Compare BMW 3 Series automatic transmission fluid replacement quotes from specialist garages

Looming hundreds of feet up in Munich's skyline is BMW's headquarters, a vast and impressive building designed to look like four engine cylinders - the configuration that drove much of the brand's early success.

BMW has come a long way since 1927, when it produced its first car, the Dixi, shortly to be renamed the BMW 3/15. In 2022, it was awarded 'Best Manufacturer' at the AutoCar Britain's Best Car Awards, and the same year, it triumphed at the WhatCar? Awards, winning more accolades than any other brand. The M5 special edition, celebrating 20 years of BMW motorsport, is one of the rarest M automobiles in the world.

See how BMW's maintenance prices compare to Audi and Mercedes in this guide.

Transmission fluid lubricates moving parts and provides hydraulic pressure for gear changes. It deteriorates over time, so you should check the fluid level regularly and follow a regular transmission service schedule.

During an automatic transmission service, the fluid is drained and refilled, and the filter is replaced. Transmission fluid changes are essential to car maintenance and should be done every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. The key benefits are that fresh fluid will give you smoother gear shifts and extend the life of your transmission.

If you don't change the fluid in your car, it will degrade like engine oil, causing excessive friction, sludge build-up and high temperatures, which contribute to faults within the system.

Many drivers book an automatic transmission fluid and oil change together to save time. Manual transmissions typically run cooler than automatics, so they often require different types of liquid. You can find this information in your owner's manual.