BMW GM 6-Speed Automatic Guide

GA6L45R · GM six-speed automatic · BMW code GM6 · US-market cars, parts-data build windows 2006-2013 · 128i (E82, E88), X3 3.0i and 3.0si (E83), 323i and 328i (E90, E91, E92, E93)

Part of the BMW transmission guide. To find the gearbox in a particular car, use the E-series lookup or the F and G series lookup.

The GA6L45R is a six-speed automatic that General Motors Powertrain builds for BMW. Parts data lists it in the 128i, the 323i and 328i, and the E83 X3 3.0i and 3.0si, with N51 and N52 engines.

It is a different gearbox from the ZF six-speed GA6HP19Z, which BMW fitted to the 335i versions of the same bodies and to other E90, E91, E92 and E93 models. The model name and the engine code do not always settle which gearbox a car has, so check the gearbox code before ordering a fluid or a service kit.

Quick read

Ownership position: Not established yet. We are still researching how this gearbox ages in service.
Reliability: No verdict. We found no NHTSA transmission recall for these cars and no BMW bulletin in our files that describes a gearbox fault.
Cost to own: Not established yet.
Power potential: Not established yet. BMW's documents in our files give no torque rating for the GA6L45R.
Main watch item: Which gearbox the car has. BMW calls the fill a lifetime fill, and its parts catalog also lists a fluid and filter kit for this gearbox.

GA6L45R At a Glance

Question	Practical answer
BMW designation	GA6L45R. BMW's designation table lists General Motors Powertrain as the maker and GM6 as the gearbox name.
Which BMWs have it	US 128i coupe and convertible (E82, E88), X3 3.0i and 3.0si (E83), 323i and 328i in the E90 sedan, E91 wagon, E92 coupe and E93 convertible, including the 328xi and 328i xDrive. The table below has the build dates.
Which BMWs do not	The US E89 Z4 and E84 X1 are not on the list: parts data gives the ZF GA6HP19Z or GA8HP45Z for them. Parts data lists the GA6L45R in the E81 and E87 1 Series and in one E84 type, but none of those are US-market types.
Fluid	Dexron VI automatic transmission fluid. BMW part numbers 83 22 2 167 718 (1 liter) and 83 22 2 167 720 (5 liter).
Service interval	BMW says the gearbox needs no oil change for its service life. After any repair to the gearbox or the gearbox oil cooler, BMW says to refill with the approved fluid.
Fill	About 9.5 liters in total, counting the gearbox and the torque converter, per BMW technical data. BMW parts data gives 9.5 liters for every US car on the list.
How to identify it	BMW says the gearbox has a green type plate on its housing, with the gearbox code behind the gearbox number, and that a label on the oil pan names the approved fluid.
Build	BMW's functional description lists a torque converter, a converter housing, an integrated oil pump, two planetary gear sets, five multi-plate clutches and a mechatronics module.
Fail-safe mode	BMW says that after an electrical fault the gearbox can drop into a hydraulic emergency program. If first, second or third gear was engaged it stays in third, and if fourth, fifth or sixth was engaged it stays in fifth.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
Layout	Six-speed planetary automatic with torque converter and a mechatronics module, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions
Maker	General Motors Powertrain
Gear ratios	Not established yet
Torque rating	Not established yet. BMW's older designation scheme put the input torque in the number, but the GA6 names do not.
Total oil volume	About 9.5 liters with the gearbox and torque converter drained
Fluid	Dexron VI, lifetime fill per BMW
Transfer case and front differential fill, xDrive	BMW parts data lists a transfer box fill of 0.52 liters and a front final drive fill of 0.6 liters on the E90, E91 and E92 328xi and 328i xDrive, and 0.69 and 0.6 liters on the E83 X3.

Which BMWs Have It

Parts data codes the engine as N52K in its fluids table and N52N in its fitment lists. The windows below run from each US model type's US catalog entry or production start, whichever is later, to its production end; a gearbox or fill change inside one type keeps the fluid-table change date. This is the same method as the lookup pages. The same chassis and engine can carry the ZF gearbox on other model types, so the table shows only the types that list the GA6L45R.

