New gearbox fitted...

A

Angelus666

Senior member
 Essex
So, picking up the car tomorrow morning with it's new gearbox fitted...and the dealer has also fitted a new dual mass flywheel and clutch to make sure it's driving as it should, and all with BMW picking this up through the warranty! I'll ask tomorrow what the total cost would have been...eye watering I guess!

Ian (service manager) at Elms has been a top bloke with this, still I'm very surprised and pleased that they have done that...top, top marks for service!

I'll post up a comparative review with all these new parts fitted....expecting it to be a lot smoother, tighter through the gears and a bit quicker...also happy to let people compare their car with mine if you keen to see what a brand new box feels like.
 
Yea I'd be interested to know, I've had mine for 2-3 weeks now and it's a 60k+ miler... I have it in my head that this makes the car haggard and beyond it's best but deep down I know that's not the case. It's being subjected to you lot with your 20-30k milers making me paranoid haha :poke:

Good luck and happy new gearbox day!
 
Ha, to be completely honest nothing of real note...it was a bit notchy when cold, but not that different to the other 3 I've driven (and also Si's car last weekend). I asked them to have their master tech give his opinion on it, and he had it for a couple of days and he agreed it was a bit notchy, so they changed all the fluids, checked for debris but found nothing. He said these cars tend to be hard on the 1st/2nd mechanism which results in them all feeling like this after a while....and apparently they were not like that when new!

They asked BMW on the option of replacing the gearbox and they said yes, so I'm very happy to have all new running gear going in the car....and all with a 2 year warranty on these bits! I've bought a few cars from them in the past, so not sure whether this had anything to do with their generosity on the dual mass wheel and clutch, could have easily 'sold' me on these bits.
 
57 plate car, 54k miles and bought from BMW in October last year. How many on here have a BMW warranty on their cars now? If so, I'd be asking the question about it if yours doesn't feel quite right...
 
I took mine in 2 weeks ago and asked the senior M tech to have a drive of mine as I thought mine was notchy, he said that was normal and it felt perfectly OK... absolutely no chance for me getting a replacement as it isn't under a warranty. Worryingly though, yesterday I red lined it in first out from a service station onto a motorway to get up to road speed, slammed it into second and was met with a horrific grind and refusal to enter second gear. I dipped the clutch again, tried again and it went in. No idea whether I just slipped the clutch on change or whether that was a something I need to worry about. But this second gear issue does appear to be a thing.
 
First to second on these boxes has never been their forte as I understand it. Until you get to know the box well what you describe is quite normal. Other than full bore 1st 2nd changes I find the box pretty great, uprated engine / gearbox mounts are supposed to alleviate this gear denial syndrome which you come across more on track. I suspect there is nothing particularly 'wrong' with your box as the tech said.
 
Angelus666 said:
Ha, to be completely honest nothing of real note...it was a bit notchy when cold, but not that different to the other 3 I've driven (and also Si's car last weekend). I asked them to have their master tech give his opinion on it, and he had it for a couple of days and he agreed it was a bit notchy, so they changed all the fluids, checked for debris but found nothing. He said these cars tend to be hard on the 1st/2nd mechanism which results in them all feeling like this after a while....and apparently they were not like that when new!

They asked BMW on the option of replacing the gearbox and they said yes, so I'm very happy to have all new running gear going in the car....and all with a 2 year warranty on these bits! I've bought a few cars from them in the past, so not sure whether this had anything to do with their generosity on the dual mass wheel and clutch, could have easily 'sold' me on these bits.
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If this is being done under warranty I don't think the 2 year part applies. That is what I was told when they changed the head on my last car. If you keep the warranty going then of course you are covered.
 
TomK said:
First to second on these boxes has never been their forte as I understand it. Until you get to know the box well what you describe is quite normal. Other than full bore 1st 2nd changes I find the box pretty great, uprated engine / gearbox mounts are supposed to alleviate this gear denial syndrome which you come across more on track. I suspect there is nothing particularly 'wrong' with your box as the tech said.
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I didn't ever experience the first-to-second denial that you describe, even on the track, but certainly others have. My first-to-second change is a little notchy though.
I changed my engine mounts to Vibratech Competition mounts and found the whole drivetrain seemed more synchronised. IIRC, Exdos cured his first-to-second denial issue with the VT Road mounts.
 
Christ, a new clutch as well? Lucky you! Although I'm still on the "what was up with it, is it a lemon" train :fuelfire:

Pleased for you though, my friend, as you're happy and it's your car! :thumbsup:
 
Will be interested to see how this turns out. Would love to see the car for a comparison. Mine is around 32k at the moment, is a bit notchy, but nothing that has ever given me concern given that I've not read a single owner say that their gearbox is 'smooth'.
 
srhutch said:
Angelus666 said:
Ha, to be completely honest nothing of real note...it was a bit notchy when cold, but not that different to the other 3 I've driven (and also Si's car last weekend). I asked them to have their master tech give his opinion on it, and he had it for a couple of days and he agreed it was a bit notchy, so they changed all the fluids, checked for debris but found nothing. He said these cars tend to be hard on the 1st/2nd mechanism which results in them all feeling like this after a while....and apparently they were not like that when new!

They asked BMW on the option of replacing the gearbox and they said yes, so I'm very happy to have all new running gear going in the car....and all with a 2 year warranty on these bits! I've bought a few cars from them in the past, so not sure whether this had anything to do with their generosity on the dual mass wheel and clutch, could have easily 'sold' me on these bits.
Click to expand...

If this is being done under warranty I don't think the 2 year part applies. That is what I was told when they changed the head on my last car. If you keep the warranty going then of course you are covered.
Click to expand...

This is true, the only way to get around this is to ask them to invoice you £1 for the work they have done to get the warranty, thats how it used to work anyway. If you have paid something for it it will come with a warranty :D
 
So, picked it up this morning and made for an interesting first drive (was only 20 mins). The clutch was much lighter and very different, no judder at all. The cold change through 1st to 2nd still required a bit of force, but once it was all warmed up it felt much smoother, much more direct, firmer and more like a 'modern' bmw gear change.

It's better in every way, but weirdly I don't know yet if I prefer it.....hmmmm.

If anyone wants to compare their car happy to extend the offer.
 
Angelus666 said:
So, picked it up this morning and made for an interesting first drive (was only 20 mins). The clutch was much lighter and very different, no judder at all. The cold change through 1st to 2nd still required a bit of force, but once it was all warmed up it felt much smoother, much more direct, firmer and more like a 'modern' bmw gear change.

It's better in every way, but weirdly I don't know yet if I prefer it.....hmmmm.

If anyone wants to compare their car happy to extend the offer.
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I would love to compare my car, where abouts are you based?

It's one thing to read about owner's perceptions of clunky gear boxes etc, but sometimes seeing and experiencing comparable cars (and yours is probably the only opportunity we'll get to see a perfect example) is the only way to really know what's going on
 
No problem, I'm just outside Harlow in Essex, but going to the Welsh meet next month, so happy to whore my car out to those wishing to give her a good seeing to.... :driving:
 
Ha, not a problem, but you'll need to ship over some of those nice drunken girls from ayia napa in return please!
 
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