E39 5 series with "gearbox fault" - is it worth it?

[eltax91]

Hi guys

I have a colleague (based in Rugby) who has an e39 525 diesel auto on 200k+ miles. The auto Gearbox decided to leak all it's fluids and it's been driven an unknown number of miles with low fluid. It's still actually moving, but he has gone out and replaced it with a 7 series. The 5'er is MOT'd and taxed until June ish

So, I'm not a mechanic or anything, but I have done servicing/ brakes/ suspension work in the past. He has said I can have it for £300 if I want it (local scrappy offering £200 without alloys and cat, which he'd remove and weigh in separate). So, I wonder if I can turn a few quid on it by getting a second hand 'box and sticking it in. Two questions come to mind:-

• How cheap is a second hand 'box
• Am I going to be able to change it, alone, on my garage floor, or am I mad to consider it

Someone tell me to stop being stupid for the sake of a few hundred quid.

[RivieraBlue]

Not worth the hassle

[simon1987]

its at least a 10 year old beemer, its worthless. Avoid.

[HustleRussell]

stop being stupid for the sake of a few hundred quid.

[Dracoro]

Can you replace the fluids in the gearbox and just see if it runs OK? Or has it leaked due to broken seals.

I wouldn't pay anything more than scrap for it though

[hman]

does it need zf longlife auto oil? that can be quite expensive.

For instance a new sump pan and electrical connector socket + oil change cots me around £400 on an e60 zf auto box.

[simon1987]

hman said:

does it need zf longlife auto oil? that can be quite expensive.

For instance a new sump pan and electrical connector socket + oil change cots me around £400 on an e60 zf auto box.

where was that? Main dealer?

[Manicminer]

If you've got space and time I'd have thought you could sell all the useful bits and easily get more than your £300 back. Might be worth a punt and if the gearbox isn't a cheap fix just tear it apart and scrap the leftovers.

All dependant on condition though, no good if the interior is wrecked and all the panels are scratched and dented.

[hman]

simon1987 said:

hman said:

does it need zf longlife auto oil? that can be quite expensive.

For instance a new sump pan and electrical connector socket + oil change cots me around £400 on an e60 zf auto box.

where was that? Main dealer?

no.

Why - can you do it for £2.50?

[HustleRussell]

in fairness hman, there is quite a bit of a sophistication gap between the 5-series models... Shirley an E39 autobox would just be a filter replace/ATF re-fill job?

[RivieraBlue]

HustleRussell said:

in fairness hman, there is quite a bit of a sophistication gap between the 5-series models... Shirley an E39 autobox would just be a filter replace/ATF re-fill job?

I think it's more of a question if how the oil left the box rather than getting it back in.

[hman]

might be the same depending on year.


http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.p...

[hman]

simon1987 said:

hman said:

does it need zf longlife auto oil? that can be quite expensive.

For instance a new sump pan and electrical connector socket + oil change cots me around £400 on an e60 zf auto box.

where was that? Main dealer?

for clarity thats the whole job including labour,

[excel monkey]

eltax91 said:

an e39 525 diesel auto on 200k+ miles

At that mileage, how much would a car like this sell for, without a borked autobox?

Struggling to see how you'd make much profit on this one, even if you can source a replacement box cheaply.

It's commendable that you want to save a car from the crusher, but at this mileage, the car sounds like it has reached the end of its useful life and is ready to be turned into Chinese girders.

[martin mrt]

Thats worth more than £300 ON eBay, even as it sits

Id buy it, investigate why the fluid has leaked out, and if you feel its not worth repairing, eBay it, you will make a profit on that

[MarkP1973]

do it, otherwise you'll never know.

[eltax91]

To answer the question on how the oil got out, some form of leak in the engine bay. Assuming a pipe to some sort of cooler? The symptoms were a shed load of smoke after the fluid hit the exhaust manifold. It was initially treated as a fuel leak by the specialist, hence it was driven for a short period with very little oil.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Dracoro said:

Can you replace the fluids in the gearbox and just see if it runs OK?

PH myth number 732 - replacing auto transmission fluid will cheaply and miraculously repair your knackered gearbox.

It won't.

[s p a c e m a n]

IIRC There is just an atf bottle in the engine bay with a rubber hose leading from it, if that has split and thrown the fluid everywhere just replace it, fill the box up and out it on ebay?

eta first google hit is a fail http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...

Edited by s p a c e m a n on Thursday 14th February 20:46

[wiliferus]

Without being too personal, I think it hinges on how much £300 is to you? If its quite a bit of money, and fixing the car with another few hundred is a bit tight then leave it alone.

If £300 is pocket change and you fancy a bit of fun, it's probably worth a punt. Like other have said, if all fails you could probably break it for spares and come out quids in.