All prepped for a run to Dortmund.

[Raj]

Well I've just spent the weekend prepping the beast for a run to ZF tomorrow evening.

Full oil change with new level sensor and 8 spark plugs changed to boot.

The spark plugs were an absolute pita to do. I mean there isn't much space as it is but when you factor in the LPG components it's near impossible to get any clearance for the back 2 on the nearside. Tool 3 hours just to change the plugs lol and with a lot of scrapped arms etc. BUT all done and she's purring nicely.

Also have her a good proper clean with the lovely day yesterday. Waxed with Collinite and exhaust tips cleaned up too.

The reason for heading to ZF themselves, is that the electrical connector running into the back of the box is leaking so I'm having to now go down the full service road for the oil etc. With all the usual uncertainty of changing the fluid now is hit 120k miles I've now got no choice. It's only worked out about £120 more expensive than getting it done here an they replace the lower pan, bolts etc too instead of just the gaskets.

[Sanj]

Plus it's being done by the guys that made the box!

Best of luck and have a safe trip (you know I would have come along).

[Raj]

[quote="Sanj"]
Plus it's being done by the guys that made the box!

Best of luck and have a safe trip (you know I would have come along).
[/quote]

Yeah I know bro. It's cool.

[james8whippy]

Good luck mate!

You know its only a couple of hours away from The Ring and its just reopened recently..... Would be rude not to take it  round there right? On the way back once it's fixed of course!

[Denis O]

Nice one Raj. I hope you've got clean shoes and a whistle to go into their workshops. You might even have to "scrub up" before you're allowed in.

One of these days I'll take mine over there. I'm sure it'll be a great experience.

Kallo Taxidi.

[Raj]

Well back safe and sound and feels a lot better for it.

Started off at 7:30pm Tuesday to get down to my frineds house to pick him up (the guy with the GTR from the Cosford meet) and then a nice gentle cruise down to Dover. Got to Dover for about 12:30am so had to just sit in a small queue of cars for about 50 minutes before boarding started.

The Ferry was only a 2 hour crossing to Dunkirk so we were off and heading on our way by 5:15 am (with the one hour time difference).

First stop in France to fill up with LPG (which was super cheap at approx 53p/litre) and then it was off for the 5 hour trek to Dortmund. With hitting traffic on a couple of occasions we had to put the pedal down too and we got to ZF for 10:55am ready for our 11am booking.

The guys at ZF are superb and very friendly and knowledgable. Herr Sagert explained everything and even did my transfer box oil change free of charge too as I bought the oil with me...lol.

So I had the gearbox, transfer case and rear diff oils changed so all nice and fresh again.

They did let us into the workshop but said we weren't allowed to take any pics fo anything other than my own components, etc. Understandable and will post up the pics later on. They were quite impressed with the beast and liked the brakes lol.

They showed us the degredation of the gearbox oil and the oil pan and the sludge that had built up over the magnets, etc and stated that it was a good job I was finally getting it done.

We had a couple of hours to kill so a small walk to the Porsche dealership and Maccy's for a bite seemed like the best use of the time.

On return to ZF, we were taken out for a test drive and gear changes were noticeably smoother. The total time at ZF was about 4 hours.

All paid up and we started the journey back. We took a detour through Antwerp to avoid some major delays on our initial planned route and tbh glad we did. We hit the E34 which is seriously smooth and quite straight so we had a great chance to really open the V8 up and stretch her legs.

Back to Dunkirk for the return ferry journey and an end to a great anf quite funny day.

Reason I say that, is when we finally got back to Dover, the worst fog I have ever driven in had descended over the whole of the bloody UK. Visibility was down to literally only a few metres so it meant driving up the M2, M25 and M1 all at silly 30mph speeds and eyes wide open with no blinking to see where the road lines were going lol.

Once I dropped my mate off I got started ont he final part of my journey. Again crazy fog and now driving alone meant it drained me totally. Hadn't felt too bad up to this point.

Pulled up at homoe finally at 4am Thursday.

Total time was 32.5 hours and covered 1000miles and what a great time (even with no sleep for 46 hours...lol) BUT I'd definitely do it again.

I'll get some pics up for sure.

[X5Sport]

Glad it was a useful and successful trip.  And I absolutely hate driving in dense fog in daylight!  As you say it is absolutely draining as you cannot drop your attention for even a moment. :blink:

Richard

[Smeeagain]

[quote="Raj"]
Well back safe and sound and feels a lot better for it.

