Does an automatic gearbox need an oil change?

It depends on the gearbox. ZF fills its six- and eight-speed automatics maintenance-free, but recommends an oil change after 150,000 km, about 93,000 miles. Other makers list their own intervals, so the car's own schedule decides, and we check it from the registration.

Does a seven-speed DSG need servicing?

It depends which seven-speed gearbox it is. The DQ200 dry-clutch gearbox has no maker oil interval, while the seven-speed DQ381 and DQ500 do. Send us the registration and we will check which gearbox your car has.

Do you change the filter as well as the oil?

Where the gearbox has one listed. On ZF gearboxes with a plastic sump the filter is built into the sump, so the two are changed together. Volkswagen Group guidance lists a fluid and filter change for some DSG and S tronic gearboxes and a fluid change for others.

Will an oil service cure a gearbox fault?

An oil service is maintenance, not a repair. If the gearbox judders, jerks or shows a warning, we read the gearbox fault memory first and tell you what the tests show before recommending any work.

Can the gearbox service be done at the same visit as a service?

Yes. The gearbox has its own schedule, but if both are due we can carry them out in the same visit.

Automatic gearbox servicing

Gearbox oil services for ZF, DSG, S tronic and Mercedes automatics

We carry out automatic gearbox oil services in-house on ZF automatics in BMW cars, DSG and S tronic gearboxes in Audi and Volkswagen Group cars, Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic and 9G-Tronic gearboxes and Land Rover and Range Rover automatics, using the fluid listed for each gearbox. The interval depends on the gearbox and the car, so the car's own schedule decides, and if the gearbox already has a fault we test it before recommending any work.

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Last updated 12 November 2026

Which gearboxes do you service?

Automatic and dual-clutch gearboxes on the makes we look after:

ZF six- and eight-speed automatics in BMW cars.
DSG and S tronic dual-clutch gearboxes in Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda and CUPRA cars.
Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic and 9G-Tronic automatics, including in the V-Class and Vito.
Land Rover and Range Rover automatic gearboxes.

The service is carried out in-house. If you are not sure which gearbox your car has, put the registration in the enquiry form and we will check.

How often does the gearbox oil need changing?

There is no single figure for every car:

ZF says its six- and eight-speed automatics are filled maintenance-free, but recommends an oil change after 150,000 km, about 93,000 miles, and sooner with high temperatures, heavy loads or an unknown history.
Volkswagen Group’s guidance for the motor trade lists 40,000 miles for the DQ250 and DQ500, 80,000 miles for the DQ381 and no oil interval for the seven-speed DQ200. Audi UK says S tronic oil is generally changed before each 38,000-mile interval, and that models vary.
Mercedes-Benz: the interval varies by gearbox and by car.
Land Rover: it depends on the gearbox and the car’s schedule.

In every case the car’s own schedule decides. Send us the registration and mileage and we will tell you whether the service is due.

Which fluid goes in?

Each gearbox takes its own fluid. ZF lists one fluid for the six-speed and another for the eight-speed. Mercedes lists fluid by specification sheet, and the two 7G-Tronic fluids, sheets 236.14 and 236.15, cannot be mixed. So we confirm which gearbox the car has before we drain anything, and refill with the fluid listed for it.

What does the service involve?

We:

confirm which gearbox the car has
drain the old fluid and change the filter where one is listed
refill with the fluid listed for the gearbox
set the fluid level by the procedure for that gearbox, for example with the oil between 30 and 50 °C on ZF gearboxes

After the service we check for leaks and road test the car where appropriate.

What about four-wheel-drive oils?

The transfer box, couplings and differentials have their own oil, separate from the gearbox. We carry out the Haldex coupling, quattro and 4MOTION oil services, the BMW xDrive transfer case oil service and the Land Rover transfer case and differential oils in-house.

What if the gearbox already has a fault?

An oil service is maintenance, not a repair. If the gearbox is showing a problem, we read the gearbox fault memory and road test the car before any work, then explain in writing what we found. Our transmission condition check covers this, with written advice on what the gearbox needs.

No work goes ahead until you give us your written approval.

Which page covers my car?

BMW and MINI

BMW gearbox oil service: oil and filter change for ZF six- and eight-speed automatics, with the level set at the correct temperature.
xDrive transfer box: jerking or shuddering when turning, diagnosed, then the transfer case oil service.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes gearbox service: oil and filter service for the 7G-Tronic and 9G-Tronic, with fluid to the gearbox’s specification sheet.

Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda and CUPRA

DSG and S tronic service: oil service at the interval your gearbox needs, with the filter changed where one is listed.
Haldex, quattro and 4MOTION service: coupling oil and filter service, plus differential oil changes.
DSG gearbox problems: judder pulling away, jerky shifts or gears not selecting.
Audi S tronic problems: a gearbox malfunction message, harsh or erratic shifts, or no reverse.

Land Rover and Range Rover

Land Rover gearbox service: automatic gearbox oil and filter service with the fluid listed for your car’s gearbox.

Should I check for a recall first?

Yes. Whether a recall applies depends on the individual car, so check your registration on gov.uk. Recall work is done by the manufacturer’s network, not by us.

Reverie Autocare is an independent specialist and is not affiliated with or endorsed by BMW, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda, CUPRA, Jaguar Land Rover, Land Rover or Range Rover.

Our promise on every job

Written approval before any extra work
Photographic proof of what we find
A promised update time
No surprise invoice
A test drive and verification where appropriate

Our service centre

Where will my car be looked after?

At our centre at 57 Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, built so that waiting for your car is not wasted time.

Seven ramps and an on-site MOT bay
Three customer waiting areas
A co-working space with Wi-Fi
A multi-faith prayer room and quiet room
Lavazza coffee
Customer parking

Questions people ask us

Does an automatic gearbox need an oil change?: It depends on the gearbox. ZF fills its six- and eight-speed automatics maintenance-free, but recommends an oil change after 150,000 km, about 93,000 miles. Other makers list their own intervals, so the car's own schedule decides, and we check it from the registration.
Does a seven-speed DSG need servicing?: It depends which seven-speed gearbox it is. The DQ200 dry-clutch gearbox has no maker oil interval, while the seven-speed DQ381 and DQ500 do. Send us the registration and we will check which gearbox your car has.
Do you change the filter as well as the oil?: Where the gearbox has one listed. On ZF gearboxes with a plastic sump the filter is built into the sump, so the two are changed together. Volkswagen Group guidance lists a fluid and filter change for some DSG and S tronic gearboxes and a fluid change for others.
Will an oil service cure a gearbox fault?: An oil service is maintenance, not a repair. If the gearbox judders, jerks or shows a warning, we read the gearbox fault memory first and tell you what the tests show before recommending any work.
Can the gearbox service be done at the same visit as a service?: Yes. The gearbox has its own schedule, but if both are due we can carry them out in the same visit.