transmission labels

#1

There is an article on the Redline site about redline fluids for BMWs. Heres the interesting part.

[color=#ff0000]Manual Transmissions:
Through 1985: MTL
1986 through 1992: may have a label affixed to the passenger side bell housing

  • Green Label: MT-90
  • Red Label: D4ATF
  • No Label: MTL
    Green and Red labeled transmissions have 17mm external hex drain and fill plugs.
    Non-labeled transmissions have 17mm internal hex drain and fill plugs.
    1993-on: D4ATF[/color]

I didn’t realize there were differences in (syncros?).
All my E30s came with the internal Hex plug. The transmission I got from Cosmos has external hex plugs, but I don’t remember seeing a label on it. Are all the the getrag 260s supposed to have internal hex plugs and the PO swapped in some external hex ones? Are there different variations of the getrag 260.

The reason I was on the site is because I was trying to figure out if I can run shockproof superlight in the trans. It specifically says not to run shockproof heavy in a syncro trans that isn’t gl5. It doesn’t say that light and superlight is to slippery for syncros.

#2

This came up a while back but it never really got figured out. Anyone know exactly where the label is supposed to be?

#3

I just called my brother and he confirmed that there are indeed three different transmissions fluid requirements based on the label and plugs. Then I called my dad and he searched the trans for a label for me and attempted to determine the oil coming out the breather by smell. Apparently there are a few flakes of orange sticker remaining and the red fluid coming out has no typical gear oil odor. I had just assumed that the trans had red line gear oil in it. The label is on the passenger side bellhousing. I guess I will be running the D4ATF as I know nothing about ATF. I’m curious what is actually different about the internals of the transmission. Maybe Andrew can splain it to us.

#4

I had this conversation with the folks at BimmerWorld early this year, well 2011, and they state the D4ATF can be run in all models safely. The Redline D4ATF is what I’ve been running with no issues.

#5

I’ve been running the MTL in the car for a couple years. I don’t think I can say no issues since the fluid is coming out of some seal, so I check the level after every couple events and end up adding some, but the shifting has been fine.