Auto Transmission Servicing - A good idea
Discussion
Hello all,
Just wanted to share a recent experience really, regarding sevicing a ZF automatic transmission common on most (all?) BMW's. My wife drives a 2005 model year 120d. I long suspected that the transmission coulnt survive without servicing, however wen I contacted BMW UK they stated it is a "sealed for life" unit and doesnt need any servicing, although they did mention sometimes, people have a service at about 100,000 miles. Well, my wifes car at the time was on 105,000 miles, having just had another oil change. I enquired with ZF, who promtly replied that the servicing should be carried out no later than 80,000 miles.
So, this weekend, I handed the car over to a trusted mechanic who did the job (plus another engine oil and filter change...mileage now around 113,000 miles). He didnt notice anything particularly off about what came out, other than it was well used oil. Upon driving the car home, the performance of the transmission is noticably improved - smoother gear changes, and more responsive with shifting down when asking for power.
The procedure itself is a little complicated, and potentially very messy - the temperature of the gearbox needs to be monitored during filling, else it is easy to get the level wrong and as a result the gearshifts are not pleasent.
All in, we paid £460 for the gearbox service and the engine oil service. If you opt to have the gearbox oil service done, it may cost more at a garage (pick a good independant, well trusted and with good experiance of doing the job).
All in all, I do highly recommend it.
Just wanted to share a recent experience really, regarding sevicing a ZF automatic transmission common on most (all?) BMW's. My wife drives a 2005 model year 120d. I long suspected that the transmission coulnt survive without servicing, however wen I contacted BMW UK they stated it is a "sealed for life" unit and doesnt need any servicing, although they did mention sometimes, people have a service at about 100,000 miles. Well, my wifes car at the time was on 105,000 miles, having just had another oil change. I enquired with ZF, who promtly replied that the servicing should be carried out no later than 80,000 miles.
So, this weekend, I handed the car over to a trusted mechanic who did the job (plus another engine oil and filter change...mileage now around 113,000 miles). He didnt notice anything particularly off about what came out, other than it was well used oil. Upon driving the car home, the performance of the transmission is noticably improved - smoother gear changes, and more responsive with shifting down when asking for power.
The procedure itself is a little complicated, and potentially very messy - the temperature of the gearbox needs to be monitored during filling, else it is easy to get the level wrong and as a result the gearshifts are not pleasent.
All in, we paid £460 for the gearbox service and the engine oil service. If you opt to have the gearbox oil service done, it may cost more at a garage (pick a good independant, well trusted and with good experiance of doing the job).
All in all, I do highly recommend it.
corozin said:
Co-incidentally I've just had this work done to my E46. BMW whitter on about the 'sealed for life' thing but gearbox specialists do advise to change the fluids and filters as the OP described. The same ZF boxes are also fitted to various Jaguars and they have the same issue.
But a note to owners here. There is a significant difference in the work required depending on whether your 'box is a 5-speed or 6-speed. The (later) 6 speed boxes are more complicated to flush and refresh, requiring additional filters etc whilst the older 5-speed is just one filter. The OP appears to have the 6-speed based on the bill. My (older) 5-speed was done locally for under £120 only last week.
Yes, it is the 6-speed transmission. There are several parts in the kit, including some parts for the mechatronics unit (I think its a new plug, or at the least a new seal for the plug that goes into the back of the transmission unit). The procedure is best left t someone with experience, as the unit needs to be partially filled, then the correct level set between the temperature of 30 and 50 deg.C. Contrast with a manual transmission, which is drain the fluid, then fill it back up until it starts to dribble out - no filters, no monitoring with a computer - piece o'piss. But a note to owners here. There is a significant difference in the work required depending on whether your 'box is a 5-speed or 6-speed. The (later) 6 speed boxes are more complicated to flush and refresh, requiring additional filters etc whilst the older 5-speed is just one filter. The OP appears to have the 6-speed based on the bill. My (older) 5-speed was done locally for under £120 only last week.
Whilst the cost is high, the cost of replacing a transmission or rebuilding a transmission is potentially high enough to warrant not bothering at all and scrapping the vehicle, especially older ones. I look at it along the same lines as having a clutch replacement (consider the price of a clutch + dual mass flywheel!). For something I might do only once, maybe twice during the ownership of a car, it's not a great expense.
Edited by thatdude on Thursday 2nd November 07:39
C0ffin D0dger said:
I'm thinking I should probably get mine done, 6 speed ZF mated to a 535D, just done 100k miles. Anyone care to recommend a specialist in the Worcestershire / Gloucestershire region?
You definitely should. I can't recommend anyone unfortunately since I'm in the south east. sjj84 said:
Who do you recommend in the south east?
The chap who did mine works for Brunswick Garage, near Arnos Grove on north london. He is quite highly trained and seems to like the more technical aspects of motor vehicle mechanics. As far as I know, they are all very competent technicians at that workshop.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff