I have an 06m3 with about 35000miles and decided to take it to a local garage (Mobil) to get the oil changed, I was told i should change the tranny fuild so i agreed the next thing i know the tech is using a machine to suck the old fluid out while new fluid was being pumped in at the same time. So I asked him what about changing the filter, he said it has a screen not a cotton filter. I went to the local Autozone and the Mazda tranny kit has a filter, I wonder if I should have the service done again and have the filter changed, the fluid still looks clean and doesn't smell burnt.

 

Well, I would check to make surethe parts guy had the right part for your car... which I just did online. It seems that tranny does have a filter, so at the very least I wouldn"t be making any more trips to that garage... except to complain and ask for a partial refund.
They aren't liable toreimburse you forthe fluid and other parts/shop supplies they used, but the labor should be on them.

 

Thanks for the info Virgin1. Do you think I should change the fluid? I have about 8000 miles on that service and the fluid is clean so I'm just thinking about monitoring it til I'm do for the next service.

 

If that was the First service on the Trans even the dealer will not change the Filter, just hook up the Machine and change the fluid.
I do the Fluid and filter changes on my F150 at home, The Trans pump does all the work by pumping the fluid out and I do change my Filter every time, but that is just me.