[Frozen Fractals]

I'm debating whether I should pay someone to change my E90 330i's auto tranny pan/filter and fluid or do it myself. Car has 111k (bought it as a one owner with impeccable records at 110k). I have acquired the parts required (6L of ZF Lifeguard 6, pan/filter assembly, and mechatronics sealing sleeve). I called a few indies around me and the price for labor ranged from $315 to $350. I'm mechanically competent (more or less). I have changed out most of the fluids in the car save for the brake (hadn't needed it yet since I bought it) and tranny. I did the differential, coolant, power steering, and oil. My only concern are working under the car with it on (to top up the fluid) considering I only have floor jacks and jack stands to work with and not having a small enough torque wrench to torque the fill plug to spec. What do y'all think?

[Nitrousbird]

Aquire the tools you need and DIY. That's a put it on ramps job anyway.

[kiel_dafo_kenyg_as]

No engine running on jack stands!

[drb007]

I think you have to decide two things: how much do you need to save $300 and how much do you really want to do this yourself?
It is a straightforward job, but on jack stands/ramps, not necessarily pleasant. With a lift it would certainly be easier. But I did my own and lived to tell about it. I also did the mechatronic adapter replacement and connecting sleeve while I was there...

[2010 M Sport]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

Aquire the tools you need and DIY. That's a put it on ramps job anyway.

It needs to be level on (4) jack stands. Absolutely, not on ramps!

[XM_Rocks]

I say if you have access to a lift DIY if you have to do it on a creeper pay someone.

I did mine last summer and paid $20 an hour for a lift.

After doing it I would say no way on a creeper.

The bolts all have to be torqued in sequence and I can imagine doing everything with. 6" to 12" to work with.

[BB_cuda]

Reverse logic stands from Fred got my 335D Msport 15" off the garage floor. I even had enough height for laptop to do torque sequence. I bought a decent transfer pump to add the ZF fluid. I might be more brave than others when it comes to jack stand jobs though. Reverse logic stands can be had with the rectangular head that fits into E90 jack points. I feel very secure under car with 4 of these stands

[Nitrousbird]

Originally Posted by 2010 M Sport

It needs to be level on (4) jack stands. Absolutely, not on ramps!

4 ramps.
Drive up on two.
Jack up at front or rear jack point of car.
Slide other set of ramps in.
Profit.

[XM_Rocks]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

I even had enough height for laptop to do torque sequence

I just taped the sequence diagram on the bottom of the new pan. Made it super easy to map.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

4 ramps.
Drive up on two.
Jack up at front or rear jack point of car.
Slide other set of ramps in.
Profit.

Need to run drive train to warm up the fluid to between 40-50°C. Rear wheels (for non xi anyway) need to be free to do this. This is at least the case for my hp26 transmission (M57 diesel). After warming to this temp, you open the side port again and let fluid leak out until it is just barely still coming out.

[BB_cuda]

Originally Posted by XM_Rocks

I just taped the sequence diagram on the bottom of the new pan. Made it super easy to map.

Great idea, our printer was broken at the time.

[Gohan335i7]

If you are a DIY kinda guy then go ahead, but I'm not so I would go to m trusted Indy!! Good Luck!! -Gohan335i7E90

[Boland01]

Not hard but will admit it is a messy job. When you take the pan it will still contain a considerable amount of tranny fluid that just wants to spill. Also, it will continue to drip a bit even leaving it sit overnight.
I did it with 4 jack stands and the car level. Not ideal but I'd do it again.

[lichtgelb]

It's a DYI job for sure but by far one of the messiest. Tranny fluid is just nasty stuff and it's nearly impossible to do it on jack stands without getting the stuff everywhere.

[XM_Rocks]

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Great idea, our printer was broken at the time.

Thanks.

If I can remember correctly my pan actually came with the diagram.

Maybe some do and some don't?

Yeah it was one of my most brilliant moves ever, it almost outweighed all of the no one head moves I have done over the years working on my car.

Since you are looking up at the pan it would have been hard to map it while looking at the sheet in your hand.

Then when you are done just remove it from the pan.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Frozen Fractals

I'm debating whether I should pay someone to change my E90 330i's auto tranny pan/filter and fluid or do it myself. Car has 111k (bought it as a one owner with impeccable records at 110k). I have acquired the parts required (6L of ZF Lifeguard 6, pan/filter assembly, and mechatronics sealing sleeve). I called a few indies around me and the price for labor ranged from $315 to $350. I'm mechanically competent (more or less). I have changed out most of the fluids in the car save for the brake (hadn't needed it yet since I bought it) and tranny. I did the differential, coolant, power steering, and oil. My only concern are working under the car with it on (to top up the fluid) considering I only have floor jacks and jack stands to work with and not having a small enough torque wrench to torque the fill plug to spec. What do y'all think?

I think $300 vs a car coming crushing down on you is a pretty reasonable trade off... if you can part with the money, i say have an indy with a lift do it.

[XM_Rocks]

Originally Posted by fazman

I think $300 vs a car coming crushing down on you is a pretty reasonable trade off... if you can part with the money, i say have an indy with a lift do it.

Yup.

$300 for an indie to do it is a no brainier in my book especially because they don't have access to a lift.

No way would I have ever done the service without a lift.