Fluid transmission replacement

[Densmini]

Has anyone used Eneos CVT fluid? It's website insists it works for all metal-belt type CVTs, and it's 6 bucks a quart...tempting.

[mitchell206]

according to bmw repair instructions when filling the cvt gearbox you should use to fill hole at the bottom which is at an angle and it should be filled with 5l, then ran through a bleeding process, then the temp should be checked and when it is between 30-50'c you should remove the fill plug again and a minimum of 0.3l should come out (with engine still running), if less comes out then the gearbox is under filled. there is however a fill hole at the top (i changed one a few days ago and know this for certain) however BMW state this is for factory filling, doesn't mean you can't use it ouyrself though

[mechanicus]

Hello Everyone -_^, . I read this post and did a CVT fluid change on my client's 03 Mini Cooper. I originally just wanted to check the fluid level and after reading this thread, I jacked the mini up crawled underneath with my oil pan ready to go, I pulled the "fluid lvl check plug" out and blam! looots of fluid spilled out!, I as expecting a little drizzle. So apparently he had the fluid changed once before and I'm not certain if this was just a result of over filling or what so I quickly put the -fluid lvl check plug- back in and pulled out the drain plug (the one facing the ground yes I know). About a second later just out of curiosity as the trans fluid was draining out of the drain plug, I pulled the "fluid lvl check plug back out and it barely even dripped, I suppose all the fluid coming out of the drain plug drained away whatever excess fluid was behind the -fluid lvl check plug-.

After the fluid was drained I took a look in the fluid lvl drain plug and its just an empty hole, nothing I could see inside it other then the plug threads. The Drain plug however has a flat metal plate just inside it , if you stick your finger inside all you feel is the flat plate, sort of like a little metal ceiling.

I put both plugs back in and tightened them with a T6 Allen wrench. and proceeded to remove the battery.

The Battery cover was easy to get off, just lift the tabs on either side and pop it off, remove the negative terminal first, then the positive, push the cables behind and to the side of the box, pull the battery out, there is a computer to the right of the battery (would be more twords the drivers wheel) with two large connectors on it, the computer itself is being held into the battery tray by two long plastic clips, one is closer to the front of the car one closer to the firewall in the battery tray, push them both twords the passenger wheel to unlock the computer and pull the computer up and out.



Now that the computer is loose, each of the cable connectors on the computer has a sliding lock at the base,



the connector closest to the front of the car , pull its tab tword the front of the car to unlock it, once unlocked pull the connector up and off of the computer,



the connector closer to the firewall pull it's lock tab twords the firewall and then pull the connector up and off of the computer.



Put the computer somewhere safe like in the car on one of the seats. unscrew the 3 battery box bolts with I believe again a T6 allen wrench. carefully remove the battery box and whatever weather stripping is attached to it, just move that out of the way.



I had to spray some cleaner on the trans to find the upper fill plug but I can confirm it certainly is there -_^,. It's small , is removed with another allen wrench. I pumped ('cause i didnt have a funnel or tube that size) 4.75 quarts (or bottles) of Royal Purple full synthetic ATF into the CVT. put the fill plug back in. turned the engine on. Ran it through the gears about 10 times. Lowered the mini and test drove it. Ran great.









Apparently Royal purple claims its Full Synthetic ATF exceeds the CVT fluid BMW has (and would not sell me) at the dealership. They told my client over the phone that they do not sell CVT fluid alone and that the only way to obtain any of it was to bring the Mini in for servicing and theeey would put it in. I'm a third generation Auto Mechanic and that's just ********.

Let me tell you all something about fluids. all of them Motor Oil, Trans Fluid or Gear Lube, Coolant, Power Steering Fluid, and "CVT Fluid" all of them have chemical seal swellers , chemical seal softeners, chemical anti-corrosives, some have chemical anti-foamers and chemical stabilizers.

The ooonly thing trans fluid needs to do is:

1. lubricate whatever metal innards it has so metal gears pushing on metal gears or metal chains on metal gears etc. doesn't grind itself to bits.

2. it has to have the correct chemical seal softeners and seal swellers that affect the seals the trans haaas so the seals don't leak, if you have trans lube/fluid in your trans but it does not have the matching softeners or swellers that work on your trans seals it will lubricate the innards but the seals will get baked hard and brittle and the trans will eventually leak.

3. the fluid/lube cant have any type of substance in it that will leave deposits in things like valve bodies or torque converters. I feel the only reason BMW would try and force you to buy their CVT fluid is because they probably feel that only their fluid will keep the seals sealing and passageways clear and unblocked.

