BMW 3 Series ZF 8HP gearbox oil change — Milton Keynes
Every automatic BMW 3 Series since the F30 has a ZF 8HP eight-speed, and since the G20 there is no manual at all. We renew the pan and filter, exchange the fluid with our dynamic machine and reset the adaptations — the same job on the 4 Series.
From £399, priced to your car. Get a price first — send the registration and we confirm the gearbox.
Which BMW 3 Series cars have the ZF 8HP
- 3 Series (F30 saloon, F31 Touring)2012–2019
- Automatic versions (a manual was also offered). 8HP45; 8HP70 on the 330d and 335d; 8HP50 after the facelift.[1, 2, 3]
- 3 Series (G20 saloon, G21 Touring)2019 on
- Every engine, including the 330e and M340i — automatic only. 8HP51; 8HP76 on the 330d and M340d.[2, 4, 5]
Gearbox versions are as published by the car maker, ZF and the sources below. We confirm your car's exact gearbox from its VIN before ordering parts.
What to know about the 8HP in a BMW 3 Series
- The G20 dropped the manual gearbox, so every G20 and G21 on the road has the eight-speed automatic.[5]
- The six-cylinder diesels (330d, 335d, later M340d) use a bigger, stronger 8HP than the four-cylinder cars, with its own pan and filter part. We order by your car's VIN, not by model name.[2]
- On the 330e plug-in hybrid the electric motor sits between the engine and the gearbox. We read and reset it with BMW ISTA, the dealer system we use in the workshop.[8]
What the service includes
- Road test with live data before we start and again before handover
- New sump pan with its built-in filter, ordered by your car's VIN
- The fluid specified for your gearbox, by part number
- Dynamic fluid exchange — torque converter, cooler and valve body, not just the pan
- Level set at the temperature the gearbox calls for, read from live data
- Adaptations reset, leak check, and the work recorded against your car
Each step is explained on our ZF 8HP gearbox service page. Is the oil really for life? Our guide Is ZF 8HP gearbox oil really lifetime fill?quotes ZF's own figure.
ZF 8HP or ZF 6HP? The six-speed ZF 6HP came before it — for the BMW models with the 6HP, see BMW 3 Series E90, BMW 5 Series E60 and BMW X5 E70. We confirm which one your car has from its VIN.
The Rootes Standard
What you get on every job
Not extras, and not only on the big jobs. This is how every car is looked after at Rootes Motors, from an oil service to a gearbox.
Fixed price in writing before we start
You get a fixed price in writing before any work begins. If we find anything else, we send you photos and a link to approve or decline it — nothing extra is done without your yes.
12-month warranty on parts we supply
12-month warranty on parts we supply (wear items and consumables excluded), and every job is road-tested and checked before handover.
Covers on, clean overalls, every car
A seat cover, steering-wheel cover and floor mat go into every car before we touch it, and we work in clean overalls — never in a customer's car in dirty clothes.
A warm, dry waiting room with coffee
On a while-you-wait job you sit in a warm, dry waiting room with a coffee — not stood outside in the cold and rain.
Paperless, with every job on record
Booking is paperless. Every job is recorded against your car, and we email you the documents confirming the work completed.
Automatic service and MOT reminders
Every registered customer gets automatic service and MOT reminders by email, so a due date never slips past.
MOT arranged on our street
We arrange your MOT at the DVSA-approved test centre on our street, take the car there and back, and fix anything that fails.
Questions we get asked
Does my BMW 320d have the ZF 8HP gearbox?
If it is an automatic F30, F31, G20 or G21, yes — BMW's eight-speed automatic in the 3 Series is the ZF 8HP. Earlier E90 automatics used the ZF six-speed instead. Send us your registration and we will confirm the exact gearbox before quoting.
BMW says the gearbox oil is filled for life. Should I still change it on my 3 Series?
Yes. ZF's own data sheet for the fluid recommends an oil change after 150,000 km (about 93,000 miles), and sooner with hard use or an unknown history. On a 3 Series we recommend a fluid and filter service every 60,000 to 80,000 miles.
Is the 4 Series the same job?
Yes. The 4 Series is built alongside the 3 Series and uses the same 8HP family, so the service, the parts process and the price basis are the same.
How much is a ZF 8HP gearbox service on a BMW 3 Series?
From £399, priced to your car. The price moves with which 8HP version it has, the pan and filter part and how much has to come off to reach it. Give us your registration and we confirm a fixed price in writing before we start.
Where these facts come from
- 1.Wikipedia, “BMW 3 Series (F30)” (read 21 Oct 2026)F30 production October 2011 to October 2018 (model years 2012–2018), six-speed manual or ZF 8HP automatic
- 2.Wikipedia, “ZF 8HP transmission” — variants and applications table (read 21 Oct 2026)Which 8HP variant is listed for each model (the table says it makes no claim of completeness; cross-checked against the maker and ZF sources on this page)
- 3.Autocar, “BMW 3 Series (2014–2018) review”The F30 came with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed ZF automatic
- 4.Wikipedia, “BMW 3 Series (G20)” (read 21 Oct 2026)G20 production from October 2018, model years 2019 on
- 5.CAR magazine, “BMW 3-series saloon review” (G20)The G20 has an eight-speed automatic as standard on every version; there is no manual
- 6.Wikipedia, “BMW 4 Series (F32)” (read 21 Oct 2026)F32 production July 2013 to September 2020
- 7.Wikipedia, “BMW 4 Series (G22)” (read 21 Oct 2026)G22 production from 2020, eight-speed ZF 8HP automatic
- 8.Autocar, “BMW 3 Series review” (G20)On the 330e the electric motor is sandwiched between the gearbox and the engine
Other cars with the ZF 8HP
The same service, written up for other models we see.
- Audi
- Alfa Romeo
- Toyota