Which auto transmission to I have (ZF vs GM)?

Hi,

I've been all over the forums looking at various items related to changing transmission fluids.

I just want to confirm the transmission on my car without having to jack up the car.

My car is a 2003 e46
The plate on the door says 06/03 (June, 2003)
The last part of the VIN reads KP81689
The sticker on the underside of the pan is green, but I can't read the markings
(i can see the sticker is green by placing a mirror under the car)

It's a California car and so I believe that I have the M56 SULEV engine (oil fill in front of engine)

The e46 wiki states that as of March 2003 all transmissions are GM.

However, I also used a VIN decoder I found online and it said that I had the ZF transmission.

Is it possible to know for sure just using the above data which transmission I have?

Best,

Phil

It's a GM, you have a 2003 and 1/2 model like I used to and its sort of got a weird mixture of stuff. I did the same thing you did and bought the filter for a ZF transmission, didn't figure out it was a GM until the tranny was drained. Turned out to be quite a long afternoon chasing down the right filter.

EDIT: I'm pretty sure I edited the wiki when i figured that out.

AFIK all the M56 vehicles had the ZF transmissions. (see attached PDF). I have seen some of the ZF blue stickers that have oxidized and turned sort of a bright metallic green color over time. (as opposed to the more flat-puke green colored GM sticker). Best to check the recommended fluid part number listed on the label to verify which you have.

edit: PDF was too large so just took a snapshot of the first page

Originally Posted by Melquin

AFIK all the M56 vehicles had the ZF transmissions. (see attached PDF). I have seen some of the ZF blue stickers that have oxidized and turned sort of a bright metallic green color over time. (as opposed to the more flat-puke green colored GM sticker). Best to check the recommended fluid part number to verify which you have.

edit: PDF was too large so just took a snapshot of the first page

Ohh, didnt know that, sorry about the misinformation. I wonder why they would bother to fit two different trannies for the different emission engines.

I just decoded your VIN. Your tranny is A5S325Z which is ZF tranny. It requires ESSO ATF LT 71141 fluid.

Count the pan bolts. The GM trannies have 22 bolts, the ZF have 14.

I'm just peeking under the car & can't really see or read anything off of the sticker. I'd have to lift it up this weekend to tell I guess. My car's VIN # tag reads 08/03. So is it the GM tranny for sure?

Originally Posted by STREETFIGHTER50

I'm just peeking under the car & can't really see or read anything off of the sticker. I'd have to lift it up this weekend to tell I guess. My car's VIN # tag reads 08/03. So is it the GM tranny for sure?

Read Smolck`s Post# 6....it doesn`t get much more definitive than THAT !