Chassis	Models	Engine	Built	Fill (L)
E82	128i	N51	03/2008-09/2013	9.5
E82	128i	N52N	12/2007-10/2013	9.5
E83	X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si	N52N	08/2006-08/2010	9.5
E88	128i	N51	03/2008-10/2013	9.5
E88	128i	N52N	12/2007-10/2013	9.5
E90	328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive	N51	09/2006-12/2011	9.5
E90	323i	N52N	09/2006-10/2011	9.5
E90	328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive	N52N	09/2006-12/2011	9.5
E91	328i, 328xi	N52N	09/2006-05/2012	9.5
E92	328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive	N51	09/2006-06/2013	9.5
E92	328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive	N52N	06/2006-05/2013	9.5
E93	328i	N51	12/2006-10/2013	9.5
E93	328i	N52N	12/2006-10/2013	9.5

Variants

Rear-wheel drive: the 128i, 323i and 328i. BMW's repair documents treat these as the standard version.
All-wheel drive: the 328xi, 328i xDrive and the E83 X3 3.0i and 3.0si. BMW lists separate removal documents and special tools for the all-wheel-drive version of the gearbox.
Non-US versions: parts data also lists the GA6L45R with N45T and N46T engines in the E81 and E87 1 Series. Those are not US-market cars.

Service Parts at a Glance

These BMW part numbers were looked up in BMW parts data (December 2019 data date). The Dexron VI fluid numbers also appear on other BMW automatics, so use the catalog fitment list together with the gearbox code.

Part	BMW part number	Catalog lists it for	Status
Dexron VI fluid, 1 liter	83 22 2 167 718	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si and other cars	current
Dexron VI fluid, 5 liter	83 22 2 167 720	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si and other cars	current
ATF Dexron VI, 1 liter	83 22 2 163 514	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i and other cars; the catalog note says US dealers only	current
Fluid and filter kit, automatic transmission	24 15 2 357 284	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si	current
Oil pan kit	24 11 7 581 605	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si	current
Transmission oil filter set	24 11 7 593 565	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si	current, replaces 24 11 7 581 604 and 24 11 7 572 617
Oil pan gasket	24 11 7 572 618	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si	current
Oil drain plug	24 11 7 572 622	128i, 323i, 328i, 328xi, X3 3.0i, X3 3.0si	current
Complete gearbox, new	24 00 7 614 277	128i (E82, E88), 323i, 328i in the E90 LCI, E91 LCI, E92, E93	current, replaces 24 00 7 597 559 and 24 00 7 593 223

Known Failure Points and Service Items

Only items a recall or a BMW document backs are listed. Frequency is not established. We found no recall and no bulletin that names a defect in the GA6L45R itself.

01 Repair stages and special tools (service item)

BMW service information 02 07 (334) says repair stages 1 and 2 were approved when series production of the GA6L45R began, and that BMW developed special tools for them, with extra tools for the all-wheel-drive version. It names the E6x, E81, E87 and E9x.

02 Front driveshaft bolts, 2011 328i xDrive (driveline recall, not a gearbox recall)

NHTSA lists recall 11V476000 for 2011 328i xDrive and 335i xDrive cars built from February 8, 2011 through July 29, 2011: the front driveshaft attachment bolts may not have been tightened to specification. The fix is to replace the bolts. In BMW parts data, 328i xDrive types built in that window are listed with the GA6L45R automatic. Watch for a loss of drive to the front wheels.

Reliability Verdict

Not established yet. We are still researching this gearbox.

Power Potential

Not established yet.

Cost of Ownership

Not established yet.

Common Questions

What transmission is in a BMW E90 328i?

BMW parts data lists the GM six-speed automatic GA6L45R for US E90 328i cars with the N51 and N52 engines, and a Getrag or ZF manual on cars built with a manual gearbox. The 335i uses a ZF automatic instead.

What BMWs have the GA6L45R?

The US 128i (E82, E88), the E83 X3 3.0i and 3.0si, and the 323i and 328i in the E90, E91, E92 and E93 body styles, built between 2006 and 2013 in parts data.

What fluid does the GA6L45R use?

BMW specifies Dexron VI automatic transmission fluid, BMW part number 83 22 2 167 718 for 1 liter and 83 22 2 167 720 for 5 liters.

How much fluid does the GA6L45R hold?

BMW technical data gives about 9.5 liters in total, with the gearbox and the torque converter drained.

Does a BMW E89 Z4 or E84 X1 have the GA6L45R?

Not in US cars: BMW parts data gives the ZF GA6HP19Z or GA8HP45Z for the US E89 Z4 and E84 X1.

Sources

BMW service documentation: transmission designations and maker table.
BMW Service Information SI 24 05 96 (143), enclosure 13: automatic transmission fluid for the GM transmission.
BMW Service Information 02 07 (334): special tools for the GA6L45R.
BMW diagnosis documentation: functional description of the GM6 automatic gearbox.
BMW technical data: transmission filling capacities, group 24.
BMW parts catalog data, December 2019 data date: fluid table, fitment and part numbers.
NHTSA recall database, api.nhtsa.gov, recall 11V476000 and the BMW recall search described above.