E39 535i - Trans Failsafe Prog

[X5Sport]

I think you're right.  Sometimes the effort of looking for cheaper spares/second hand parts just becomes a spiral of ever diminishing returns.  Someone here had a go at rebuilding a box themselves - successfully I think.  There's a few on Xoutpost who have done it but you do need good technical abilities, a workshop, tools and above all time.

Just the feeling of having had it done by an expert and covered by a warranty makes the decision in the end.

[weirdfish]

[quote="Turks"]
The car is in great condition and as I said previous, it has practically every extra you could buy at the time. Absolutely fantastic car and I don't think i'll be letting my brother give up on it.

Really appreciate your feedback guys - I ranted on another thread about BMW Dealers before I saw your responses.

I am currently trying  to locate a reputable Autobox Specailist that isn't going to have my pants down. I'm guessing around £1k - £1.5k to have the box overhauled? Its the ZF5HP24 box on the 535i.

Shadrack - your valuation on a car you don't know the spec of or condition is a little out. I won't be spending anywhere near the vehicles value on the repair. Like I said, it is a great car and everything else about it is 100% so to spend on getting the Gearbox sorted is a good investment. I agree with PVR that its only a few months depreciation on a newer car and if you say that I have spent well over £1k in tyres alone (on my X5) in the last 2 years then its not that bad. I think you have to look at it in personal value and economical life rather than what Glass's guide says it is worth. You should know - otherwise you wouldn't be pouring cash into an E30 Cab.


I'll get on with hunting for a good Autobox Specialist now.


Turks.
[/quote]
I can give you a number of a guy who does it privately, he works for a well known gearbox specialists in Kent, so he knows his stuff, probably the other end of the country to you though.
Let me know if you want his number.

[X5Sport]

Mine was done by this lot on the A1, 35 miles north of London.  Good service, collected & returned car on a trailer.  When there was an issue they worked very hard to solve it.

[Turks]

Thats great guys... i'll give the guys a call that did yours X5Sport (sorry forgot your name) and see what they say. Extremely useful that they will collect!

Weirdfish, I appreciate the offer of the guys number from Kent but if he can't offer a Warranty on the work then its not worth the saving of getting it done as a foreigner.


Cheers,
Turks.

[X5Sport]

They even collected my poorly X5 from the Dealer thirty-odd miles away....after BMW wanted £7k to fix it!..

Last time I went past he had a few BMWs in the car park awaiting some TLC.

Richard

[shadrack]

[quote="pvr"]
I agree with that one.

I have only used once a second hand part for an old Audi for my father in law, and that was just trouble. The fitting company had issues with it, the parts dealer said that the fitter damaged it and it went back and forth with no resolution in the end.

With the double costs of sourcing the second hand part it became more expensive than a new replacement.

Lesson learned that unless you can do it yourself, I would not do it again.

thats the main point right there!! if your paying labour yes i would never use salvage parts either i forgot about that :-[ :-[, i had similar last week, put a £20 steering rack in the e36, it was no better than the original so i swapped it at the breakers and re did and it was fine, but if id have paid the 3 hours labour it took to fit the rack twice i might as well have bought a new one for £170 so i can see where your coming from now
[/quote]

[Turks]

I don't doubt my abilities but I don't think my time is best spent having a go at this one unfortunately. I work abroad alot and am currently in Kazakhstan until the end of Sept. He can't wait that long and to be honest in the time it would take me to do the gearbox myself I could have earnt what the dealers are asking for!

Cheers for your input shadrack, this one is going to be going to a specialist though I think.


Turks.

P.S cheers Richard for your further details - always reassuring to have a 'from experience' opinion on a service rather than a suggestion from google.

[rjkc600]

I will be using JT automatics in dartford my my rebuild WHEN it fails on the X5.

They offer a 2 year guarantee and have all the prices on their website, indicating that they have done several to know the cost.

here they are if you are interested, check out their prices on the site for comparision. 

http://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/home.html

[kkodal78]

I had suffolk auto transmission rebuild the gearbox on my X5. With a warranty i am pleased with the service.

[Turks]

[quote="rjkc600"]
I will be using JT automatics in dartford my my rebuild WHEN it fails on the X5.

They offer a 2 year guarantee and have all the prices on their website, indicating that they have done several to know the cost.

here they are if you are interested, check out their prices on the site for comparision. 

http://www.automatic-gearbox.co.uk/home.html
[/quote]

I came accross these guys on Saturday when I was trawling through google - I have sent them an email. I too was impressed that they could quote prices online and made it very transparent.

They are a little bit far from where I live but the car should make it ok. I have accountants in Bexleyheath for one of my companies so might be a good excuse to pop in and see them while the Gearbox is being overhauled.

Thanks for your input rjkc600...


Turks.

[rjkc600]

My RAC package will tow me anywhere, I'm sure you can obtain similar recovery with them.

They'll tow me to scotland if thats where i want to go to.

In any case let us know the outcome, I've not used JT myself so would be keen to hear of your experience even if its just a phone call with their techs.

[Turks]

I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the progress.


Turks.