Auto box repair

[Exfarmer]

Got a 7 year old BMW X3, I believe it has a ZF box. We think it has a slipping brake band. Can anyone recommend a good autobox repairer in East Anglia or possibly further afield

 

[Timbo]

Got a 7 year old BMW X3, I believe it has a ZF box. We think it has a slipping brake band. Can anyone recommend a good autobox repairer in East Anglia or possibly further afield

Likely a 6hp19 or 26 depending on engine. Also suspect it wont have had fluid changes.

 

[Exfarmer]

Likely a 6hp19 or 26 depending on engine. Also suspect it wont have had fluid changes.

Its now done 60,000 miles BMW do not recommend oil changes, but I felt it would be s good idea to have all the fluids done at an independent. They have used only genuine BMW oils , filters etc. at a hilarious price.
They have not returned the car as the mechanic needed to run the car to ensure the box was filled to the level after ensuring all air flushed out of system. However he now reports it is slipping at low speeds in some gears.
I trust him totally we also inspected the sump ( which is part of the change ) and there is good evidence of iron filings in the magnet traps.
He told me has spoken to a BMW mechanic friend who told him that it is common for oil changes to reveal on going issues. He tells me he himself is not happy to do any work on the box, but they are waiting for another mechanic to return on Monday to give his view.

 

[Exfarmer]

The engine is a 3 litre bi turbo

 

[Phil P]

My X5 went the same way, filings in the box then it started jerking as it dropped into 1st and the kick down was becoming savage.
Bought a reconditioned box off eBay that had been fitted to a vehicle then the engine went so they scrapped it, got a really good deal and all the paperwork showing what it had done. Put fresh oil and filter when I put it in and it’s been spot on since and feels like new. Only a day of a job to swap it over.

 

[Exfarmer]

My X5 went the same way, filings in the box then it started jerking as it dropped into 1st and the kick down was becoming savage.
Bought a reconditioned box off eBay that had been fitted to a vehicle then the engine went so they scrapped it, got a really good deal and all the paperwork showing what it had done. Put fresh oil and filter when I put it in and it’s been spot on since and feels like new. Only a day of a job to swap it over.

Thats interesting, my wife was complaining the kick down harsh but I had not noticed anything as it was always quite quick

 

[Phil P]

Thats interesting, my wife was complaining the kick down harsh but I had not noticed anything as it was always quite quick

I should probably add that mine was at 105k miles though.

 

[Exfarmer]

I should probably add that mine was at 105k miles though.

yes 60K is a bit early, I am beginning to wish I had traded it

 

[startinghandle]

Is oil cooler working properly?

 

[Exfarmer]

Is oil cooler working properly?

Would have thought an error would have come up if it had over heated

 

[Gapples]

Got a 7 year old BMW X3, I believe it has a ZF box. We think it has a slipping brake band. Can anyone recommend a good autobox repairer in East Anglia or possibly further afield

Probably a bit too far away but these guys a very good.

Austrin Gearbox Specialist - North East Transmission Specialists

In-depth expertise on Automatic Transmissions, DSG Gearboxes, Transfer Box and 4x4 units as well as Manual Gearboxes and Differentials. We are a firm believer of "Do it once, do it properly" and "Don't cut corners".

austrin-engineering.co.uk

 

[Exfarmer]

Probably a bit too far away but these guys a very good.

Austrin Gearbox Specialist - North East Transmission Specialists

In-depth expertise on Automatic Transmissions, DSG Gearboxes, Transfer Box and 4x4 units as well as Manual Gearboxes and Differentials. We are a firm believer of "Do it once, do it properly" and "Don't cut corners".

austrin-engineering.co.uk

Cheers may be worth a little trip, thankfully she is not totally shot

 

[box]

Have you actually driven it since or are you just relying on the "mechanic" telling you it's broken?

Bits on the magnet is normal, that's why it's there. A slight change in shifting characteristics after a fluid change is also normal, it often goes back to how it was after a bit of driving. I wouldn't expect any problems at 60k. If it was 120k on original fluid, I'd think otherwise.

Don't rush into anything just yet. Get the car back, drive it and see what you think.

 

[Exfarmer]

Have you actually driven it since or are you just relying on the "mechanic" telling you it's broken?

Bits on the magnet is normal, that's why it's there. A slight change in shifting characteristics after a fluid change is also normal. I wouldn't expect any problems at 60k. If it was 120k on original fluid, I'd think otherwise.

Don't rush into anything just yet. Get the car back, drive it and see what you think.

Good point, but mechanic stands to gain nothing. It is a good point though.

 

[box]

I'm not saying your mechanic is trying to rip you off or pull the wool over your eyes, but they do tend to make a mountain out of a molehill at times.

My Hyundai transmission has been flaring slightly changing from 2nd to 3rd for over 100k kms now (odometer now at 270,000km), the mechanic told the last owner to get rid of it because the transmission was on its way out. Just saying.

 

[startinghandle]

Is it possible that incorrect fluid has been used? When I enquired about fluid for topping up our teleram 3 we used to have I was told it was important to use correct fluid as there were different specifications available
Also in 2001 I completely overhauled the transmission in our first matbro after buying classic car workshop manual

 

[Zebbedee]

Good point, but mechanic stands to gain nothing. It is a good point though.

This is what I would tend to do unless someone comes up with a definitive answer of something wrong, you could spend a bit of cash looking for some problem that’s not there, looking for ghosts as it were

 

[Timbo]

I presume mechanic has reset the adaptions after the fluid change ???

I've just had a fluid service on my D4 with 8hp box. 65,000 on clock.

Adaptions reset, and the 1-2, 2-3 and back shifts were very harsh for the first few miles afterwards. Its now completely seamless having re-learnt.

 

[335d]

I presume mechanic has reset the adaptions after the fluid change ???

I've just had a fluid service on my D4 with 8hp box. 65,000 on clock.

Adaptions reset, and the 1-2, 2-3 and back shifts were very harsh for the first few miles afterwards. Its now completely seamless having re-learnt.

was just going to post the same. The new oil will probably be slightly thinner, causing the box to react differently, as it has adapted to the used oil. Reset the adaptions to factory defaults for new oil and it should sort itself out after a short drive. With VAG cars you can run an adaption procedure, like a calibration on your tractor. Makes some awful sounding clunks during the process, but drives perfect afterwards. This is on a dsg box, but the concept is the same. The gearbox ecu adapts the timing of the gear changes to keep the changes smooth throughout the life of the box. It’s why they state you don’t need to change the oil. As its viscosity changes, the ecu adapts, and adjusts the timing of the valves etc to keep changes smooth. You’ve now changed the oil, and it doesn’t know what’s going on. Get the mechanic to rest the adaptions and it should be grand after a bit of driving.

edit, the above is only if the gearbox was working fine beforehand, and the issues have only appeared after changing the oil. If the oil was changed to Try and resolve an issue, then it probably needs further investigation. However, just make sure they have reset the adaptions, before starting to replace the box

 

[Exfarmer]

Is it possible that incorrect fluid has been used? When I enquired about fluid for topping up our teleram 3 we used to have I was told it was important to use correct fluid as there were different specifications available
Also in 2001 I completely overhauled the transmission in our first matbro after buying classic car workshop manual

Genuine £50 a litre BMW oil ( probably rebadged ZF oil at £15)