BMWs line on this is that it is a "lifetime" fluid that never needs to be changed..BMW have said this for almost 20 years now, and as all of us who have owned many BMWs know..it's a crock of ****! I have a V8 BMW with a manual trans and a lot of people advocate flushing it every year with the BMW MTF of the latest spec.. Is this the fluid I should use with the getrag 5spd unit in the mini? Or do you guys elect to stick with the BMW recommendation not touch it? Thoughts, comments?

 

If you have the 5 speed it is a Midlands not the Getrag.

The fluid can be changed whenever you feel like it. Most have used (as I do) the Redline MTL. Not sure if I would go "lifetime" on it, but ever year flushes is a bit too extreme IMHO.

 

The transmission was recently replaced with what I was told was to be a getrag. From what I hear there are a number of other people with Midlands failures at lowish mileage..seems the getrag units are much more solid. This isn't even my car, this is my mother (whom is in her 50s) daily driver..Needless to say, she doesn't drive hard, let the clutch out too early, etc. There's no reason it died at 60,000. We weren't too pleased.

 

I believe the trans was changed from a Midlands to a Getrag in the 05 model year. FWIW I change the fluid in my 6 sp Getrag about every 30,000 miles. I use what MINI spec's.

 

That's one of the reasons I got an '05/06 car. Thankfully in '05 they replaced the Midlands wet tissue transmission with a Getrag unit!

As for flushing the oil, my guess would be at least every few years. ... just don't get any on your driveway, 'cause it stinks!