DCT Service - When to do it? If at all...

[James35i]

Hello All,

Coming up to the mythical 100k miles in my 35i, which has recently passed its MOT without a single advisory (happy days).

With this milestone coming up, it's gotten me thinking about things that may need to be done, and one of them is the DCT service. Currently, there isn't a single thing wrong with the shifting; it's fast and tight, which makes me a bit reluctant to spend a good chunk of change on it.

So my question is, people who have had it done, did you do it because you noticed an issue with the gearbox, or did you do it simply because you hit a certain mileage? An indication of the price for the service would also be appreciated.

Thanks all!

 

[B21]

60k miles is what the manufacturer of the box recomends (not BMW).. ZF oil and filter kit around £300 plus labour

BY the time you notice the issues a lot of damage has been done

Without hooking up full diagnosticss you've no idea how much work the box has done.

If its a keeper then do it..if you're going to off load then don't bother

 

[James35i]

60k miles is what the manufacturer of the box recomends (not BMW).. ZF oil and filter kit around £300 plus labour

BY the time you notice the issues a lot of damage has been done

Without hooking up full diagnosticss you've no idea how much work the box has done.

If its a keeper then do it..if you're going to off load then don't bother

Brilliant thank you B21!

It's certainly a keeper, I'm about to spend an arm and a leg with an audiologist to redo the sound system, so I suppose i'll spend the money to keep it running mechanically.

It will be due for new oil in a few months, i'll get it all done at once then.

 

[B21]

Brilliant thank you B21!

It's certainly a keeper, I'm about to spend an arm and a leg with an audiologist to redo the sound system, so I suppose i'll spend the money to keep it running mechanically.

It will be due for new oil in a few months, i'll get it all done at once then.

I suggest you use ZF oil/filter set.. gold standard..needs a good tech as its a complex two stage fill procedure and the filters can be trricky to get oil tight..

If you want to spend big money on audio I can advise!-

 

[James35i]

I suggest you use ZF oil/filter set.. gold standard..needs a good tech as its a complex two stage fill procedure and the filters can be trricky to get oil tight..

If you want to spend big money on audio I can advise!-

I've been using my current tech for 7 years, he is excellent. I have faith! https://www.autodoc.co.uk/zf-getrie...MI5LOoxtbBjgMV9ohQBh1ldyp4EAQYASABEgKHN_D_BwE

Is this the set?

Regarding the audio, my car is booked in at the end of August with Platinum in Car (https://www.facebook.com/platinumin.car/?locale=en_GB). The trophy wall upon entering was pretty immense . It's going to cost £2k all in, which is pretty conservative as far as audio setups go, I believe, but it will include custom work to use the boot as the box for the sub, which will come out between the two front seats. He spoke about some more jargon which went completely over my head, something about AMPs and DSPs and tuning... I'm pretty excited!

 

[Scooba_Steve]

60k miles is what the manufacturer of the box recomends (not BMW).. ZF oil and filter kit around £300 plus labour

I don't know the E89 well but I didn't think ZF made any dual clutch transmissions.

 

[James35i]

I don't know the E89 well but I didn't think ZF made any dual clutch transmissions.

You are right it's the Gertrag GS7D36SG - this service kit should be fine:

BMW 7 SPEED GS7D36SG DCT DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC GEARBOX OIL FILTER SERVICE KIT – GEARBOX OILS

www.gearboxoils.com

 

[B21]

I don't know the E89 well but I didn't think ZF made any dual clutch transmissions.

ZF make numerous dual clutch gearboxes…none were fitted to E89…Getrag no longer exists it was bought and merged into Magnya..

I quote ZF as if anyone knows how to service gearboxes they do..other suppliers are available…..but..it does appear that it’s not easy to get ZF filters…

 

[B21]

I've been using my current tech for 7 years, he is excellent. I have faith! https://www.autodoc.co.uk/zf-getrie...MI5LOoxtbBjgMV9ohQBh1ldyp4EAQYASABEgKHN_D_BwE

Is this the set?

Regarding the audio, my car is booked in at the end of August with Platinum in Car (https://www.facebook.com/platinumin.car/?locale=en_GB). The trophy wall upon entering was pretty immense . It's going to cost £2k all in, which is pretty conservative as far as audio setups go, I believe, but it will include custom work to use the boot as the box for the sub, which will come out between the two front seats. He spoke about some more jargon which went completely over my head, something about AMPs and DSPs and tuning... I'm pretty excited!

That’s the ZF 8HP auto box ..

 

[B21]

You are right it's the Gertrag GS7D36SG - this service kit should be fine:

BMW 7 SPEED GS7D36SG DCT DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC GEARBOX OIL FILTER SERVICE KIT – GEARBOX OILS

www.gearboxoils.com

Yes that’s a kit for the getrag box…personally I’d go for a main brand like Meyle /Fuchs etc but..

 

[B21]

I've been using my current tech for 7 years, he is excellent. I have faith! https://www.autodoc.co.uk/zf-getrie...MI5LOoxtbBjgMV9ohQBh1ldyp4EAQYASABEgKHN_D_BwE

Is this the set?

Regarding the audio, my car is booked in at the end of August with Platinum in Car (https://www.facebook.com/platinumin.car/?locale=en_GB). The trophy wall upon entering was pretty immense . It's going to cost £2k all in, which is pretty conservative as far as audio setups go, I believe, but it will include custom work to use the boot as the box for the sub, which will come out between the two front seats. He spoke about some more jargon which went completely over my head, something about AMPs and DSPs and tuning... I'm pretty excited!

£2k fitted for a high end audio system is cheap…ish… but I’m sure it will be a big step up

 

[B21]

Genuine DCT Service Kit With Oil - BMW F8x - M2 / M3 / M4

A specialist provider of performance BMW and MINI parts. The widest range of BMW and Mini performance and tuning parts online. At our established headquarters near Manchester, England we are the sole European distributors of American brands such as ECS Tuning, Dinan and NM Engineering.

performancem.co.uk

 

[mcbutler]

If its not already leakjing a little at 100k I would be gobsmacked.......

 

[James35i]

Genuine DCT Service Kit With Oil - BMW F8x - M2 / M3 / M4

A specialist provider of performance BMW and MINI parts. The widest range of BMW and Mini performance and tuning parts online. At our established headquarters near Manchester, England we are the sole European distributors of American brands such as ECS Tuning, Dinan and NM Engineering.

performancem.co.uk

£500 quid christ! I'll go with the ravenol haha

 

[James35i]

£2k fitted for a high end audio system is cheap…ish… but I’m sure it will be a big step up

I'm currently on the bog standard one so anything will be a step up.

 

[James35i]

If its not already leakjing a little at 100k I would be gobsmacked.......

Ye' of little faith...

 

[Scooba_Steve]

That’s the ZF 8HP auto box ..

I know how to do one of those

 

[Scooba_Steve]

£500 quid christ! I'll go with the ravenol haha

For my 5er with the ZF8HP I got the a genuine ZF service kit but without the fluid. Used Comma MVATF Plus.

Cost me £120 or so to DIY it. But I do have access to a friends pit.

 

[B21]

£500 quid christ! I'll go with the ravenol haha

If it’s any consolation I’ve spent over £2k trying to fix a DCT leak..

 

[James35i]

If it’s any consolation I’ve spent over £2k trying to fix a DCT leak..

At £2k couldn't you have replaced the entire thing? Did they build your DCT on a Friday?