ZF8 Trans Service @ Audi Dealer

[E.Anderson]

Just got my car back after having the trans flush done at the dealer @ 41k miles.

Installed 3153UD BG SYN TRANS FLUID

INSTALLED 6600 TRANS CONDITIONER

PERFORMED BG TRANSMISSION SERVICE.


Am I wrong for expecting OEM fluid such as this? https://www.getaudiparts.com/oem-par...-1-l-g060162a2

Am i getting a lower grade NON OEM fluid from the dealer? Kind of defeats the purpose of taking my car to audi, i could have had this done at an indy shop.

is BG any good with the ZF? Never heard of it.

[A4 Centaur]

^ I have used Motul in the ZF that is in my B8 Avant. Seemed to shift better afterwards. I wanna say the cost was mostly the oil. I've used BG for engine flush, I'm sure the stuff is as good as OEM.

[Z06Corey]

What did they charge? After having three calls, and having to to educate my dealer about the service, they gave me some stupid price, in the thousands. Obviously not going to use that dealer...

[E.Anderson]

it was $739 after a 10% service promo discount. I figured for the extra $1-200 I'd take it to the dealer because i'm still under warranty. But then they use BG instead of ZF/Audi OEM fluid which they didn't do on my 18 S4. Kind of had me feeling like why did I just take my car to audi to get aftermarket fluid? Also wondering what AOA's stance would be. Hypothetically if the trans blew tomorrow would audi say "you didn't use the audi OEM fluid so it's your fault"

I know the BG stuff meets ZF specs, i just feel a bit deceived that I took my car to Audi to get another brands parts/fluid installed. That's like asking audi to install the sports exhaust resonators and the just go with a 034 because on the back end they have a bulk deal and make better margins (which i 100% believe is happening with BG fluids).

[BenzToAudi]

My local Audi dealer in Maryland refused to even quote me or do a fluid change service. "Lifetime" ... sigh

[E.Anderson]

That’s interesting. My dealership seems to have gone the opposite direction. Offering to change diff trans and other fluids as part of scheduled maintenance.

[Z06Corey]

Wow, $750 not bad. Like I said my quote was in the thousands which I thought was ridiculous. Parts are like 500 at least that's what I remember when I looked them up at the time.

My local dealer was arguing lifetime also, that's why I took multiple phone calls and discussions. Only after I did the research myself on the service and told them about it, they came up with a quote.

If the dealer is offering as a scheduled maintenance I would ensure that they are talking about the right car and transmission. Before I told them I have a ZF transmission they were talking about servicing the transmission that used to be in the car in Prior models.

[wwhan]

It appears they did not want to drop the transmission pan and change the filter, just wanted to use the expensive BG equipment flush system they bought.

BG TRANSMISSION SERVICE: https://www.bgprod.com/services/transmission/

Normally one needs to replace the Filter & Pan if it is removed to drain oil.

ZF Service Information Oil change kit for ZF 8HP automatic transmission: https://aftermarket.zf.com/app/contr...505690da53.pdf

>>> The transmission oil refill could be a messy job (under the vehicle with engine running).

Oil Drain kit RS5: https://www.blauparts.com/audi-rs5-0...kit-eurol.html
Oil Drain kit S4: https://www.blauparts.com/audi-s4-tr...nic-eurol.html

Images of pan: https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post14773428

[GoCougs1234]

My local Audi dealer in Maryland refused to even quote me or do a fluid change service. "Lifetime" ... sigh

Mine too (and they're correct - they said they only do it when they replace a tranny and such) - the exorbitant cost, the hours of effort, the specialized equipment needed - the ZF8 is designed for lifetime fill and in general transmissions, diffs and t-cases have been designed for lifetime fill for many years now and it's worked splendidly both industry-wide (you'd have class action suits galore if it didn't) and anecdotally (I've had a number of such vehicles and have gone 150,000+ hard miles in each without a single tranny/diff/t-case problem).

[wwhan]

ZF does have note on this for severe use; https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

"ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many fac-
tors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil
change after 150,000 km for its transmissions.

In operating conditions with high temperatures and loads, or with unknown vehicle use in the
past, it can make sense to change the transmission oil at shorter intervals."

>>> So under under high temperatures and severe usage condition, the ZF oil should be changed around 93k miles.

[carguy19]

ZF does have note on this for severe use; https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

"ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many fac-
tors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil
change after 150,000 km for its transmissions.

In operating conditions with high temperatures and loads, or with unknown vehicle use in the
past, it can make sense to change the transmission oil at shorter intervals."

>>> So under under high temperatures and severe usage condition, the ZF oil should be changed around 93k miles.

TCU flash = severe use.

[BoostedTim]

Just a note here about use.

I heavily track my B9 S4 that’s been on the Stage 2 TCU tune for probably 30k-ish miles. I’m at 80k miles right now. Changed my transmission fluid around 65k miles and it was still golden fluid. The rear differential was a little bit dirty for sure, but the transmission fluid was still beautiful. Not saying you shouldn’t do it that early, but if you don’t beat the snot out of your car you’ll probably be fine doing it at 80k. Been tracking my car since 50k miles and no problems with the transmission whatsoever


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