Lumpy Gearbox - Valve Body
Discussion
Hi,
I have a 330D with the N57 (245) engine. Recently the auto box has been quite lumpy between gear changes and is sometimes iffy pulling away at junctions, dropping down a gear randomly.
I've had the fluid and filters etc all changed which did help, and also adaptations reset, but it's still there and it's very frustrating!
I have called a gearbox specialist who suggested the valve body.
Once these start to play up, how quickly do they go wrong? It won't be the end of the world if it's just lumpy but it's the thought of it imploding on me and having a 2k bill.
Also, does anyone know how much a reconditioned box is? I have looked at used but I'd prefer to have a warranty. Just want to be prepared for the worst!
Thanks for any help.
I have a 330D with the N57 (245) engine. Recently the auto box has been quite lumpy between gear changes and is sometimes iffy pulling away at junctions, dropping down a gear randomly.
I've had the fluid and filters etc all changed which did help, and also adaptations reset, but it's still there and it's very frustrating!
I have called a gearbox specialist who suggested the valve body.
Once these start to play up, how quickly do they go wrong? It won't be the end of the world if it's just lumpy but it's the thought of it imploding on me and having a 2k bill.
Also, does anyone know how much a reconditioned box is? I have looked at used but I'd prefer to have a warranty. Just want to be prepared for the worst!
Thanks for any help.
Depends what's wrong with the valve body really - if it's a solenoid on its way out, being an electromechanical device it could just go pop.
On my Mercedes the control valve sleeves have worn, which means that the fluid is seeping past the pistons, reducing control and causing sluggish/jerky shifting. It still works fine, and will carry on for many miles yet until I change it, or until it mis-shifts badly enough to damage something.
On my Mercedes the control valve sleeves have worn, which means that the fluid is seeping past the pistons, reducing control and causing sluggish/jerky shifting. It still works fine, and will carry on for many miles yet until I change it, or until it mis-shifts badly enough to damage something.
Is it a ZF transmission? There are firms who specialise in rebuilt valve bodies and/or will sell a replacement set of solenoids. If Glasgow isn't too far away then I suggest you talk to Mackie Transmissions there, they know their gearboxes - not just ZF either, you'll be in safe hands there.
Krikkit said:
Depends what's wrong with the valve body really - if it's a solenoid on its way out, being an electromechanical device it could just go pop.
On my Mercedes the control valve sleeves have worn, which means that the fluid is seeping past the pistons, reducing control and causing sluggish/jerky shifting. It still works fine, and will carry on for many miles yet until I change it, or until it mis-shifts badly enough to damage something.
Thanks for the reply! Is there any way of diagnosing issues without removing the gearbox and looking?On my Mercedes the control valve sleeves have worn, which means that the fluid is seeping past the pistons, reducing control and causing sluggish/jerky shifting. It still works fine, and will carry on for many miles yet until I change it, or until it mis-shifts badly enough to damage something.
I'm hoping mine is just like yours. I'm pretty sure it's been like this since I got it 8k miles ago but I never thought anything of it at the time. It's never knocking / banging into gear, just a bit lumpy which isn't what I expected from this car!
8bit said:
Is it a ZF transmission? There are firms who specialise in rebuilt valve bodies and/or will sell a replacement set of solenoids. If Glasgow isn't too far away then I suggest you talk to Mackie Transmissions there, they know their gearboxes - not just ZF either, you'll be in safe hands there.
Yes it is a ZF transmission, unfortunately I'm the complete other end of the country! 
I have the 6 speed ZF in my S-Type R.
I was getting weird 'flaring' where the revs would rise but the speed wouldn't, and getting gearbox errors when trying to kick down.
I bought a Sonnax zip kit (valve body seals) and a set of the solenoids and took it to Fareham Gearbox. I think it was ~£400 labour on top of the solenoids and sonnax, but the solution seems to have worked.
Did I need the solenoids? Hard to say, but worth changing while everything is in bits.
I was getting weird 'flaring' where the revs would rise but the speed wouldn't, and getting gearbox errors when trying to kick down.
I bought a Sonnax zip kit (valve body seals) and a set of the solenoids and took it to Fareham Gearbox. I think it was ~£400 labour on top of the solenoids and sonnax, but the solution seems to have worked.
Did I need the solenoids? Hard to say, but worth changing while everything is in bits.
amoeba said:
I have the 6 speed ZF in my S-Type R.
I was getting weird 'flaring' where the revs would rise but the speed wouldn't, and getting gearbox errors when trying to kick down.
I bought a Sonnax zip kit (valve body seals) and a set of the solenoids and took it to Fareham Gearbox. I think it was ~£400 labour on top of the solenoids and sonnax, but the solution seems to have worked.
Did I need the solenoids? Hard to say, but worth changing while everything is in bits.
That's interesting, thanks for letting me know! I'm a bit scared to spend money just incase it fixes the issue - it's a tough one to call as I've had disasters with cars in the past!I was getting weird 'flaring' where the revs would rise but the speed wouldn't, and getting gearbox errors when trying to kick down.
I bought a Sonnax zip kit (valve body seals) and a set of the solenoids and took it to Fareham Gearbox. I think it was ~£400 labour on top of the solenoids and sonnax, but the solution seems to have worked.
Did I need the solenoids? Hard to say, but worth changing while everything is in bits.
You'd have thought the ZF factory would do a valve body exchange program (I dont believe they do, unfortunately).
Interesting site: http://www.bmwlogicseven.com/?p=3738
Interesting site: http://www.bmwlogicseven.com/?p=3738
geg1992 said:
Yes it is a ZF transmission, unfortunately I'm the complete other end of the country!
OK well you have some suggestions from other folks as to where else to try to get it sorted. You don't need to drop the whole gearbox to get at the valve body, just drain the fluid and remove the bottom sump pan (which is how you'd service the box anyway as the filter for the transmission fluid is integrated into the pan, on most ZF units. Once the sump pan is off the valve body can be removed.Just re-read your initial post, was going to suggest having the TCU adaptions reset and/or having the TCU software reflashed, or upgraded if there is a newer version available. If the primary concern is odd behaviour when shifting then it's more likely to be either a control issue with the electronics or the valves than with the internals of the actual gearbox itself. If it was me then I'd probably do as described above and get the Sonax kit and have that changed next.
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