Auto gearbox reliability
- Thread starter True-Blue
- Start date
The early 6 speed ZF boxes were prone to change from 2 to 1 with a sledgehammer occasionally and there was all sorts of software updates to try and fix it. However this was around 2001/2 when the box came out so I imagine it was all long sorted by the time the E85 got it.
The usual problem area is the leaky mechatronic sleeve (overblown term for the seal around the electronics connector.) People often combine replacing this with a filter and oil change. BMW still do their lifetime oil thing while ZF state 70k miles IIRC.
Generally seems a solid box otherwise.
The usual problem area is the leaky mechatronic sleeve (overblown term for the seal around the electronics connector.) People often combine replacing this with a filter and oil change. BMW still do their lifetime oil thing while ZF state 70k miles IIRC.
Generally seems a solid box otherwise.
Pre-facelift 3.0 Auto (5 speed) is a real Jekell and Hyde. It’s a pedestrian ‘box until you hit the Sport button, then it really comes alive. Mines just clicked over 80k and seems perfectly good.
I suspect autos in general probably get ragged less than manuals, too.
I suspect autos in general probably get ragged less than manuals, too.
The only fault that tends to show up on the five speed box fitted to the E85 is the position switch failing. Easy but relatively expensive to fix (about £300).
Rockhopper said:
£228 from BMW as I’ve just had to fork out for one :roll: Wasn’t really a problem as only had the warning light a few times in 2 years, but thought it was about time I sorted it.
I’ve had issues with my auto box lately, kangarooing sporadically. I’ve come to the conclusion it was possibly a defective battery as I recently changed it (as was only holding 12v charge) and been okay since. From a bit of googling a naff battery can cause all manner of issues. Was making my reverse sensors go haywire too!
Autos get a bad rep, but I love mine - aforementioned niggles aside!
Different box to the earlier car.
I can’t feel mine change no matter how hard I press the pedal or which mode it’s in.
I can’t feel mine change no matter how hard I press the pedal or which mode it’s in.
Mine has almost 130k on the clock and it's the smoothest auto I've ever driven. It's sometimes hard to tell when it's even changed gear!
True-Blue said:
I had the 6 speed box in a Jag S-Type and I've driven a 330d with one. Very smooth on all changes up or down - sounds like it was a baddun.
True-Blue said:
Remind me of the older 5 speed ZF box, which I had in an E36. Occasionally it would forget what it was doing mid gear change and it seemed to drop into neutral briefly. The revs would rise and, if I wasn't quick enough coming off the throttle, the bang as it selected a gear was appalling. Friend with an E39 with the same box had similar problems as it got older and he got shot of the car sharpish!
deltasierra
Member
If it’s changing gear smoothly best to do nothing, if it snatches or hangs onto gears change the oil and filter, shouldn’t need doing until 70 or 80k. Make sure you warm it up before you drive it hard, good policy for the engine too.
Hard gear changes might well be the position switch but anything else is a box out job. Is the yellow cog symbol on the dash showing?
Ok.
