ZF gearbox service

[Spuffington]

On Saturday I'll be picking up a relatively leggy (well, leggy to me, anyway) 2011 F11 530d. Currently sitting on 76k miles and although it will benefit from a 2yr AUC warranty from purchase and has a full Sytner Service history from the same, supplying dealer, I'm conscious that it could do with an oil & filter change for the ZF autobox.

To this end - anyone have any recommendations of ZF mechanics / specialists in the N Essex, E Herts, S Cambs region?

Cheers!

[bimjim]

I've used Stephens Engineering twice for gearbox servicing.

As in your case, both were preventative rather than looking to fix something, but it was all pretty straightforward and I'd happily use them again.

[Spuffington]

Many thanks.

On the one hand I'm of the opinion the AUC warranty is in place and therefore I should just leave it alone (as per BMWs Stipulation "sealed for life") and let the warranty pick up any issues if they arise.

On the other hand, I have to be realistic and recognise I may have to run this car for a good long time before I can afford to replace it, therefore prevention is better than cure if I'm running it up to, say, 150k miles.

[sak83]

I think with long term ownership in mind I would get a gearbox service done for peace of mind. If you were only planning on keeping for 2-3 years then depending on your mileage i would most likely leave it.

[Spuffington]

sak83 said:

I think with long term ownership in mind I would get a gearbox service done for peace of mind. If you were only planning on keeping for 2-3 years then depending on your mileage i would most likely leave it.

Hmm - therein lies the issue.

I'm notoriously bad at hanging on to my cars. This one has to stick as I'm currently enduring something of a lifechanging event and focus has to be elsewhere (financially and psychologically). So this one could and should be a keeper.

Perhaps what I'm looking at is 2yrs under the AUC - renew once for a further year for what is likely to be a horrendous 1.6k warranty cost and then by then I'll be 3yrs down the track and I'll hopefully be in a better place financially to trade on. We'll see. Car by that point will be just shy of 100k miles or maybe a touch over.

Appreciate the response and recommendation though. Will consider the cost vs. length of ownership.

[trickywoo]

Dartford Transmissions aren't too far away. They did a good job on my 545i.

[dsgrnmcm]

I had a E46 328i auto and currently a B7 Avant with a ZF box. Both are listed a sealed for life (as in life dictated by AUDI/BMW and ZF) But ha both serviced. Audi can supply the Gearbox oil, gasket and filter but do not list is as a job, but "will" do it. I got a local garage to do it.

[chrisgeary]

If you undertake a gearbox service, will that void the AUC warranty, should something go wrong with the gearbox later on?

[Spuffington]

Roughly how much have you guys paid for the gearbox service? I hear the oil is pretty expensive on its own.

[sixspeed]

Spuffington said:

On Saturday I'll be picking up a relatively leggy (well, leggy to me, anyway) 2011 F11 530d. Currently sitting on 76k miles and although it will benefit from a 2yr AUC warranty from purchase and has a full Sytner Service history from the same, supplying dealer, I'm conscious that it could do with an oil & filter change for the ZF autobox.

To this end - anyone have any recommendations of ZF mechanics / specialists in the N Essex, E Herts, S Cambs region?

Cheers!

I took my ZF boxed RS6 to ZF in Germany. The service was half the price of any UK specialist, and I had the peace of mind it was being done by the manufacturer! With the money saved I got a weekend away thrown in and a stop-off at the 'Ring!

[trickywoo]

Spuffington said:

Roughly how much have you guys paid for the gearbox service? I hear the oil is pretty expensive on its own.

I paid £400 which included a genuine sump and they did a vacuum oil removal claimed to get out 99% of the oil.

[bigdom]

I believe the service was around £300, that includes a new sump. If you run over ZF Dortmund, they'll also service the valve body. In Germany, it's common place to service every 60-80k.

https://www.zf.com/corporate/en_de/aftermarket/spa...

[helix402]

chrisgeary said:

If you undertake a gearbox service, will that void the AUC warranty, should something go wrong with the gearbox later on?

No.

[Sardonicus]

ZF dont approve BMW's for life fill either just out of interest

[bimjim]

I paid £300 to service the 'box on my A6 three years ago, and £336 for the X5 last year.

[pointedstarman]

Hi Spuff,

Good to see you occasionally come over to the dark side.

There's a guy in Chelmsford (Anthony, Dukes Park Automotive) who does a pressurised gearbox flush for £299 but that doesn't include replacement of the pan that contains the filter. I spoke to him about this and he'll flush / replace filter but that costs a bit more due to extra labour costs.

The flush is a more effective cleaning of the gunk in the box and if it's as effective as the engine decontamination which is essentially the same process it's worth doing.

I'm getting my E93 done there in the next month or so.

(Zed)

[roofer]

sixspeed said:

I took my ZF boxed RS6 to ZF in Germany. The service was half the price of any UK specialist, and I had the peace of mind it was being done by the manufacturer! With the money saved I got a weekend away thrown in and a stop-off at the 'Ring!

This, they are the only ones who do it properly.

[greghm]

bigdom said:

I believe the service was around £300, that includes a new sump. If you run over ZF Dortmund, they'll also service the valve body. In Germany, it's common place to service every 60-80k.

https://www.zf.com/corporate/en_de/aftermarket/spa...

So how much would it be there approximately?

[trickywoo]

roofer said:

This, they are the only ones who do it properly.

Bit sweeping. There are a few UK ZF approved specialists who have all the kit and take pride in doing a good job.

Unless you are on the continent anyway I can't see a service in Germany being any cheaper when you put fuel and a Channel crossing into the equation.

[bigdom]

Ihttp://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/527361

I'm sure prices may have moved a bit.