[IceMan007]

Hi All,

I know A1BN can do this, but Herfordshire is little far for me. Can anyone in the West Midlands do this?

[dy63]

Originally Posted by IceMan007

Hi All,

I know A1BN can do this, but Herfordshire is little far for me. Can anyone in the West Midlands do this?

BM Automotive Solution in wolves did mine on my X6 last week. I always use them for anything although I bought the kit from Euro car parts myself and they did the change (however the sump was the wrong one from Euro! Apparently sump sizes are different and the curve was different!)

But I know a company in Cannock who do it for £250 cash supply and fit using genuine sump and oil if only I found them before I had my work done

google them cant remember what they called autobox specialists or something

[Phil99z]

Everything so far I've had done my car I went to BM Automotive too. Can't really fault them to be honest.

[Phil325i]

Why not DIY it? It's so straightforward (plenty of guides on YouTube). And as it's not a BMW serviceable item it's of no consequence that it doesn't show on your service record...

[IceMan007]

Hi Raj and 2die4, thanks for the prompt responses.

BM Automotive Solution quoted me £495 for supply and fit.
http://www.vmtp-midlands.co.uk/workshop/ in Cannock have quoted me £245 for supply and fit.

Is it the same company you were referring to?

One more thing, Raj - Have you got the link for the kit from ECP?

[old grey steve]

The instructions are within the ZF box so to be fair if followed most garages could carry out the process, the issue comes to light re monitoring the amount of oil going in, allowing time for the fluid to circulate and the time taken to drive the car on a ramp in all gears to allow the fluid to circulate.

But where most will fall flat is post work re setting the adaptations on the gear box and engine ECU, which we do so that everything goes into a re learn procedure and we're not talking about the key in the slot and holding the throttle for 30 seconds thing but a proper diagnostic entered full re set, which works wonders as it allows the gear box the engine ECU to work together and re learn your driving style from scratch, this is the icing on the cake and since we've been doing it as part of the service it makes a difference

[marknjayne]

I went to A1BN,well worth the 2 hr journey

this is the job they did for me

[Phil325i]

Sorry I assumed this was MT not AT when I suggested DIY...

[dy63]

Originally Posted by IceMan007

Hi Raj and 2die4, thanks for the prompt responses.

BM Automotive Solution quoted me £495 for supply and fit.
http://www.vmtp-midlands.co.uk/workshop/ in Cannock have quoted me £245 for supply and fit.

Is it the same company you were referring to?

One more thing, Raj - Have you got the link for the kit from ECP?

yup. BM automotive aren't the cheapest tbh...I will give you a heads up about them even though I continue to use them. they always quote me a price on the work but when it comes to collection day. atleast everytime I always get told its going to be more money as I had to do this and that extra that I didn't think I would of which pisses me off a lot

yes they are the company I would of used if I found them earlier. cant beat that price tbh and the I will dig the part number out at Euro although my SUMP was wrong size so be wary. best bet use VMTP

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

yup. BM automotive aren't the cheapest tbh...I will give you a heads up about them even though I continue to use them. they always quote me a price on the work but when it comes to collection day. atleast everytime I always get told its going to be more money as I had to do this and that extra that I didn't think I would of which pisses me off a lot

yes they are the company I would of used if I found them earlier. cant beat that price tbh and the I will dig the part number out at Euro although my SUMP was wrong size so be wary. best bet use VMTP

Sump kit from Euro's part number will be as follows

Petrol 50411058K
Diesel 50411059K

Cross reference your reg with the above should be OK

[IceMan007]

Thanks Steve and Raj, quick question - What colour is the oil when it comes out? Is it black or just dark?

Was talking to VMTP today, and their words were "if it comes out black then you're in trouble as something has burnt it and chances are, the tranny is knackered".

I haven't checked mine yet (booked for next Friday) and don't have a single problem with the gearbox (other than holding onto gears a little longer than normal and very occasionally jerky) but all the pictures on the other threads look as though the oil is black....and none of the posters have had knackered gearboxes...

VMTP have said that it is impossible to get all of the oil out - approx 50% (after leaving it to drain) as the rest will be inside in the gearing mechanism.

If the gearbox oil change requires approx 6 litres, then they only change 3??

He then started "bashing" others for "talking crap" as far as they were concerned, it is impossible (to get 100% of the oil out).

Confused.com

[dy63]

Originally Posted by old grey steve

Sump kit from Euro's part number will be as follows

Petrol 50411058K
Diesel 50411059K

Cross reference your reg with the above should be OK

Thanks steve. I actually found it on euro thanks to your comment on an older thread i think a while ago where you stated the part number. The garage who did my oil said theyve had it happen before where the sumps have been the wrong size...they almost look identical but there not apparently?

