My RS6's gearbox has given up the ghost

My RS6's gearbox has given up the ghost

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Discussion

hman

7,487 posts

200 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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Don't zf have a workshop in the Midlands somewhere ?

briang9

3,481 posts

166 months

hman

7,487 posts

200 months

windy1

395 posts

257 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Is this the corrosion in the control unit fault Audis seem to suffer from which is fixable for a few hundred quid?

Edited by windy1 on Wednesday 24th December 09:04

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

204 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
windy1 said:
Is this the corrosion in the control unit fault Audis seem to suffer from which is fixable for a few hunderd quid?
Isn't it down to the fact that the rating of the gearbox was only just adequate for the cars output - and given in cold weather car produces more power than standard its above the tolerance thus over many miles and year and years it wears the box prematurely.
Also you have to assume some cars produce more power than the official numbers (non modified) so again running/sailing far to close to the wind pushing it to and beyond the max = not a great partnership.


Or have I got this wrong?

CheesyFootballs

14,900 posts

195 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
hman said:
Funnily enough, about next-door-but three from Nottingham Audi....

maxitone

Original Poster:

4 posts

118 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Ecurie Ecosse said:
It's touch and go. Some mapped cars are still on their original gearboxes. Some standard cars have had their gearboxes replaced.

I would recommend Unit 20 again. For this job, you need to have someone who knows what they are doing dismantling your car and putting it back together again. Great job on the box too.
Called unit 20 and will probably go with them and trust their judgment. Looks like a long list of 'while we've got the engine out' items may creep on too smile
Fingers crossed that I can convince the SO that throwing more £s at it is the way to go wink

Ray Luxury-Yacht

8,914 posts

222 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
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MattYorke said:
Yup. 5HP24A to be precise.

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Is it a ZF 5HP unit, by any chance?
I thought it might be smile

Here's my experience with a ZF 5HP gearbox, for what it's worth.

I had a 2001 Porsche 996 model 911 for four years. It also had the ZF 5HP unit.

The car came to me at 40,000 miles with an extensive history to back that up. Without going into a monstrous story explaining all the problems and failures I experienced with my 5HP - suffice it to say that the unit was removed and replaced into my car on five separate occasions, due to ongoing problems.

Two of those occasions involved a 'complete rebuild' at two different 'gearbox specialists' - one of whom was responsible for looking after the gearboxes for all the PalmerSport track day 996's at Bedford. So he came highly recommended, and with a good provenance. And to be fair to him, I think he did all he could each time, and certainly the box was always perfect every time I collected the car after yet another huge bill.

Despite all my expense and efforts, over my four year tenure this gearbox was the most uselessly unreliable unit one could ever imagine! It helped to really spoil my ownership of the car, and in fact forced the sale of the vehicle when, yet again, the gearbox started to play up.

Looking back, instead of spending all that time and effort on the constant rebuilding of the unit - I would have been quids in if when, on the first time it broke, I had just bought another brand-new replacement from ZF. I spent many multiples of the cost of a new unit chasing reliability.

On many occasions when I took my car in for repair, there were a selection of other Porsches and Audi's in his workshop, all with this gearbox, all broken.

The simple fact of the matter is that you only have to look to the evolution of the Porsche Tiptronic models - the ZF unit was fitted for the early years of production - which soon switched over to the use of the Mercedes Tiptronic box. I don't think that was a co-incidence...

Looking at the cars that were regularly breaking down with 5HP units, and looking at a lot of evidence on the internet - my conclusion is that this gearbox is a complete lemon, and basically not fit for purpose.


If I was you - I would think about either a quick repair and selling the car on, or biting the bullet and going for a brand-new replacement from ZF with a warranty. Otherwise.....I think you might be majorly disappoint in another six months or so?!

Hope this helps...




CGJJ

857 posts

130 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
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You have done the right thing going to Unit 20.

It will not be cheap but you will not find people more experienced in this particular car who will also
give you old fashioned personal service and treat your car like it is their own.

Take their advice and do what needs doing and look forward to years of trouble free RS6 ownership when you get the car back.

SuperHangOn

3,486 posts

159 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
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Stephens engineering in Stevenage are worth a call too. They rebuilt the 5hp in my bmw.

k-ink

9,070 posts

185 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
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The fact that businesses have grown up around fixing these things tells you enough. Personally I'd simply avoid. Failing that, fix it and move on. There are alternative more reliable cars to be had out there. But then I find spending vast sums on mechanics to be rather tedious.

briang9

3,481 posts

166 months

Thursday 25th December 2014
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Any idea who supplies Unit20 with the boxes?


MattYorke

3,879 posts

259 months

Thursday 25th December 2014
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See my post on rs246.
Fairly sure it's http://www.transcentre.co.uk/
Fwiw they have exchange units in stock ready to go - I just bought one.
1850+delivery+vat for box and tc. And then an epic no. of hours to remove and refit.