review ZF Service

[ColinvS]

Hi Zabbo, awesome, thank you for the response. Hoping my advanced KM's don't result in any issues, I will find out next week when the vehicle goes in. ZF here in Gauteng recommended service every 80 000kms, but I see in the US it is recommended at 100 000 Miles (160 000kms),

I think it also depends how it was driven and if it did heavy towing. But holding thumbs all is good.

 

[330DF30KJRaman]

It's unlikely the gearbox would have been serviced as there is some misinformation floating around as they are advertised as having lifetime oil. Unfortunately the definition of lifetime in this case is around 100 000km.

Let them do the diagnostics as you can get lucky as I have heard of cars with around 200k km being serviced at ZF with no issues - they will tell you if it is possible or not.

I understand there was a customer with a gearbox that was way out of spec who insisted on it being serviced and by the time he had driven to the ZF gate the gearbox was slipping (as the new clean oil has a cleansing agent).

Let us know how it goes. I usually buy the diff oil and they do that change free of charge while they service the gearbox (some of the newer BMWs don't have diff drain plugs so the old oil needs to be sucked out and then refilled).

Hey Collin, thanks for the feedback.

Fully agree agree with BMW's understanding of lifetime ;-). Will definitely provide feedback after ZF do the diagnostics.

 

[330DF30KJRaman]

I think it also depends how it was driven and if it did heavy towing. But holding thumbs all is good.

Thanks Collin. No towing done, with 90% highway driving. Will keep you guys posted.

 

[Gordvisr]

Good day all, quick question - I have a '17 F3- 320D A/T , with 211 000kms on the clock. I just booked my vehicle in at ZF for a gearbox service (R7700). They had indicated that they will first have to a check on the gearbox as this service is supposed to be done at 80 000kms intervals. I bought the vehicle at 143 000kms, curious as to whether BMW would have recommended that the previous owner do the gearbox service as he had only serviced the vehicle at BMW, and whether I can check in on the service history if this was done?

Had my X5M/// at agents for a gearbox oil service, they told me they do not do a gearbox oil service so doubt it was ever done under plan. So Around me there were no ZF agents so i have taken the car to FTF who does it with ZF lube and parts supplied from ZF.

 

[boost3d]

Thanks Collin. No towing done, with 90% highway driving. Will keep you guys posted.

If you have a friend who has an MHD wifi dongle and the MHD app, you can basically check the "condition" of the gearbox and see if the shifts are within "tolerance". The only other way around this is to pay for the ZF oil analysis, if memory serves me well, it should be roundabout R500 odd.

After a certain mileage, the clutches basically cant operate without the accumulated friction materials in the "old oil" and this is why ZF wont service a gearbox thats out of spec .

PS BMW will never admit this but what they mean by lifetime fluids, is that under normal circumstance that this fluid will not be changed whilst the vehicle is under Motorplan

 

[Keatonraman330dMSport]

Had my X5M/// at agents for a gearbox oil service, they told me they do not do a gearbox oil service so doubt it was ever done under plan. So Around me there were no ZF agents so i have taken the car to FTF who does it with ZF lube and parts supplied from ZF.

Agreed, twas probably never done at BMW. If ZF are not able to do the service I will need to run the gearbox to failure and have a rebuild done I am assuming from discussions I have had with people with similar experiences.

 

[Keatonraman330dMSport]

If you have a friend who has an MHD wifi dongle and the MHD app, you can basically check the "condition" of the gearbox and see if the shifts are within "tolerance". The only other way around this is to pay for the ZF oil analysis, if memory serves me well, it should be roundabout R500 odd.

After a certain mileage, the clutches basically cant operate without the accumulated friction materials in the "old oil" and this is why ZF wont service a gearbox thats out of spec .

PS BMW will never admit this but what they mean by lifetime fluids, is that under normal circumstance that this fluid will not be changed whilst the vehicle is under Motorplan

I will try the option of the MHD wifi dongle check and see what comes up. I am taking the car to ZF next Tuesday, they said they would do the oil analysis first.

Yep, BMW's lifetime is 5 years/100 000kms unfortunately . Not the reality though.

 

[Nastaliq]

Can we all just be clear.
There is no such thing as lifetime fluids.

This is BMW marketing BS to convince you that it will last forever, so when it breaks down catastrophically after your MP or warranty, they can say "tough luck old chap".
This is the same for the cars CBS service, which has stretched the service intervals to lower the cost of servicing the cars and maintaining them while theyre on BMW dime.
There is no other benefit to this than money saving for BMW, and expense to you for the long term.

If your car is what you would consider old by any stretch take it to ZF and ask them to check and make sure your fluids are within spec.

Blood is also lifetime fluid.
We are going to Ampath and Lancet to check that fluid from time to time, to prevent BS and headaches down the road.

Same same, but different, but same.

 

[330DF30KJRaman]

Good day all, quick question - I have a '17 F3- 320D A/T , with 211 000kms on the clock. I just booked my vehicle in at ZF for a gearbox service (R7700). They had indicated that they will first have to a check on the gearbox as this service is supposed to be done at 80 000kms intervals. I bought the vehicle at 143 000kms, curious as to whether BMW would have recommended that the previous owner do the gearbox service as he had only serviced the vehicle at BMW, and whether I can check in on the service history if this was done?

Good day all, an update on the above:
ZF diagnostics indicated that the oil in the gearbox was within limits and no issues were detected.
Service could still be done, surprising at the mileage but at least now I know it is done.
FYI - Out of interest I enquired about the Re-con of the gearbox at ZF and was quoted R65k.
Sidenote: Ensure A 90Ah AGM battery is fitted and coded to ensure you do not encounter any timing issues with gear changes,

 

[TurboLlew]

Can we all just be clear.
There is no such thing as lifetime fluids.

This is BMW marketing BS to convince you that it will last forever, so when it breaks down catastrophically after your MP or warranty, they can say "tough luck old chap".
This is the same for the cars CBS service, which has stretched the service intervals to lower the cost of servicing the cars and maintaining them while theyre on BMW dime.
There is no other benefit to this than money saving for BMW, and expense to you for the long term.

If your car is what you would consider old by any stretch take it to ZF and ask them to check and make sure your fluids are within spec.

Blood is also lifetime fluid.
We are going to Ampath and Lancet to check that fluid from time to time, to prevent BS and headaches down the road.

Same same, but different, but same.

Definitely no such thing as lifetime fluids!! This cannot be repeated enough! BMW themselves sell service kits for all these things that they claim are 'lifetime' or 'sealed units'.

BMW does have a recommended service interval for gearboxes nowadays but in the case of my F90 that is 160000km.

ZF's recommended service interval is 80000km but they would be able to do the service for me if I really wanted it at current mileage of 62000. When I called them up the other day the cost all-in was about R7700. BMW will gladly torpedo your chances of taking your 'box to high mileages to save themselves R7700. IMHO doubling of this period for a gearbox fluid and filter change will all but guarantee you will have issues down the line.

Despite this, they will gladly do diff and transfer case services under plan at mileages that I think are probably very conservative and which probably aren't that much cheaper than the above cost, so I don't get the logic...

They will also parrot the story of "we change the oil but then the new fluid gives you issues" - no shit sherlock - if you had changed the gearbox oil at the 'correct' time as per the manufacturer of the box, then there wouldn't have been an issue LOL. But to them (and for most people faced with the FUD machine) "Rather change the whole car"... here is a nice palatable amount to pay every month to lease your next car with 'peace of mind' that we will also basically sabotage to ensure we can pull the same scam again in 5-7 years time