Gear oil for 1200gs

[GUZZZI]

Hi, according to the BMW hand book my 05 gs12 should use castrol SAF XO
The man in Cannons Braintree suggest this is a mis print and that it should use 80/90 grade gear oil. Anyhow I bought some oil to change the final drive oil while I was there and when it was brought out to me low and behold it was a 1 litre bottle of castrol SAF XO (BMW part number 33 11 7 695 240) for the huge amount of £33.12p including the dreaded VAT. On the back of the bottle it reads SAE 75W-90, API GL5, it also reads on the lable in big letters "Differential"
The Ebay copy of the BMW repair manual seize in the the spec Brand name hypoid gear lubricant SAE 90 API GL5.
So after all that the question is which blinkin oil is supposed to go in it???
Anybody know the definative answer ????

 

[Paul S]

You can use any GL5 Hypoid oil and most are 75w/90. Best to have fully synthetic. SAF XO is fine.

Running Castrol SAF XJ in my gearbox at the moment which is 75w/140. Heavier 140 rating seems to make the gearbox a little smoother. Cost me £11/L plus postage. Got Miilers 75/90 in the final drive which cost me about the same.

 

[terayon]

It should be SAF-XO 75w-90 which is for non limited slip differential, and the one BMW recommend. You can get it from Opie oils for £11.99.

 

[GUZZZI]

which oil

Thanks guys, All V helpfull I was loathed to think the hand book was wrong

 

[Barleymo]

Have just changed my gear box oil for fully synthetic 75-90 and the difference is amazing, it is just soooooo smooth and slick now, no more clunks.

 

[jogo]

Hi,
after a couple of thousands of kilometers I got more and more dissatisfied with the noise caused by gearshift and thought in addition that after some run in, new oil in the gearbox might be a good thing to have.
I did follow BMW's recommendation and used Castrol SAF XO. Gearshift became more smooth as long as the gearbox was more or less cold, at normal operation temperature I did not find a significant difference.
Based on that experience I started looking for a better solution and ended up with a Castrol 75W-140 (do not remember the correct name).
This gave by far better gear shifts with less noise at all temperatures. Beside that, the oil while hot will maintain a higher viscosity which imo should reduce the risk for leakage towards the clutch.

Cheers Joerg