Started off at 7:30pm Tuesday to get down to my frineds house to pick him up (the guy with the GTR from the Cosford meet) and then a nice gentle cruise down to Dover. Got to Dover for about 12:30am so had to just sit in a small queue of cars for about 50 minutes before boarding started.

The Ferry was only a 2 hour crossing to Dunkirk so we were off and heading on our way by 5:15 am (with the one hour time difference).

First stop in France to fill up with LPG (which was super cheap at approx 53p/litre) and then it was off for the 5 hour trek to Dortmund. With hitting traffic on a couple of occasions we had to put the pedal down too and we got to ZF for 10:55am ready for our 11am booking.

The guys at ZF are superb and very friendly and knowledgable. Herr Sagert explained everything and even did my transfer box oil change free of charge too as I bought the oil with me...lol.

So I had the gearbox, transfer case and rear diff oils changed so all nice and fresh again.

They did let us into the workshop but said we weren't allowed to take any pics fo anything other than my own components, etc. Understandable and will post up the pics later on. They were quite impressed with the beast and liked the brakes lol.

They showed us the degredation of the gearbox oil and the oil pan and the sludge that had built up over the magnets, etc and stated that it was a good job I was finally getting it done.

We had a couple of hours to kill so a small walk to the Porsche dealership and Maccy's for a bite seemed like the best use of the time.

On return to ZF, we were taken out for a test drive and gear changes were noticeably smoother. The total time at ZF was about 4 hours.

All paid up and we started the journey back. We took a detour through Antwerp to avoid some major delays on our initial planned route and tbh glad we did. We hit the E34 which is seriously smooth and quite straight so we had a great chance to really open the V8 up and stretch her legs.

Back to Dunkirk for the return ferry journey and an end to a great anf quite funny day.

Reason I say that, is when we finally got back to Dover, the worst fog I have ever driven in had descended over the whole of the bloody UK. Visibility was down to literally only a few metres so it meant driving up the M2, M25 and M1 all at silly 30mph speeds and eyes wide open with no blinking to see where the road lines were going lol.

Once I dropped my mate off I got started ont he final part of my journey. Again crazy fog and now driving alone meant it drained me totally. Hadn't felt too bad up to this point.

Pulled up at homoe finally at 4am Thursday.

Total time was 32.5 hours and covered 1000miles and what a great time (even with no sleep for 46 hours...lol) BUT I'd definitely do it again.

I'll get some pics up for sure.
[/quote]

What did they charge you?
Smee

[Sanj]

Less than his fuel bill!  )

[Raj]

[quote="Smeeagain"]

What did they charge you?
Smee
[/quote]

540euros (approx £445) for gearbox and rear diff full oil changes etc including oil and the change of the transfer box oil (but I supplied the oil itself).

I was quoted £450 just for gearbox oil change so I'm pleased with what they charged and the fact it was ZF themselves doing it was piece of mind.

[Raj]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Glad it was a useful and successful trip.  And I absolutely hate driving in dense fog in daylight!  As you say it is absolutely draining as you cannot drop your attention for even a moment. :blink:

Richard
[/quote]

Yeah fog isn't great. It really was the worst I've driven through.

[Raj]

[quote="Sanj"]
Less than his fuel bill!  )
[/quote]

Joker BUT LPG is wicked lol. Less than £200 on fuel for the whole trip and that included some quite rapid stretches.

[kkx5]

£450 for gearbox oil change and £200 for a trip, come on men....where is saving?  Just couse the guys are Zf guys? Waste off time and money for an easy £150 job...

[Reusch]

[quote="kkx5"]
£450 for gearbox oil change and £200 for a trip, come on men....where is saving?  Just couse the guys are Zf guys? Waste off time and money for an easy £150 job...
[/quote]


Are you just a wind up artist.

[Raj]

[quote="kkx5"]
£450 for gearbox oil change and £200 for a trip, come on men....where is saving?  Just couse the guys are Zf guys? Waste off time and money for an easy £150 job...
[/quote]

Well maybe where you are it is only £150 but here the oil alone is £250 plus all the gaskets etc needed. The. The labour charge too.

I'm a happy chappy so frankly doesn't matter what you think.