[BMWCSRegistry] Transmission Fluid

[Art Wegweiser]

Todd,
Odd that your mechanic should indicate that the type of plug in the 
gearbox should indicate the type of fluid used. Color me skeptical. 
Really very peculiar. In any event, it sounds like you have need of a 
large Allen wrench socket.
Not my favorite type of tool especially when, after having been 
removed many times, it strips. Then even a faithful Vise Grip might 
not work.  I never could see the point of most Allen wrench 
applications except to sell more tools and stock another set of 
various size fasteners to have on hand - and the one you need isn't 
there.  Same with those star shaped screws.

If possible, replace the drain plug with a standard 17 (I believe) mm 
socket and save buying another rarely used tool. Another piece that 
can be rescued from a poor beyond redemption Coupe being parted out. 
In my opinion, worth $5 plus shipping.

By all reports, Red Line is great stuff but I have been using the 
dinosaur squeezin's gearbox juice (4 speed) provided by the tech at 
my local dealer for decades with no problem. No leaks and is replaced 
as required intervals.
I works just fine and I refuse to mess with it.
I hesitate to switch to other types, especially synthetic, since they 
tend to produce leaks in old equipment. Perhaps your 5 speed, being 
newer, is different.
Art

At 11:09 PM -0400 7/13/07, Todd Pantezzi wrote:
>Gent's,
>
>I need advice on checking and topping-off the transmission fluid in 
>my E9.  Mine is a '73 3.0 cs but with a 5 speed conversion.  My 
>mechanic - a known coupe guru with plenty of experience on my car - 
>advised me today that my coupe should have a 17 mm socket on the 
>passenger side of the transmission which, once removed, would allow 
>me to check the fluid level.  He said that it would be a normal 
>socket, but when I put my coupe on jackstands and got underneath for 
>a peek I saw what looks like an inverted socket hole.  My mechanic 
>said the type of opening (socket) dictates the type of gear oil that 
>is required.  He recommended Mobil One 75W-90, but now I'm confused 
>as to whether or not this is the correct gear oil for this 
>transmission given that the opening is not a standard socket but 
>instead an inverted socket (I'm sure there's a proper name for it - 
>obviously I'm an amateur mechanic at best).
>
>Please advise on 1) the correct fluid to use and 2) whether or not I 
>need to go out and buy a special tool/socket to open and check the 
>fluid.  If more info is needed from me I'm happy to oblige.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Todd
><mailto:tpantezzi at hotmail.com>tpantezzi at hotmail.com
>

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