Inside Line: ZF Services

ZF Services UK has some useful preventive maintenance advice for ZF automatic transmissions in the BMW 3 Series. The semi-synthetic oils developed for use in ZF 5-, 6- and 8-speed transmissions are maintenance-free under normal operating conditions, described as ‘lifetime fill’ by some vehicle manufacturers. However, some degradation of the oil inevitably occurs with time and mileage, which may result in noise, judder, or deterioration in gear change quality. This can be avoided by carrying out a transmission oil and filter change after 50,000 to 75,000 miles. It is vital to use oil approved by ZF for the particular transmission – visit www.zf.com/lubricants and refer to document TE-ML 11 for guidance.