e36 328i - Gearbox repairer needed

e36 328i - Gearbox repairer needed

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BGarside

Original Poster:

1,564 posts

136 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Bought the car last June, with a knackered 2nd gear synchro. Had the gearbox replaced with a secondhand unit but the secondhand gearbox has a very noisy first gear, so now I need either to get the original gearbox repaired or else source yet another secondhand gearbox and hope it's better than the current one.

Rather than take pot luck on another secondhand 'box, which might also be f*cked, I'd rather get the original gearbox repaired, seeing as it'd covered only 33k miles.

My local Indy can't find a local place (SW England) which is prepared to repair a BMW gearbox, however.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a suitable repairer elsewhere in the country?

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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You don't seem to be having much luck with your car!

To be honest, I would try another indy. Whereabouts are you? I use CPC in Amersham. Or BM Sport in Bexley.

Someone similar should be able to sort it out.

fushion julz

614 posts

172 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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http://www.gearboxman.co.uk/index.html

or try MJF Engineering, Beare Green, Dorking

If you are in Somerset you could try http://www.fritzsbits.co.uk/shop/ for a decent s/h 'box

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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IME gearboxes don't suffer from mileage issues too much at all, but rather the abuse they have endured and maintenance being skipped in some cases.

CTS/Gearboxman is highly spoken of in the Ford circles.

Tommo Two

217 posts

144 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Repairing a E36 gearbox? It must be more cost effective to replace, with a known working one?


SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Tommo Two said:
Repairing a E36 gearbox? It must be more cost effective to replace, with a known working one?
I'd agree. You could possibly get a rotten E36 with a working 'box for an effective price, and that way "try before you buy" smile.

That and IME alot of traders will make the mileage up to get a sale on spares.

BGarside

Original Poster:

1,564 posts

136 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Thanks for the contacts guys. I can't believe it's not possible to find someone to fix a synchromesh so maybe gearboxman will be able to help.

The car has been a nightmare, already has had a secondhand engine because of the nikasil issue, now the paint on the resprayed front wing is bubbling so that's going to need repainting.#

Should have kept my old 325.....

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Your car has sounded like a nightmare. I am starting to chuck some cash at mine too to be honest.

Do you want to keep it standard?

BGarside

Original Poster:

1,564 posts

136 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Sure is! £3.5k spent since June and still needs a gearbox and wing respray. What's worse is I paid good money for the car on the basis of it being a low mileage car in good condition. What's EVEN worse is I got rid of a very sorted 325 coupe to make way for it....

I've made some low key mods - disabled exhaust valve, de-snorkelled airbox, eccentric front bushes, M50 manifold and bored out throttle bodies, aluminium thermostat housing with new stat and water pump, remapped ECU. Nothing cosmetic though and still on 15" Style 13s, which I love...

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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BGarside said:
Sure is! £3.5k spent since June and still needs a gearbox and wing respray. What's worse is I paid good money for the car on the basis of it being a low mileage car in good condition. What's EVEN worse is I got rid of a very sorted 325 coupe to make way for it....

I've made some low key mods - disabled exhaust valve, de-snorkelled airbox, eccentric front bushes, M50 manifold and bored out throttle bodies, aluminium thermostat housing with new stat and water pump, remapped ECU. Nothing cosmetic though and still on 15" Style 13s, which I love...
I went "backward" and got rid of my 16" and put 15" wheels on it and it is much better.

Hang onto it - sounds like you have put some good money into it. I am thinking LSD and shorter ratios as well as full suspension overhaul including Bilstein B12 kit, E30 arms etc.

Also considering a Z4 rack and PAS delete.

BGarside

Original Poster:

1,564 posts

136 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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I guess it depends what you use it for. Plenty of well proven mods for the E36.

Mine mostly gets used on motorway trips so I'm happy with the standard M Sport suspension but the tyres I bought feel a bit mushy in 60 profile and don't give much feel in corners. Lots of tyres seem to have soft sidewalls for the silly-big wheels and rubber band tyre profiles fitted to moderns and are not designed for these older cars. I might try some 16" Style 30s at some point but you suggest 15s are better?

Gearing is great for motorway cruising but it takes a while to get through the intermediates. I guess a 325 diff. would make for snappier acceleration.

I find the 328 feels more like a refined cruiser after my 325. I tend to drive it in a more relaxed way and just surf the torque. I think maybe the M50 Mani. Conversion is wasted on me....

SebringMan

1,773 posts

185 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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SidewaysSi said:
I went "backward" and got rid of my 16" and put 15" wheels on it and it is much better.

Hang onto it - sounds like you have put some good money into it. I am thinking LSD and shorter ratios as well as full suspension overhaul including Bilstein B12 kit, E30 arms etc.

Also considering a Z4 rack and PAS delete.
My 323i improved a lot with 15s on it. It's a shame it didn't look as good but you can't always have it all.

iSore

4,011 posts

143 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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GearChange down in Somerset are very good I hear, near Bridgewater.

But I cannot believe you can't find a good used 'box. They used that ZF in every 328i and 528i between 1995 and about 2000, and then in the 530i and 330i.

BGarside

Original Poster:

1,564 posts

136 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Is the same 'box used in the E39 and E46 then? If so that opens up more options.

Most E36s are getting pretty leggy now so the secondhand parts are often worn out...

eztiger328

198 posts

109 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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SebringMan said:
My 323i improved a lot with 15s on it. It's a shame it didn't look as good but you can't always have it all.
The ride is so much better on 15"s, though 16"s feel quite nice aswell.

During winter I run my 328 on the multispoke style 17 15"s I kept from my 93 320 coupe (RIP). When spring rolls around I actually feel a bit sad knowing the 17" BBS RC's will be going back on lol.

As for gearboxes I think a replacement from somewhere like Quarry motors or Cotswold motor group would be more cost effective.



BGarside

Original Poster:

1,564 posts

136 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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The replacement engine came from Quarry and so far, so good.

The current damaged gearbox came from Fritz's for a far from bargain price of £220 so I suspect I'll try a different breaker for my next gearbox, but it's all hit and miss really.

Quote from gearboxman for a repairs came in around £500 so might have to try another secondhand 'box. If I can use one from an E46 328\330 or an E39 528/530 that would open up more options. Are they really the same part?