How many miles on AUTOMATIC transmission before failure? (or no problems at all?)

My E46 325Ci 2005 Steptronic failed at 107XXX miles... but i drove the balls off the car for a majority of its life

so i've seen a lot of people talk about doing the a drop-pan-and-refill every 60k miles, unless the car is already past the point of no return. is there a consensus on when that point is? looking at a 330 with about 90k miles and a gm transmission...is it too late to start? thanks!

90k? Your fine, change it.

Yep Id definitely change it if its under 100k still, after that its iffy. Though mines still going strong after I changed it with a ton of miles on it.

No wonder these auto transmission sounds similar to the 04 Cts's lol

Transmission failed around 145,000 miles.

No service was performed until 127,000 miles when the transmission started acting up and going into failsafe mode. I changed the fluid and filter which seemed to fix the problem and got another 20,000 miles out of it. But at by 145,000 it was beginning to slip badly, so it was time for a replacement.

mine has just failed at 223k miles reverse went out...sad day, but i knew it was coming.

my 325xi is still going strong at 134500

Just bought a 2003 325xi pretty sure its original tranny... i noticed after start up i reverse out of my driveway/parking spot and it takes a second for it to engage when i shift to Drive. is this normal??

Delays going into reverse or drive are normal for the most part. Main thing is to give it plenty of time to fully engage. Greatly increases trans life.

Fluid change is a good idea too if you havent done one since bmw used to tell people it was lifetime fluid so no one changed the fluid.

I am at 138000 and it works so nicely!
I did a drain and refill with filter and it really made a difference in smoothness. The manual selector is always spot on. Under hard acceleration it shifts in 1.5 seconds from the time I push the selector-I have timed it/counted it many times. When just driving around in D many times the shifts are unnoticeable. It is an 06. It is a Spanish GM tranny and uses Dexron VI - I used Castrol.

my reverse went out on my gm5 at 223k so i had the TCC solenoid replaced and did a fluid change with new filter and gasket....mechanic said the old fluid was like mud and the old filter was clogged there was also a broken valve body bolt...after he completed the job and bled the trans it never felt smoother it feels like a brand new car! also i bought the texaco 7045-e trans fluid from the dealership always put the oem fluid back in.

I feel like an ounce of prevention is better then a hundreds of dollar is better. I have a 08 335i and have 50k on it now, but reading some of the stories of a tranny going bad after change fluid and fillter has me baffled. HELP

157k still beastin 01 330i

Originally Posted by TRICK03I

I feel like an ounce of prevention is better then a hundreds of dollar is better. I have a 08 335i and have 50k on it now, but reading some of the stories of a tranny going bad after change fluid and fillter has me baffled. HELP

Use the search function as there are tons of inputs on this. This is where I learned about and gained the confidence to do it myself.

Originally Posted by three28iguy

my reverse went out on my gm5 at 223k so i had the TCC solenoid replaced and did a fluid change with new filter and gasket....mechanic said the old fluid was like mud and the old filter was clogged there was also a broken valve body bolt...after he completed the job and bled the trans it never felt smoother it feels like a brand new car! also i bought the texaco 7045-e trans fluid from the dealership always put the oem fluid back in.

Totally agree to use oem. I used Castrol bc on my tranny BMW specifies Dexron VI and the dealership would have used Advance Auto brand. I was very fortunate not to have to use the more expensive oil!

170,000 and still good

On my Year 2000 323, I got the infamous "No Reverse" at 74,000. BMW did not stand behind the bum transhttp://s1.bimmerfest.com/forums/images/smilies/sad.gif. In fact, they refused to repair it, they only offered a fully new transmission. I took it to a transmission specialist who repaired it. I now have 105,000 and it still runs OK.http://s1.bimmerfest.com/forums/imag...lies/thumb.gif

Ok. The great spark plug debate...
I have and run oem spark plugs on my 2000 323ci. Some people i have talked to say upgrade to four prong platinum plugs, some swear by the plain old stock oem ones. What are your suggestions, and preferences and why? Does anyone have definitive data to prove upgrading has any benefits other than opinion?
Thanks

I can't say much, I never tried the upgrade - still use OEMers.

I bough upgraded spark plugs for my 2001 325i and saw no difference at all. Going back to OEM.

A relative's 1999 320i has 153000km and his 5 speed steptronic has never been serviced. Runs like new, but what is he supposed to do at that mileage? I mean drainiing the old fluid and changing the filter and then refilling cant be a bad thing...

OK - Thanks I'm at 212K miles on a 2001 330i and wanted to get an idea on if i could get to 300k before any major expenses

Originally Posted by Fifty_Cent

A relative's 1999 320i has 153000km and his 5 speed steptronic has never been serviced. Runs like new, but what is he supposed to do at that mileage? I mean drainiing the old fluid and changing the filter and then refilling cant be a bad thing...

I'm wondering this too. Mine has 127k miles on it, and I'd like to have mine changed, but not if it will cause a problem.. anybody know?

for those who have not changed or do not know if it has been changed, it's best to change the fluid. Most of the problems that come up after the change are associated with incorrect fluid used. In my opinion its best to stay with a fluid of the same type (dino, semi, full-synthetic) to maintain viscosity regardless of whether it is approved by BMW. A new generation of fluid my not be best for an old transmission. The new fluid may dislodge crude built up over years.

Most importantly, do not ever flush a transmission that hasn't been maintained, just drain and fill 3+ times with new fluid, driven in between.

160K no issues. Fluid changed for first time at 135K.