I have a 2016 BMW 320i touring auto with 71k miles on it (UK car). The ZF automatic gearbox is a big bonus of owning this car and I want to run this thing to 100k, so naturally I want to look after the transmission. In my experience so far it seems like when you get a BMW you are told the car knows how to look after itself, it tells you how clean the oil is and what it needs, and when, through the iDrive system. And your key fob holds a record of all the servicing done, which you are seemingly limited by BMW to either an oil and filters change and general look over it (and of course the BMW dealer stamp on the iDrive), then an inspection 1 which includes brake fluid and inspection of all components, then inspection 2 which is likely the same but with spark plugs and air filter. My first issue is that the cars oil change intervals on the iDrive are 15k miles, which I am keen to do it at half of that to be honest. Then looking at my mileage I googled the ZF transmission and the company themselves say it needs fluid and filter change at 70k. I have also read that I will have wanted the differential oil changing sooner than now, despite the full and correct BMW service history on the idrive. So far, one garage has contacted BMW and were told the gearbox , differential and fuel filter are all considered “lifetime items” by BMW (presumably cos they want the warranty to run out at 100k and boom repair central?) and so are sealed up/hard/impossible to service - with idiots often leaving the gearbox worse off than it was before and leaking. So basically I either try to forget about these things and sell it at 100k hoping all is well, or I go and get the gearbox and diff oil done for about £1k asap. On top of that BMW forums seem to awash with various opinions of when to do these items? Anyone else confused?

  • Important-Outcome-74@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    I had the ZF8 in my Jag and it was also claimed to be “lifetime”. I had the oil, filter, and pan replaced at around 60k miles as that was what ZF recommend for that car. Never had any issues before or after the servicing.

    This year before I put my F82 in storage I had the coolant flushed, brake fluid flushed, oil change done regardless of what the iDrive said lol. Pretty sure the iDrive said 8000 miles left on the last oil change, now it says 10,000 🤣.