Some high-end vehicle manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes offer the inclusion of “lifetime transmission fluid” and claim that owners of these vehicles will never have to worry about having their transmissions serviced. However, according to Giovanni Palazzo, owner of International Sport Motors in San Francisco, this isn’t always the case. “The main problem is the use of the word ‘lifetime.’ BMW and Mercedes owners often take this literally and drive 100,000 miles without a second thought…until their cars break down because of transmission problems.”
Mr. Palazzo recommends having your car’s transmission serviced every 50,000 to 60,000 miles. “In the old days, it was every 15,000 miles, but the introduction of synthetic oils has made it easier to go longer without a transmission service. That being said, driving 100,000 miles without service is just unrealistic. It’s the same with engine oil—BMW and Mercedes claim their cars can go 12,000 miles before they need an oil change, but I always suggest at least half that.”
Even if your car runs on synthetic oil, don’t wait too long between general tune-ups. Many manufacturers will tell people their cars can last 15,000 miles without being serviced, and that may be true for relatively new models, but once a car gets a little older and loses its warranty, it requires more frequent service. If you ignore regular, mile-based maintenance services, it may cost you more money in the long run.
