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Gearbox worry?

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 5:42 pm
by weirdfish
The list never stops on these beasts does it, lol.
After sorting out the battery drain problem, dodgy drivers handle and heater fan,( I think), I noticed today that the change up was a bit harsh a couple of times, also the dreaded lurch when coming to a standstill reared its ugly head a few times as well, this was after the car had warmed up.
What's the first thing to check, or get sorted, oil change? software check?

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 8:08 pm
by henrym3
First thing I’d do was a proper check on oil level, done by someone who knows the proper way to do it while monitoring temperature. Check the temperature when running. Do both of those things before thinking of changing oil. You don’t want to find it’s running to high a temperature after an oil change.
It goes without saying that it needs the codes read as well

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:01 pm
by weirdfish
That sounds like it's going to have a visit to my local bmw specialist to get that done.
Any pointers on how this is done, just so as i know they will do it as per it should be done.

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:42 pm
by henrym3

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:43 pm
by Alan Gunn
Topping the box up is easy enough but it has to be warm not sure of the temp.
Is yours the 5 speed box ?.
Had my 5 speed done oil/filter service not that long ago at my local bmw indi cost £140 but the 6 speed in my e90 was £318 :(
Didn't have any problems with mine just had them done for peace of mind.(e53 on 160k and e90 on 95k)...

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:51 pm
by henrym3
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E53/E ... z_4_wheel/
If not sure this is the g/b for the 2005 4.8is

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:57 pm
by weirdfish
Thanx for the info, off to have a chat with the guy that used to look after my z3mcoupe a few years ago on sat morning.
Hopefully he'll be able to suggest a way forward and get it sorted asap.

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:44 pm
by weirdfish
Thinking about this a bit more, is there a section on here about who people use to look after their beasts, and in what area.
As these cars get older they are going to be throwing up more and more problems, always nice to know who can look after them properly and not charge a fortune in the process.

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 4:06 pm
by weirdfish
Just to update this, yesterday managed to clear a fault code from the gearbox, this was 49 gear monitoring, completely changed the way the box behaved, upshifts and downshifts were noticeably different, and the dreaded lurch had gone as well.
Took it to BMW specialist this morning as planned, he basically confirmed the fault code would make a difference, so suggested running it for a while to see how it behaves.
He did have a very quick check and found the viscous coupling needed changing, so not a wasted journey.
I'll be keeping a close eye on the box.
The worrying thing was that he had 3 timing chain jobs sat in the compound waiting to be done.

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 5:26 pm
by X5Sport
Which engines needed timing chains? V8s or IL6s?

Or 2.0L N47 engines which are known to be bad (and why BMW no longer make that engine).

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 5:34 pm
by weirdfish
I see at least one 4.6, another model with the chain at the back of the engine, ( sorry not sure which on that is ).

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 7:10 pm
by X5Sport
weirdfish wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2019 5:34 pm I see at least one 4.6, another model with the chain at the back of the engine, ( sorry not sure which on that is ).
If it was a newer model 3.0litre then likely an N57 series engine (used in LCI E70, E71 from 2010 and various other 3.0d or 3.0i IL6 petrol cars which for some odd reason now have their timing gear at the rear - meaning full engine out to repair.

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:17 am
by Bennn
What exactly is the lurch you lot refer to?

Ours jerks when coming to a stop sometimes, I think its putting itself into first before were starionary. Is that it?

If so I just thought it was a niggle to be honest as the gearbox seems to work fine other than this jerk every now and then but is it something i should worry about?

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:43 am
by weirdfish
That sounds like it, worse when warmed up usually.
If you can get someone to read the software for the gearbox there may well be faults registered, clear these and it will probably improve.
Lots of debate on here and other sites regarding oil changes for the gearbox, it's got to be done correctly in the first place, some have reported improvements, others not, in some cases it makes things worse.
What model have you got and what's the mileage?

Re: Gearbox worry?

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 4:07 pm
by Bennn
weirdfish wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:43 am That sounds like it, worse when warmed up usually.
If you can get someone to read the software for the gearbox there may well be faults registered, clear these and it will probably improve.
Lots of debate on here and other sites regarding oil changes for the gearbox, it's got to be done correctly in the first place, some have reported improvements, others not, in some cases it makes things worse.
What model have you got and what's the mileage?
Mine is a 3.0d with 140k. It's a facelift car with the 6 speed auto box. Heard mixed things about an oil change. It doesn't bother us enough to do anything about it to be honest.