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by IceMan007

Thanks Steve and Raj, quick question - What colour is the oil when it comes out? Is it black or just dark?

Was talking to VMTP today, and their words were "if it comes out black then you're in trouble as something has burnt it and chances are, the tranny is knackered".

I haven't checked mine yet (booked for next Friday) and don't have a single problem with the gearbox (other than holding onto gears a little longer than normal and very occasionally jerky) but all the pictures on the other threads look as though the oil is black....and none of the posters have had knackered gearboxes...

VMTP have said that it is impossible to get all of the oil out - approx 50% (after leaving it to drain) as the rest will be inside in the gearing mechanism.

If the gearbox oil change requires approx 6 litres, then they only change 3??

He then started "bashing" others for "talking crap" as far as they were concerned, it is impossible (to get 100% of the oil out).

Confused.com

Oil usually comes out blackish we are actually doing a 525d sump service as I write oddly enough and that oil was black and smelt a little(which most of them do)to be fair the oil will go through the motions over the years it will break down discolour etc. and the net result will be what crawls out the sump plug when drained.

Some smell more than others and that's to do with many things but if they smell to much chances are something's happening inside usually the fluid makes a real difference if the issues gone too far then you could be looking at a failing mechatronics plate assembly and the 7 or so solenoids that control what happens

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Why not DIY it? It's so straightforward (plenty of guides on YouTube). And as it's not a BMW serviceable item it's of no consequence that it doesn't show on your service record...

The oil needs to be a specific temperature when drained and refilled. You also need access to a ramp to go through different gears once refilled.

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by old grey steve

Oil usually comes out blackish we are actually doing a 525d sump service as I write oddly enough and that oil was black and smelt a little(which most of them do)to be fair the oil will go through the motions over the years it will break down discolour etc. and the net result will be what crawls out the sump plug when drained.

Some smell more than others and that's to do with many things but if they smell to much chances are something's happening inside usually the fluid makes a real difference if the issues gone too far then you could be looking at a failing mechatronics plate assembly and the 7 or so solenoids that control what happens

Would you ever consider or be able to offer the same service that the ZF centre in Germany offers? They spend 4-6 hours and clean out the most intricate of oil galleries within the box amongst other things.

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by Broken_Gearbox

Would you ever consider or be able to offer the same service that the ZF centre in Germany offers? They spend 4-6 hours and clean out the most intricate of oil galleries within the box amongst other things.

4-6 hours personally, I think is too much for the average British customer, we'd like to offer the type of service you've stated, and as its time related it will allow us say more time to be more thorough, which we like, but the issue is the most people moan when you quote the time we quote(and we are reasonable though not the cheapest trust me) and the cost of the trans sump, they tut or wince at the price therefore chances are it wouldn't be an option TBH.

But a nice thought

[Sxanth]

Is this a preventative measure or are you doing it because you can feel an issue?

I thought the oil on an auto didn't really need changing like a manual does. Although it would make sense oil doesn't last for ever.

Just want to take note if there is a recommended mileage this should be done?

Cheers

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by Sxanth

Is this a preventative measure or are you doing it because you can feel an issue?

I thought the oil on an auto didn't really need changing like a manual does. Although it would make sense oil doesn't last for ever.

Just want to take note if there is a recommended mileage this should be done?

Cheers

Sumps and mechatronic sleeves Anthony on the auto leak oil, we checked yours while it was here and it was actually OK, same as Alex's his overall was dry.

Moving forward its recommended by ZF to change the sump/fluid every 100K's or so, its good practice to change the sump/filter and oil then re set the required adaptations as the car would of adapted to driving with X amount of fluid and its condition new gear box fluid and an new sump/filter will allow things to flow a hell of a lot easier and will improve to a degree drivability, and fuel economy to a degree due to less drag. When you see the colour and smell the fluid that comes out you'd question the term "lifetime" as stated by BMW

We opted not to go down this route with yours and Alex's cars while they were here along with other service needs purely based on the fact that there more important things on the agenda, but going forward a worth while exercise to do the gear box etc

[mjn77]

I think ZF state between 50-70k miles for the oil, depending on how you drive.

IIRC from reading the ZF technical notes.

[Sxanth]

Cheers Steve, good to know il leave it to 100k its on 83 odd now anyway.

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by Sxanth

Cheers Steve, good to know il leave it to 100k its on 83 odd now anyway.

100K= kilometres in ZF German speak, therefore on paper 62.000 miles, I done mine at 60.000 miles it was dirty though like yours zero leaks we done a525d yesterday more oil out of the sump than in, you could of had a bath with the amount of oil on the sump pan and sump pan tray.

[Sxanth]

Ah no worries will do it at next service or something drives perfectly at the moment just needs an I drive