How To Change Your Automatic Transmission Fluid for ~$100. In your ZF Equipped E90 BMW.

In this video I show you how to change out the transmission fluid on my 2008 BMW 335i. This tutorial is suitable for any ZF 6HP equipped E90 BMW.

I'd recommend an replacement interval of 30K miles.

The pan I bought:

Link to a thread showing how to setup INPA/NCS Expert:

If you have Windows 10 64-Bit:

You can find the INPA cable online at places such as Amazon or Ebay. Search INPA Cable K+D Can. When you see the word "affiliate" listed beside any link in my description please know that this is a custom link and I will earn a small commission if you opt to purchase using said link. This is at no extra cost to you so it's a win all around :) Thank you!

[spencer]

One of the more informed and intelligent How-to's. One of the only videos explaining how you need to fill, go through the gears, then go back to fill up a second time.

[spencerfrey]

This was an excellent video. Just changed mine and the video was invaluable. Two things to remember. 1. MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET THE FILL PLUG LOOSE FIRST!!!. Drive a wedge block of wood like a small door stop between the allen wrench and transmission housing in order to keep the allen wrench from trying to back out and possibly stripping the plug. Mine was in there so tight it twisted the allen wrench itself. I had to keep tapping with a 2 pound hammer, used another allen with a small piece of conduit for leverage and it finally "popped" loose. Man it was tight. 2. Watch the last step where the author adds fluid under the car with the motor running in PARK. That procedure added an extra quart to my transmission and made it super smooth in shifting. Mine took nearly 6 quarts. They don't give you much room for wastage in the 6 quart bundles.

[axlef]

I took a funnel with a long hose and ran it down to the fill hole, from the engine compartment. It made it much easier to fill the transmission, allthough you will need to have someone pour the fluid in for you when you get close to the point of the fluid running out, so you can monitor it and quickly replace the plug when it's ready.

[DiscoFang]

Just a tip: You should loosen the fill bolt first before draining. It's not unknown for that bolt to be near on impossible to shift, so doing it first ensures you're not stuck with a drained transmission and no means to fill it and take it to a workshop or to pick up a decent allen wrench.

[greaterbw]

Dude I started following you when I bought my first E90 but recently I sold it and upgraded to a 2015 435i grand coupe. So I need you to buy an F30 body also 😂. Thanks. I know the N55 doesn’t have the forged internals but they are less needy of attention than the N54. And you can add horse with a simple tune.

[dzionisis]

Just did a oil change in my e60 535d with the zf6hp28 and the amount of fluid that went in was 5.5 liters before it started dripping

[jameslatimer]

A few dollars more put zf parts from Euro car parts in uk around 180 ish £ get complete kit and fit bridge seal as well

[wackysacky]

The kit I purchased from ECS Tuning for $126 with the ZF cover came with 7 quarts.

[Latecomersband]

Hi, your site has been helpful to me and Im so glad i found it. I watch most of your videos and I notice the exit signs on some of the videos you posted and it it seems you’re not too far from where I live here in Katy. Its been my wish to upgrade to 335’s (i own 2 e90’s 325i and 330i, and an e46) but im afraid to get one due to their know issues which im afraid will cost me an arm and a leg fixing and maintaining it. But your site gives me hope. I like to fix things myself to my ability but sometimes it gets too complicated.

[robertkenney]

Lol, your tightening sequence was funny 😄 you did the same ones a few times over and over. Yes.. I know re torque again after tightening around as some will loosen. Lol but you’re sequence was off.

Also I feel you tightened that fill plug WAY TI TIGHT but again you are way more knlowedgable than me. Lol

[hackny]

Ya my fill plug was pretty tight, and of course the only allen key im missing is the 8mm, but the 5/16 worked, almost stripped it at first.

[johnM-rccs]

Great vid. I just did my trans fluid change. My trans took about 5.5 quarts. Trans was running great before. Did it for preventative reasons too.

[JosephusXIX]

Awesome video. Great idea using the jack as an added safety measure and cardboard to minimize a mess.

[Solodoloi]

My fill bolt was unfortunately already stripped by the previous owner so my only option at the time was to fill it through the transmission cooler line, took forever to fill but it got the job done and my trans feels 100% better now

[matthewweisdorfer]

After you do the final fill, you could unplug the transmission cooler line, put a bottle or some sort of catch with it. Start the car and drain out about 3 qts. Then attach the cooler line and refill with 3 qts. Keep doing this until the fluid coming out of the trans cooler line is bright red. You would need the special 4 prong key (tool) to take the cooler line off its fitting.

[mesaw]

Thanks for all your videos ! You have helped me save thousands 🙌🏼👌🏼🙏🏼

[evgenipratashchyk]

you should have left that extra fluid to sip out until it is just under the filler hole. Apparently, this is what BMW technicians recommened. Other than that, great video

[robkenney]

Rookie mistake always loosen fill hole before removing anything lol Incase u can’t get it out

[TheNoRealD]

Another great video! Thanks for posting this my friend! Could you make a video in the future showing how to do a coolant flush?

[matamatason]

I love those mags... Just something about them... Thnx for the video