Which Trans fluid to use on E46 M Manual

[Crossworth]

Too thick, esp for colder climates.

Might be a good choice for track car in warmer climate.

Tbonem3

Thank you for your advice and everyone else who chimed-in. In summary, stick with what is tried and true, which is Pentosin MTF LT2 or FFL4 . Off I go to complete my shopping list for Cyber Monday.

[digger]

what's the "issue" with Redline?

[bigjae46]

what's the "issue" with Redline?

I find that it works fine but it does need to be changed often. I change mine every 6 months because it's a track car.

[eacmen]

Recently switched to the redline MT-LV and no complaints:

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Red-Line-MTLV-Quart.html

[DJAM3]

Ravenol 75W-80 MTF-2 is still available as an alternative to Pentosin. I've been using this for several years.

[bigjae46]

Recently switched to the redline MT-LV and no complaints:

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Red-Line-MTLV-Quart.html

That's interesting because I literally had to change the D4ATF after every event or the transmission would get super notchy and hard to get into gear. I used the MTL when my 6 speed was on its last legs, it worked and got the synchros to spin up so I could shift into 3rd and 4th.

The MTL on a cold day definitely makes the transmission feel like a truck transmission until it warms up.

[eacmen]

That's interesting because I literally had to change the D4ATF after every event or the transmission would get super notchy and hard to get into gear. I used the MTL when my 6 speed was on its last legs, it worked and got the synchros to spin up so I could shift into 3rd and 4th.

The MTL on a cold day definitely makes the transmission feel like a truck transmission until it warms up.

Yeah i think RL took this feedback and made something in between. Also I am SMG so I don’t actually feel the shifter, but I can tell when the SMG system is happy and when its not.


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[Will]

That's interesting because I literally had to change the D4ATF after every event or the transmission would get super notchy and hard to get into gear.
...

I tried D4ATF and it felt pretty good for about 5000 miles of street driving, then became notchy into 2nd. Flushed it with new D4ATF and no improvement with notchy-ness in 2nd. Went to Pentosin MTF-2 after 3000 miles, still kind of notchy into 2nd, esp when cold, but it has improved.
Doing another fluid change, now with FFL4. Should have stuck with Pentosin / OE BMW fluid, esp since this is a street car for DD.

[Lee_Enfield]

What's a "good" price for BMW MTF-2? I think I paid in the mid 30's Canadian each from the dealer when I did mine in 2021. Might do it again this winter to flush it again, since there was some form of ATF in there when I changed it.

I'm sure it's gone up but if it's still decent I might buy a few changes worth just to stash.

[CarbonBlkM3]

I had nothing but good results using Royal Purple Synchromax, especially during cold weather months where the shifts would be notchy with the OEM fluid.

[CarbonBlkM3]

I'm running Redline MTL for 5 years/20k so far, no issues. But I wouldn't call the shifting buttery smooth by any means. Before that I tried Royal Purple which did feel worse. Maybe I should go OE

I mean I think traditionally Getrag 6-speed was never know to be a silky transmission. IMO the Tremec 3550 i had in my old fox body had more smoother shifts.