4. Obviously have some kind of resistance to breaking down in high heat and high pressure.

So . . it isn't magic. They do not have some new top secret formula fluid that only they sell, all they have is a standard lubricant with the correct chemicals in it to keep the trans protected as best it can from friction, from leaking and from getting plugged up.

So I recommend any high grade full synthetic like Royal Purple ATF or Mobile One ATF will do just fine in everyone's CVT as a perfectly acceptable alternative to the Dealer CVT fluid.

I hope my post contribution here has helped this forum community and anyone else needing this information out in some way.

- Isaac the Auto Mechanic, Los Angeles California.

[Weedahoe]

Excellent post and pictures

[gknorr]

From Royal Purple's website:

"Max ATF is not recommended for use in any CVT applications." Here's the link:
Royal Purple Transmission Fluid

Great pictures and overview of the job though. I plan on using this Redline fluid for the change:
Red Line Synthetic Oil - Automatic Transmission Fluids - Non-Slip CVT

First saw it listed on Minimania as an alternate:
MINI Cooper - REDLINE® NON-SLIP SYNTHETIC CVT TRANSMISSION FLUID - new.MiniMania.com

[gknorr]

Just ran across this interesting study on testing CVT Fluids from Bosch:

http://www.bosch.nl/content/language...lley_level.pdf

[xviper]

I gave up on trying to find the proper ESSO fluid or any of the other substitutes, so I just took it to a small shop that specializes in BMWs and Minis and got it done for much less than what the crooks at the Mini dealer was going to charge me.

Just curious about the fill procedure anyway. Rather than removing the battery and accessing the fill hole on the top, is it possible to simply shove a tube up the side fill hole (beyond the top of the cylinder within)? I typically fill my other car's differential this way. The tubing has a slight curve to it and the end should be able to get past and to the side of the top of the fill tube opening. Unless, there is a barrier at the top that would prevent this (????).
I have a plastic tranny fluid bottle cap with a clear plastic tube (3 feet long) attached to it that can be screwed onto standard oil bottle and the fluid can be squeezed in (or pumped in).

[gknorr]

Quote: Originally Posted by xviper (original)

I gave up on trying to find the proper ESSO fluid or any of the other substitutes, so I just took it to a small shop that specializes in BMWs and Minis and got it done for much less than what the crooks at the Mini dealer was going to charge me.

Just curious about the fill procedure anyway. Rather than removing the battery and accessing the fill hole on the top, is it possible to simply shove a tube up the side fill hole (beyond the top of the cylinder within)? I typically fill my other car's differential this way. The tubing has a slight curve to it and the end should be able to get past and to the side of the top of the fill tube opening. Unless, there is a barrier at the top that would prevent this (????).
I have a plastic tranny fluid bottle cap with a clear plastic tube (3 feet long) attached to it that can be screwed onto standard oil bottle and the fluid can be squeezed in (or pumped in).

Yes! In fact, there is an official "special" tool for it too:

MINI Cooper - FACTORY CVT TRANSMISSION FLUID FILL TOOL - MINI CO - new.MiniMania.com

I believe MINI techs use the special tool and the side hole, not the hole on the top, so you can certainly fill from there.

[xviper]

Quote: Originally Posted by gknorr (original)

Yes! In fact, there is an official "special" tool for it too:

MINI Cooper - FACTORY CVT TRANSMISSION FLUID FILL TOOL - MINI CO - new.MiniMania.com

I believe MINI techs use the special tool and the side hole, not the hole on the top, so you can certainly fill from there.

Thank you very much for this information. It just confirmed to me what I've always believed could be done. The next fluid change won't be for quite some time but I'll certainly find the right fluid by then and do it myself.
Looking at that link, all I can say is, "HOLY CRAP!!!!" $70.00 for a short piece of tubing???? I've got that right now for my other fluid changes on my other cars and the tubing was free from my old medical research lab I used to work in. I can also go to my local wine making supply store and buy that same length of tubing for 5 bucks, a hose clamp for a buck and use an old gear oil bottle cap. Not sure what you get for 70 bucks. Is the fitting made of gold?

[gknorr]

Quote: Originally Posted by xviper (original)

Not sure what you get for 70 bucks. Is the fitting made of gold?

Ha! I completely agree. I think the only thing special about that tools is it looks like it will screw directly into the fill hole with an o-ring too. So, less chance of spilling fluid everywhere I guess.

I'm with you, if I was going to fill from that hole, I would just buy some tubing from home depot or similar place. Taking the battery box out is super easy though, so I think I'll just be filling from the top when it comes time.