to do so. I dont see a dipstick or a fill/level plug. Can some one please fill me in on how this is done.

[PhilipWOT]

This post is only accurate if you have a manual transmission. If it's automatic, I can't help you.

There's no dipstick. There are 2 plugs on the side of the actual tranny casing. You drain fluid from the bottom one, and you replace it into the top one. Try www.bimmerDIY.com for a tech article. If they dont have anything, try www.pelicanparts.com

[Lanc3r]

I assume you have an auto tranny. All you can do is drain through the drain plug (on bottom) and fill using the fill plug (on side of tranny).

[Fabian]

Thanks for the information. I have found out that the car had been imported from europe at some time and has a ZF transmission. The fluid recomended from the dealer is $40 a liter and they dont have any to make things even better. Can some suggest a different fluid??

[spoddy]

hi fabian

i have a 320i auto, a 1994, not sure it maybe the same type of transmission as the fluid sump looks slighlty different to the lesson on the pelican parts site, but go to the pelican parts site as you can order the parts and the guy shows you step by step how to do it with very good photos too.

he talks about the correct fluid to use, dexron i think its called

[djnv325i]

I just did mine the other day and used royal purple feels so much better. also make sure you have some one to help you if your going to drain the small fluid sump i had to fill it up before putting it back on...What a pain.... there is no fill plug for the small fluid sump.

[spoddy]

hi djnv325i

did you flush your transmission, or just change filter and fluid?
pelican parts suggested leaving one bolt for the smaller sump on to help
hold it in place, i would use a small jack to raise it up and let you tighten
the bots yourself.

did you regularily change transmission fluid? no problems shifting gears afterwards?
was you car sluggish taking off before change?

ta

[Fabian]

Thanks every one for the information. Here is how I went about doing it. There is a big plug on the bottom of the transmission pan that looks like the drain but its not it is acutaly the fill. There is also only one pan for the transmissom. I changed the filter and the gasket. Once the pan was reinstalled you remove the plug and use a long hose with a pump to put the fluid back in through the hole in bottom of the pan. Start the car then put in different gear ranges eg drive and reverse. Remove the plug and add fluid if needed. Run the car up to operating temp them check and adjust the level again, make sure the car is level when you are doing this. The ZF fluids chart recomended dextron 3 so that is what I used. I did not flush the transmission the car is operating good so far only made a few trips. There were no previous complaints before this was done it was only a prevenative maintance thing.