Clunky auto box

[Mike77]

Hi, I have an E86 Auto and have a query about the gearbox. Namely that it's very rough going in and out of 2nd gear. Changing down into 2nd there's an audible clunk that you can feel through the car. Changing up into 2nd is a bit lumpy but with less of a clunk.

The issue seems to get worse the longer I've been driving it.

I've no idea if this is normal. Maybe a gearbox oil change? Or a symptom of something very expensive in the not too distant future!

 

[Zeddicus]

How many miles has it reached? Would recommend to try changing the autobox fluid and gearbox oil and see if this improves the gear shifting / reduce your noise.
Mine was about 55k when I did it, and is the best thing I have done on the car, gears shift noticeably smoother than before, although I did not experience any real issue with the autobox.

 

[alane29]

Fluid/filter change would probably sort this out

 

[Mike77]

Cheers guys. Car has just hit 70k and is 10 years old so from my research is about ready for an oil change anyway (although I understand BMW claim 100k on it?)?

Also, without sounding too thick.... Gearbox oil AND autobox fluid? I thought they were the same thing

 

[Mike77]

Okay, so, finally got around to changing the gearbox oil, been running it in for a couple of months... still clunks dropping down into 2nd. Doesn't seem to be getting any worse and it doesn't do it every time but it's there.

Strangely, it's less noticeable in manual mode. Rarely does it at all infact.

I'd ignore it but as it does it intermittently so I notice it constantly and truth be told is spoiling the driving of the car for me Not really sure what to do!

 

[Zed Five]

So new atf too? That's the first thing to change.

 

[Mike77]

Is that not what I've already done? I think I'm misunderstanding something here. If it's an auto you have transmission fluid right? That's what I had changed - The ZF kit you get the filter, fluid etc.

Some further searching has thrown up a guy who reckons it is probably the valve body. Apparently the weak spot on these gearboxes. That sounds expensive...

 

[Ducklakeview]

The zf5hp-18 is an incredibly strong and reliable box, indeed you'll struggle to find people having problems with it on here. Did you reset the adaption when you changed the fluid? Its a vital part of the procedure.

Mike

 

[MACK]

The zf5hp-18 is an incredibly strong and reliable box, indeed you'll struggle to find people having problems with it on here. Did you reset the adaption when you changed the fluid? Its a vital part of the procedure.

Mike

It's an E86 Mike so it's the later 6 speed GA6HP19 which isn't as reliable as the earlier one. Seen a few with issues in various BMW models but that said it's not a common failure just not hens teeth like the one in yours.
To be honest when BMW moved from M series stuff to N series stuff reliability didn't seem to be the same on any model, engines, gearboxes (manual and auto) and diffs. All seem to give more issues than their predecessors.

 

[Ducklakeview]

The zf5hp-18 is an incredibly strong and reliable box, indeed you'll struggle to find people having problems with it on here. Did you reset the adaption when you changed the fluid? Its a vital part of the procedure.

Mike

It's an E86 Mike so it's the later 6 speed GA6HP19 which isn't as reliable as the earlier one. Seen a few with issues in various BMW models but that said it's not a common failure just not hens teeth like the one in yours.
To be honest when BMW moved from M series stuff to N series stuff reliability didn't seem to be the same on any model, engines, gearboxes (manual and auto) and diffs. All seem to give more issues than their predecessors.

Doh, didn't realise it was an E86..

Mike

 

[Mike77]

Did you reset the adaption when you changed the fluid?

I'm not sure. A garage did the work for me. I take it this is a plugging a laptop in kind of deal.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Did you reset the adaption when you changed the fluid?

I'm not sure. A garage did the work for me. I take it this is a plugging a laptop in kind of deal.

Yup. Resets/re-learns the shift points/valve body pressures and a host of other variables.

Mike

 

[MACK]

Did you reset the adaption when you changed the fluid?

I'm not sure. A garage did the work for me. I take it this is a plugging a laptop in kind of deal.

Yup. Resets/re-learns the shift points/valve body pressures and a host of other variables.

Mike

Any decent bmw specialist should be able to do this for you. You are supposed to be able to do it without any equipment but I'm not convinced the techniques on the net actually work. I have always used garage equipment for this so can't comment from personal experience. That said as a free 5 minute technique you have nothing to loose so has got to be worth a shot.