With proper care and periodic maintenance, the lifespan of a BMW automatic transmission will be greatly increased and maybe even surpass 100,000 miles. A faulty transmission can decrease a car's lifespan, as well as be very dangerous.
BMW transmissions are manufactured in Germany and are commonly hydraulically operated by means of transmission fluid. BMW automatic transmissions use a torque converter or fluid coupling along with a group of gearsets.
BMWs come with lifetime transmission fluid. The theory behind this is that a driver will never have to change the fluid. However, it is still a good idea to have your fluid checked every 60,000 miles.
One of the main catalysts for BMW transmission problems is overheating. This can occur in traffic or when towing a heavy load. Heat causes the rubber seals and gaskets in the transmission to harden, then leak. Too much or too little transmission fluid will also cause a transmission to fail.
