XSeries-forum

I understand the nice idea of a mates rates option on gearbox repairs, but there are loads of clued up experienced engineers out there that have the knowledge and years of experience on these commonly used gearboxes.
Go to a dedicated Auto Gearbox specialist, go into their workshops and see exactly what day to day work they are doing. Stay away from the Indies that play with the odd box or two, and guess what the problem is with your wallet as a learning budget.
I'm an Engineer myself and have 30 odd years experience , I took mine to  a dedicated Auto box specialist for service.

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Lots of great replies gents - thank you.

I've driven 1600 miles since doing the towing damage at the start of this posting, and NOTHING has gotten any worse since...
What I was wondering, re the whining coming from the box, turns out that it is road speed related NOT RPM...
I was wondering if the loading on the box may have "moved" the transfer box a wee tad that's bolted on the side of the main box.... done this with a Discovery many years ago, loosened and rebolted... and the whine went away instantly...
I was pondering if the layout was similar and the gear teeth between the two boxes are a tiny bit miss-aligned since the towing strains...

Just a thought, but not been underneath to look closely yet.... but if I can get away with having the mechatronic unit rebuilt with new piston/spring bits, then it will be an easy fix.....  me hopes lol

**** an idea ****
Additionally, As a very experienced engineer - Oil / Avionics / Jet Engines / UAV's / Anti Submarine Warfare..., I was wondering at the viability of acquiring a few boxes, stripping them... with the idea of getting the necessary service tools & ponder the idea of a paying hobby rebuilding these boxes..... at sensible rates, that buy a few beers + parts,
as opposed to screwing the daylights out of the customers ???

Any ideas on this little gem ? [/quote]


Only one comment really - unless you're prepared to offer a warranty or guarantee for your work it would have to be very cheap to tempt a customer?

That's a very generous offer

Auto box failure quite simply a bill too far for many and as some earliest cars dip well below £5k I suspect an auto failure may mean end of ownership and/or a vehicles life for many

Despite the kind offs there are some issues to consider .......

1. It's not unheard of to hear of failed repairs albeit reports aren't common. My concern is similar to above in that if so called experts can have issues then the skills and tools needed to be learned may be significant.

2. Even with kindness and good will to decent folk it will cost to source tools and a few damaged boxes to play with. It may be worth sourcing boxes destined for the scrap if not exchanged though.

3. Technical and repair manuals : I seem to recall seeing some references online in past but not on this site. Main dealers tend to swap out box for box.

4. On E53 there are 3 different boxes a GM one and two ZF units.

If I was retired &/or had some spare time and skills plus spare cash to source what was required I would happily assist. I regret I do not have an engineering background or any experience overhauling auto boxes. I also work dire hours and genuinely can't justify contributing to the cost for the kit needed.

If I still have mine when cash and time are plentiful then subject to location I can be counted in as the runner and tea boy.

Regardless of any fruition it is great to see such a kindly thought idea.

As an example i have had my box apart 4 times now...
And to me that is 3 times too many!!!

There are some fundamental floors in the GM box which a lot of research has uncovered and i have hopefully addressed in mine...
Manuals are available on line if you look for them, and i have posted a link to the GM box previously.

It is OK just replacing bits, but you need certain test kit to pin point the exact failure and thence the correct course of action.
Tooling can be an issue but not insurmountable, but to make life easier you need the right tools.

then there are separate tools per box design and having to keep up to date with technology.........

Then there is the warranty and insurance side.. You will need to be covered to a great extent now in this litigation semi usa nation state we are now in.....

This thought has been expressed by others here and i don't think anything has come of it mainly due to the way things are nowadays..  People will always want to lay the blame on any small thing even if it is not coupled with the original fault

I may have started my bit off on a negative..
I have enjoyed (strangely) working on the box even though I would have preferred not to have had to in the first place.  I like to know things and to dabble.  What it actually proved to me is that they are not that bad to work on but you do need to know what you are looking for to save an awful lot of time, energy and money..

Forget £50 per hour - east of you we pay nearer £120. I read a report of a Bmw main dealer in London charging £215

[quote="AW8"]
Forget £50 per hour - east of you we pay nearer £120. I read a report of a Bmw main dealer in London charging £215
[/quote]

Here..  Stop trying to get his prices up....


lol

Seriously though If you have everything covered then go for it.
All my bit was just personal experience, of which i have had more than my fair share..
A lesser person would have asset stripped my X5 a long time ago....