E39 540i 6 speed tranny fluid and Diff fluid

daveyto · 05-13-2009, 03:57 PM

Does anyone know what kind of fluid I can use in my 2003 540i 6 speed getrag 420g tranny and what can I use for the diff ( i assume I have the LSD).

I dont want to pay for BMW fluids....redline, Royal Purple?

thanks,

Dave

Oyster · 05-21-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveyto

Does anyone know what kind of fluid I can use in my 2003 540i 6 speed getrag 420g tranny and what can I use for the diff ( i assume I have the LSD).

I dont want to pay for BMW fluids....redline, Royal Purple?

thanks,

Dave

I have redline bottle if you need.

daveyto · 05-21-2009, 09:58 AM

Redline.what?

And I need more than 1 bottle.

Thanks

Oyster · 05-21-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveyto

Redline.what?

And I need more than 1 bottle.

Thanks

http://maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68245

daveyto · 05-21-2009, 01:06 PM

Mine takes ATF not gear oil.

regards

Dado 540 · 05-21-2009, 01:11 PM

Why do you assume you have LSD?

daveyto · 05-21-2009, 08:52 PM

the dealer told me after i gave my vin. a friend who owns an m5 told me the same thing

bimmerjoe · 05-21-2009, 10:02 PM

you have a 6 speed and you need atf only??

you know that atf is automatic transmission fluid

Dado 540 · 05-21-2009, 10:15 PM

Im not too sure how the dealer would be able to tell you that by looking at the vin, since no E39 came with the LSD except M5.

Now if your friend knows what he's talking about then the previous owner swapped it in.

If you wanna be 100% sure what fluids you should be using, i would strongly recommend you call the transmission experts such at "Toronto Automatic Transmission" and ask them. They rebuild transmissions and differencials for the dealerships.

http://www.torontoautotrans.com/
Ask for Bob or Mathew, they know what they are doing.

bimmerjoe · 05-21-2009, 10:22 PM

my father owns a transmission shop

Dado 540 · 05-21-2009, 10:23 PM

Or just ask joe's dad lol

Fern · 05-25-2009, 11:32 AM

I also have a 1999 540i6 and used Redline ATF and works fine... Just noticed a small leak every 6 months or so, don't know if its related to the atf tho.. Apparently if you call Redline for trani they recommend ATF even in the manual trani. The rear diff we used redline synthetic gear oil.