ZF gearbox servicing West Midlands

[OGR4M]

After a fair bit of googling I’ve come up blank with regard to getting my gearbox serviced.

My 2011 XJ is at 112,000 miles, and it’s just starting to ‘lurch’ and thump through some gears - so it’s got to be time for some TLC.

Does anyone have any experience with Jag specialists in the West Mids/Staffordshire area? Or even an auto ‘box boffin who can take my money

All this being said, I presume that it’s not exactly a DIY job? It looks no harder than a few screws and some oil draining, but I don’t fancy coating my drive with a gallon of oil...

Thanks all!

[No ideas for a name]

OGR4M said:

After a fair bit of googling I’ve come up blank with regard to getting my gearbox serviced.

My 2011 XJ is at 112,000 miles, and it’s just starting to ‘lurch’ and thump through some gears - so it’s got to be time for some TLC.

Does anyone have any experience with Jag specialists in the West Mids/Staffordshire area? Or even an auto ‘box boffin who can take my money

All this being said, I presume that it’s not exactly a DIY job? It looks no harder than a few screws and some oil draining, but I don’t fancy coating my drive with a gallon of oil...

Thanks all!

I am lead to believe that it needs to be done a bit like a transfusion.... you pump new oil in whilst taking old oil out. It looked risky to me so I left my ZF6 alone.

[Russ Sims]

I'd personally recommend MGA Jaguar in Derby (East mods, not West mids, I know) but they're a well regarded specialist and I won't take my XKR anywhere else now.

https://www.mgajaguar.co.uk/

[OGR4M]

Russ Sims said:

I'd personally recommend MGA Jaguar in Derby (East mods, not West mids, I know) but they're a well regarded specialist and I won't take my XKR anywhere else now.

https://www.mgajaguar.co.uk/

Luckily enough I work in derby, so these guys may be worth a shout - they’re going to be my first call.

Much appreciated!

[fatboy b]

The service kit on an 8sp includes a filter - which is bolted to the bottom of the box. Unsure if the 6sp is the same. 112k is a bit late unless it’s the second one. 60k is the norm. But Swallows in Bristol did my XFR-S.

[Equus]

I thought that the conventional wisdom on this was that if you're going to change the transmission fluid, you should so so before the box starts showing symptoms of distress - that by the time it's acting up, it's already too late?

[OGR4M]

Equus said:

I thought that the conventional wisdom on this was that if you're going to change the transmission fluid, you should so so before the box starts showing symptoms of distress - that by the time it's acting up, it's already too late?

Interestingly, I’ve heard ‘if it ain’t broke...’

When it’s anything other than stone cold, it’s fine. Smooth shifts, no hesitation under power, and no noises that I can tell. But when selecting drive from cold, and the first mile or so, it’s not as smooth as it used to be

[fatboy b]

Equus said:

I thought that the conventional wisdom on this was that if you're going to change the transmission fluid, you should so so before the box starts showing symptoms of distress - that by the time it's acting up, it's already too late?

No it’s not HTH.

[Equus]

fatboy b said:

No it’s not HTH.

Do you base that on actual knowledge, or are you just trying to be a smartarse?

My understanding was that the ZF 8-speed was designed to be 'sealed for life, with the ECU adapting itself to the changing viscosity of the transmission fluid as it ages. Hence, by the time it shows any issues:
a) the gearbox is pretty much shagged, having gone beyond the ECU's range of tolerance to 'adapt out' the lumpy changes, and;
b) if you change the fluid at that point, the change in viscosity is too great for the ECU to reset itself to.

Quote:
"...The transmission has extensive adaption-algorithms, to keep shift quality in check over a full life time and even with heavily worn out clutches. The adaptions applied are very sensitive to abrupt changes [of fluid viscosity], as they operate in a narrow window."

[Equus]

OGR4M said:

Interestingly, I’ve heard ‘if it ain’t broke...’

Yep, supposedly (as above) either do regular fluid changes, so that the fluid viscosity never goes outside of that narrow window that the ECU can cope with, or don't change the fluid at all: treat the gearbox as sealed-for-life, and accept that when it's fked, it's fked... throw it away and get a new one.

[fatboy b]

Equus said:

fatboy b said:

No it’s not HTH.

Do you base that on actual knowledge, or are you just trying to be a smartarse?

My understanding was that the ZF 8-speed was designed to be 'sealed for life, with the ECU adapting itself to the changing viscosity of the transmission fluid as it ages. Hence, by the time it shows any issues:
a) the gearbox is pretty much shagged, having gone beyond the ECU's range of tolerance to 'adapt out' the lumpy changes, and;
b) if you change the fluid at that point, the change in viscosity is too great for the ECU to reset itself to.

Quote:
"...The transmission has extensive adaption-algorithms, to keep shift quality in check over a full life time and even with heavily worn out clutches. The adaptions applied are very sensitive to abrupt changes [of fluid viscosity], as they operate in a narrow window."

No need to be like that now is there?

It's common knowledge that the oil will need changing despite what the dealer says.

I base it on actual knowledge of the ZF8 in my XFR-S. They are 'sealed for life' as per car manufacturer or dealer. But what is 'life'?

I was starting to get harsh changes when cold. ZF recommend an oil & filter change at about 60K - which was where mine was. Mine is as sweet as a nut again. Agree that there are some failures that an oil change won't fix, but ZF do a service kit for the ZF8.

[OGR4M]

I didn’t want people to argue! I thought PH was a friendly, liberal forum where no one disagreed...

It’s come to my attention that I didn’t specify that my car is an older one, and runs the 6 speed ‘box. Not sure if that changes any of the recommendations, but I’m sure the advice is roughly the same in terms of ‘my fluid has overstayed its welcome’

I presume a lot of garages are closing for the lockdown, so I’ll ring up the Derby garage and see if they can help out, or whether I’ve got to wait until Boris says I can look after my car again

[judas]

OGR4M said:

I didn’t want people to argue! I thought PH was a friendly, liberal forum where no one disagreed...

It’s come to my attention that I didn’t specify that my car is an older one, and runs the 6 speed ‘box. Not sure if that changes any of the recommendations, but I’m sure the advice is roughly the same in terms of ‘my fluid has overstayed its welcome’

I presume a lot of garages are closing for the lockdown, so I’ll ring up the Derby garage and see if they can help out, or whether I’ve got to wait until Boris says I can look after my car again

They're staying open during the lockdown. My XJR is going to them tomorrow for an MOT, big service and to cost up some other major work. Been using them for several years and have nothing but good things to say about them