BMW fluid recommendations

General discussions about Solo

Moderator: Mike Simanyi

Post Reply
User avatar
Bob Pl
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: GRA
Car#: 26

BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Bob Pl »

1995 e36 M3 119k mi

Bimmerworld forums poll said Redline d4atf (tranny) and Redline 75w90 (includes additive) for the diff are "most popular"

Would you BMW guys agree? I'm not going to use what's "most popular" unless it's correct.

BTW these ARE the same fluids I use in the c5z, so it would be convenient and save some shelf space. I know they work great in the z.

I know Gio will say Amsoil, but others? These ok?

Thanks.
Giovanni Jaramillo
Posts: 2761
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
Club: PSCC

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Giovanni Jaramillo »

Bob Plante wrote:I know Gio will say Amsoil, but others? These ok?

Thanks.
Though true in that I would say AMSOIL, I wouldn't say anything negative about REDLINE. You'd be fine with it for the tranny.
User avatar
Bob Pl
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: GRA
Car#: 26

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Bob Pl »

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:
Bob Plante wrote:I know Gio will say Amsoil, but others? These ok?

Thanks.
Though true in that I would say AMSOIL, I wouldn't say anything negative about REDLINE. You'd be fine with it for the tranny.
How about the diff?

:)
Giovanni Jaramillo
Posts: 2761
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
Club: PSCC

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Giovanni Jaramillo »

Bob Plante wrote:
Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:
Bob Plante wrote:I know Gio will say Amsoil, but others? These ok?

Thanks.
Though true in that I would say AMSOIL, I wouldn't say anything negative about REDLINE. You'd be fine with it for the tranny.
How about the diff?

:)
Both...tranny & diff, Redline is great.
Bob Beamesderfer
Posts: 3376
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: PSCC
Location: Orange
Contact:

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Bob Beamesderfer »

Redline's web site lists which product to use with various applications.
User avatar
Bob Pl
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: GRA
Car#: 26

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Bob Pl »

Thanks guys.

:)
Giovanni Jaramillo
Posts: 2761
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
Club: PSCC

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Giovanni Jaramillo »

Bob Plante wrote:Thanks guys.

:)
Also their Water-Wetter is great for the coolant.
User avatar
John Coffey
Posts: 635
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:24 am
Club: PSCC
Car#: 250
Location: La Habra, CA
Contact:

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by John Coffey »

I'm surprised Gio was willing to share his precious fluids.

http://www.lukefisher.com/women.wav" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Mike Simanyi
Former Club Chair
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: No$
Car#: 6

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Mike Simanyi »

Bob,

If the ATF doesn't feel good in the transmission, try Redline's MTL. In my M3 and M coupe transmissions the D4ATF felt a bit too notchy.

Mike
Giovanni Jaramillo
Posts: 2761
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
Club: PSCC

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Giovanni Jaramillo »

Mike Simanyi wrote:Bob,

If the ATF doesn't feel good in the transmission, try Redline's MTL. In my M3 and M coupe transmissions the D4ATF felt a bit too notchy.

Mike
Mike is correct. I use MTL regardless of brand in all my M3s (E36, E46)
User avatar
John Fendel
Posts: 486
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: CASOC
Car#: 23
Location: Lake Forest, CA

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by John Fendel »

Here is a general guide for Red Line fluids in BMW gearboxes:
Auto trans (all) - use D4
Manual:
1982 & earlier - use MTL
1983 to 1992:
Green label on trans - use MT90
Red label on trans - use D4
No label on trans (internal hex drain plug) - use MTL
1993 & later - use D4
I hope this helps answer some application questions.
#ALSaware, GRC Performance, Red Line Oil
User avatar
Bob Pl
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
Club: GRA
Car#: 26

Re: BMW fluid recommendations

Post by Bob Pl »

Thanks all, from RL I got d4atf, 75w-98, and 10w-40.

Same as c5z

:)
Post Reply