[edycol]

Originally Posted by F87source

What about time interval? Like 4 years?

That is different. I would probably check after 4yrs. Do UOA and order TAN to see where oxidation is. Considering how many km you make each year, it's not worth it to do too early. You might not get right data.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by edycol

That is different. I would probably check after 4yrs. Do UOA and order TAN to see where oxidation is. Considering how many km you make each year, it's not worth it to do too early. You might not get right data.

Ok copy that, I will look into redline dctf next time around. Hopefully the feel is even further improved.

[sharpmoney]

Originally Posted by F87source

Ok copy that, I will look into redline dctf next time around. Hopefully the feel is even further improved.

would redline DCTF have warranty implications? being that i'm on my second gearbox....and the first one went bad for no reason (i did NOT abuse the car or track it, 8k miles in LA traffic).

[jkoral]

I typically change the transmission (and differential) fluids every 30K.

On my OG M2, I did both at 15K and will probably do 15K intervals. It's cheap, it doesn't hurt anything and it makes me feel good. I'll probably drive 15K miles every 3 years and I plan to keep the car forever (unless some idiot runs into me and totals it, like my last BMW).

I always do UOA on the engine oil, but I don't bother with the transmission or differential fluid because I know my schedule is overkill.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by sharpmoney

would redline DCTF have warranty implications? being that i'm on my second gearbox....and the first one went bad for no reason (i did NOT abuse the car or track it, 8k miles in LA traffic).

I would think it does, because bmw specifies MTF lt5 (as the only suitable replacement, unlike oil where you have a choice if it's LL01 approved. Dctf is also suitable for MTF lt5 applications as per redline but it's not bmw approved. I actually haven't been able to find a bmw approved MTF through ista either so I don't think bmw wants you using anything except MTF lt5, even the pentosin equivalent isn't approved and bmw MTF is a rebranded pentosin fluid.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by sharpmoney

would redline DCTF have warranty implications? being that i'm on my second gearbox....and the first one went bad for no reason (i did NOT abuse the car or track it, 8k miles in LA traffic).

If under warranty, strictly BMW fluid for gearbox.

[sharpmoney]

Originally Posted by edycol

If under warranty, strictly BMW fluid for gearbox.

alright done, will change my fluid in new gearbox myself with BMW fluid at around 1500miles. 3 years left of warranty, not gonna mess that up.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by sharpmoney

alright done, will change my fluid in new gearbox myself with BMW fluid at around 1500miles. 3 years left of warranty, not gonna mess that up.

Yeah it's an easy job just be careful, I stripped my drain plug (got it fixed and seaked in a valve so future fluid changes will be really easy) for some reason and another forum member here rounded the hex on his fill port. So yeah be very careful.

[vrooooom]

has anyone posted how to do this? Change the transmission fluid.... and gear oil?

[F87source]

Originally Posted by vrooooom

has anyone posted how to do this? Change the transmission fluid.... and gear oil?

Look at the m4 diy same trans and diff as the m2.....

[Mark2016MG]

There is a video here...

Changed mine at 50K / 5 years, it was noriceably darker than what I put back in, which was BMW MTF LT5

[vrooooom]

Thank you for the video link.

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by F87source

I would think it does, because bmw specifies MTF lt5 (as the only suitable replacement, unlike oil where you have a choice if it's LL01 approved. Dctf is also suitable for MTF lt5 applications as per redline but it's not bmw approved. I actually haven't been able to find a bmw approved MTF through ista either so I don't think bmw wants you using anything except MTF lt5, even the pentosin equivalent isn't approved and bmw MTF is a rebranded pentosin fluid.

Switch to Redline DCTF today. Thought my car shifted well after the Auto Solutions kit and Rogue Engineering transmission mounts but this was a nice cherry on top - shift action is even smoother. Had about 2-3k miles on the old fluid so safe to say the change in feeling was due to the Redline.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

Switch to Redline DCTF today. Thought my car shifted well after the Auto Solutions kit and Rogue Engineering transmission mounts but this was a nice cherry on top - shift action is even smoother. Had about 2-3k miles on the old fluid so safe to say the change in feeling was due to the Redline.

Yup I noticed the same and that was with stock fluid at around 9k km. I could only imagine how much better dctf feels. I'll be getting that for my next transmission fluid flush too.

[chris719]

Are we sure the DCTF is good for the gearbox long term?

I would probably wait till it's out of warranty personally, although I guess an SSK would make a warranty claim very tough also...

[F87source]

Originally Posted by chris719

Are we sure the DCTF is good for the gearbox long term?

I would probably wait till it's out of warranty personally, although I guess an SSK would make a warranty claim very tough also...

Yes DCTF is suitable for the MTF LT5 requirement, redline specifies so in their description of the fluid while all their regular MTF oils do not meet bmw mtf lt5 requirements.

The reason for this is because MTF LT5 is a really low viscosity oil exactly like dctf is.



If you are on warranty you should use factory fluids - obviously lol.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by F87source

Yes DCTF is suitable for the MTF LT5 requirement, redline specifies so in their description of the fluid while all their regular MTF oils do not meet bmw mtf lt5 requirements.

The reason for this is because MTF LT5 is a really low viscosity oil exactly like dctf is.



If you are on warranty you should use factory fluids - obviously lol.

Yeah, I know Redline specifies it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's been tested over long intervals.

I guess it's fine if MTF-LT-5 is really equivalent to Pentosin FFL-3.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by chris719

Yeah, I know Redline specifies it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's been tested over long intervals.

I guess it's fine if MTF-LT-5 is really equivalent to Pentosin FFL-3.

Yes absolutely correct, it meets mtf lt5 specs likely in terms of minimum viscosity required and not being too too thick, and having the proper additives. But since it is likely a high PAO and Ester content oil it will oxidize faster than MTF LT5. So you will likely have to change it out faster - how much faster will depend on your use case and a use oil analysis. But compared to bmw's life time recommendation on their MTF LT5 fluid, I would suspect DCTF to last about as long as MTF LT5 should be changed out - and for me that is about every 4 years or 40k km (but I don't reach that mileage so I go by time). If a UOA says it is too oxidized for 4 years I would have to drop down to 3 years and so on so forth.


MTF LT5 should be rebranded pentosin FFL3, pentosin does make it for bmw and they share the exact same container too (if you get the genuine German bottles, I believe the stuff in the states is made in the US so you also get different bottles and different oil). But either way yeah it should be the same oil as pentosin.

[ZL9M2]

I did mine along with the break-in service and then will continue to do so every 20k to 30k miles. I consider it cheap insurance.

[PackPride85]

Changed my mtf and diff fluid this morning at 38k miles 5 years. MTF was a little darker. Diff fluid looked a lot cleaner. Pretty easy job to do both at the same time, just make sure your jack stands are secure. Used saf-Xj for the diff and mtf-lt-5 for the trans.

[sharpmoney]

Originally Posted by edycol

If under warranty, strictly BMW fluid for gearbox.

did mine at 1700mi after getting transmission replaced, used OEM fluid, shift action for sure smoother, rented a lift for $40/hr and did both engine oil and tranny oil in that time...super easy job, worth it for cheap insurance.

[cncmastr]

I had mine done at break-in, cost me $200 or so, why not. They used to do it when it was part of the better maintenance program.