ZF Gearbox Oil Change at BMW dealer

[_Hoppers]

For all those interested, I've just been quoted £480 from Autohaus in York.

[d_a_n1979]

_Hoppers said:

For all those interested, I've just been quoted £480 from Autohaus in York.

Is that genuine ZF filter & fluid do you know?

[_Hoppers]

d_a_n1979 said:

_Hoppers said:

For all those interested, I've just been quoted £480 from Autohaus in York.

Is that genuine ZF filter & fluid do you know?

The chap did mention it’s taking a few weeks for the parts to come from ZF so I assume so? I’ll double check if I decide to take it to them.

[Court_S]

_Hoppers said:

For all those interested, I've just been quoted £480 from Autohaus in York.

Sounds about right; I was quoted £450 from the ZF place locally, using genuine ZF parts.

[MitchT]

Thats What She Said said:

There is one school of thought (BMW) that says if it's working fine, leave it alone.

ZF on the other hand (who actually make the gearboxes) say they should be serviced every 80k or so.

I'd go with the manufacturers opinion rather than the retailers, and find a good indy.

Bids the question... if you have a BMW that's under warranty and BMW refuse to service the gearbox because "it doesn't need it", so you take it to a ZF approved agent to get it done, and the car later suffers a failure, might BMW refuse to honour the warranty because you went against their advice?

[Ruskie]

_Hoppers said:

For all those interested, I've just been quoted £480 from Autohaus in York.

I bought the genuine ZF kit from AutoDoc and had it done by a garage just out of York. Charged me £170 labour. £350 all in roughly.

[ric p]

Just checked my folder of bills for the F25. Done by my Independent in Somerset, £521 inc VAT. So your quotes are pretty much spot on. Car kept overnight as g/box fluids needed to be cold.

This did include fluid changes for both g/box and transfer box using BMW fluids, (presumably ZF with a BMW label).

Advised to do in the 80-90k range if planning to keep the vehicle.

[smashy]

MitchT said:

Thats What She Said said:

There is one school of thought (BMW) that says if it's working fine, leave it alone.

ZF on the other hand (who actually make the gearboxes) say they should be serviced every 80k or so.

I'd go with the manufacturers opinion rather than the retailers, and find a good indy.

Bids the question... if you have a BMW that's under warranty and BMW refuse to service the gearbox because "it doesn't need it", so you take it to a ZF approved agent to get it done, and the car later suffers a failure, might BMW refuse to honour the warranty because you went against their advice?

Great question that, I have never bothered with 2 BMWs that I had from new to 120k Think I would ask them first.

[Browter]

MitchT said:

Bids the question... if you have a BMW that's under warranty and BMW refuse to service the gearbox because "it doesn't need it", so you take it to a ZF approved agent to get it done, and the car later suffers a failure, might BMW refuse to honour the warranty because you went against their advice?

I asked my local BMW dealer that exact question and they said yes, it would invalidate the warranty

[Mr Whippy]

_Hoppers said:

Autohaus Diagnostics in York seem to have a good reputation? One thing the service dept told me is that they have had customers with gearbox problems following an oil change, which is putting me off a little!

I’ve been taking my 130i to them for years for all sorts of pita jobs and general stuff and they’ve been spot on.

Very reasonably priced and suitably professional.

I’ll be using them for my ZF8 gearbox oil change and supplementary servicing needs on my 335Xd in the coming years… while BMW can keep doing service items and warranty stuff.


On the ZF8 generally, on leggy LR Discoverys the oil change (includes pan filter in kit), makes a big and noticeable difference according to my brother who has done a few now.
A no brainer for the fairly trivial cost.

[Pica-Pica]

Browter said:

MitchT said:

Bids the question... if you have a BMW that's under warranty and BMW refuse to service the gearbox because "it doesn't need it", so you take it to a ZF approved agent to get it done, and the car later suffers a failure, might BMW refuse to honour the warranty because you went against their advice?

I asked my local BMW dealer that exact question and they said yes, it would invalidate the warranty

But surely using a ZF agent gives a warranty.

[smashy]

Would they though ' sorry sir we only changed the oil that wouldn't have caused that to happen you need to go back to BMW" You can just hear it. Edit Didnt read thoroughly but think you have to buy their warranty plus been reading forums of problems after this work,I am leaving it be.

[Riggie]

Put in your preferred location and the local ZF authorised centre will be shown. I had mine done in Exeter at a cost of 320 quid. All genuine ZF parts and fluid.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/aftermarket-portal/s...

[Crusoe]

Mine is getting on for 150k, working fine so why touch it IMO

[helix402]

Browter said:

I asked my local BMW dealer that exact question and they said yes, it would invalidate the warranty

Only if they knew!

[Mr Whippy]

helix402 said:

Browter said:

I asked my local BMW dealer that exact question and they said yes, it would invalidate the warranty

Only if they knew!

I’m pretty sure it doesn’t say it voids the warranty anywhere so more usual BMW service people making up any old story or making up their own rules in the absence of knowing anything… even their own T&Cs.

I can only assume those having issues after servicing didn’t do it to spec on parts, or had a muppet doing the work.

[pingu393]

ucb said:

Think I'll just take it to Nottingham ZF services when I'm passing one day....

I tried that.

They only deal with trade, but they will put you in contact with one of their traders - by subtly dropping a card out of their wallet - not allowed to recommend .

You need to make sure that you get the correct oil. The ZF Lifeguard number sometimes relates to the gearbox number, but not always. ZF in Nottingham should be able to tell you the correct Lifeguard oil if you can provide the gearbox number.

[_Hoppers]

Mr Whippy said:

_Hoppers said:

Autohaus Diagnostics in York seem to have a good reputation? One thing the service dept told me is that they have had customers with gearbox problems following an oil change, which is putting me off a little!

Very reasonably priced and suitably professional.

I've heard good things about them from several people, they can't be any worse from the guys who work at the BMW dealer?! When mine went in for the EGR recall they left wires etc unclipped and forgot to plug the MAF sensor back in! They suggested I'd unplugged it, 'cause that's what I generally do after it's been for a service, fkers!!

[_Hoppers]

Riggie said:

Put in your preferred location and the local ZF authorised centre will be shown. I had mine done in Exeter at a cost of 320 quid. All genuine ZF parts and fluid.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/aftermarket-portal/s...

We've discussed this earlier in the thread

[stewilko]

When BMW say 'Sealed for Life', they really mean, 'Sealed For Life of our warranty'.

I changed the gearbox oil on my 335d and later my x35d, both ZF autos. Both responded well. There's a procedure you need to go though when filling back up, and as the whole sump of the gearbox is replaced some careful use of a torque wrench (it has the filter built in) . I also reset the gearbox adaptions using a hooky INPA install - the boxes adjust pressures as the oil ages so need to be reset. I think this is why people sometime have problems when the oil is changed.

A poster said you don't get all the old oil out of the torque converter, they are right, but the bulk of it does change and it made a difference to both my cars (the 335d in particular had an abrupt shift in sports mode, the oil change + reset completely fixed it).

The official ZF service kit for the x35d cost £210 (on offer), with fluid, sump and instructions.