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BMW Automatic Transmission Fluid Change E36 A4S-310R / 4L30E

April 8, 2010

This answer is applicable for many BMWs in addition to the one listed below.

Q
I have 1992 BMW E36 325is with 162,000 miles that I’ve owned since 125,000. I have the first owner’s service receipts from 6,000 miles -80,000 miles. No sign of any Auto transmission fluid changes. 80,000 – 125,000 is unknown. So, with this said, I am planning on changing the Automatic Fluid with REDLINE D4 ATF automatic fluid. I’ve read that doing the transmission fluid change and adding new fluid doesn’t completely (100%) change the fluid because there will be a couple of quarts left inside the transmission. So, is there a danger of mixing REDLINE with the older fluid? I currently have no problems at all with transmission. Just doing preventive maintenance.
Thank you.

A
The Redline synthetic Dexron-III fluid is fully compatible with the Dexron-III that is currently in the transmission. I would note that since the fluid has apparently never been changed, you may want to do a second fluid-only change (don’t drop the pan) after running it for a short period, to mix the old and new fluid. This would give you a higher concentration of fresh fluid.

By the way, the A4S-310R (GM 4L30E) transmission really likes to have fresh fluid in it. The main failure on these transmissions is wear-out of the clutch discs due to lack of fluid changes. These transmissions (in 4 or 5 speed versions) are installed in the  3-series cars from 92 through 98, 6-cylinder 5-series 91 through 96, Z3 1.9, 2.8 and 2.3. With this note made, remember that ALL automatic transmissions need regular fluid changes ….. regardless of what BMW may imply in their marketing.

These transmission could have been filled with Dexron-III or Texaco 7045-E fluid.  A black label on the pan indicates Dexron-III as the original fill.  A green label denotes 7045-E as the original fill.  These fluids are interchangeable, but BMW recommends refilling with the 7045-E fluid (per the BMW fluid bulletin on this transmission).

Click below for Red Line synthetic Dexron-III automatic transmission fluid:

Click below for Texamatic 7045-E automatic transmission fluid:

Click below for automatic transmission filter kits and parts:

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Categories → 3 Series 92-98 - E36, 5 Series 89-95 - E34, Z3 96-03 - E36/7

2 Comments
  1. justin permalink

    hi, just to make sure on this,im having problems finding the correct automatic transmission oil for my 4 pot 1996 e36 318is please can you help me here? many thanks…justin

    • Otto permalink

      Your 96 318is has the A4S-310R transmission. If the pan has a black label, it was filled with Dexron-III. If the label on the pan is green, it was filled with Texaco 7045-E. These fluids are interchangable (according to BMW’s fluids bulletin, for this transmission). BMW recommends re-filling with the 7045-E fluid, regardless of which was used as the original fill.

      Click HERE for 7045-E fluid

      Click HERE for synthetic Red Line Dexron-III fluid

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