530d

[DieselFan]

Mine accumulated majority of its mileage from traveling to and from George and Knsyna. Which if any of you know this route it's just up and down hills. Hardly any straights... Maybe this is why we're on our 3rd refurb. But as people have said they can be silky smooth gear changes and then boom. I would advise changing the boxes oil as we never did.

The manual is a much safer option.

I dont think its a hit and miss with these. More the stress that's put on the box. They are all POS. That is the bitter truth. The box is rated to 390nms the newer 3.0ds are 410nm and the older is 390nm (already on the limit). And thats if you're lucky and have a box which is rated to 390 there is also one thats rated to 360......... So you could already be over the boxes limit by 30 - 50nm...

Just so you know to make an educated decision.

I'm fairly sure about reading about a class action suite guys in the states tried to get going against BMW for this gearbox.

 

[ChefDJ]

Just buy the damn thing, you'll love it :thumbs:

 

[RAArmstrong]

Just buy the damn thing, you'll love it :thumbs:

What he says... :rollsmile:

 

[DieselFan]

Just buy the damn thing, you'll love it :thumbs:

What he says... :rollsmile:

Haha you two and these E39s. :tease:

My experience with the GM boxes havent been good. Awesome car, awesome motor. If the car is really clean then get it. Just change the gearbox oil.

 

[ChefDJ]

What if you get one that somehow doesn't have the GM box? :thinking:

 

[RAArmstrong]

What if you get one that somehow doesn't have the GM box? :thinking:

I think thats a bit impossible :fencelook:

 

[ChefDJ]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht/Kuvat/automaattilaatikko/5L40E.pdf

 

[DieselFan]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht/Kuvat/automaattilaatikko/5L40E.pdf

Preparing for a rebuilt I see. Thinking ahead I like it :tease:

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I think some have getrag gearboxes? I could be very very very wrong.

 

[RAArmstrong]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/pro-ht/Kuvat/automaattilaatikko/5L40E.pdf

Preparing for a rebuilt I see. Thinking ahead I like it :tease:

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I think some have getrag gearboxes? I could be very very very wrong.

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The Alpina D10 has a Getrag 6 Speed Manual... OR a ZF 5 Speed Auto... Now I wonder which box that is and can it be fitted to a normal 'd' :fencelook:

 

[P1000]

The Alpina D10 has a Getrag 6 Speed Manual... OR a ZF 5 Speed Auto... Now I wonder which box that is and can it be fitted to a normal 'd' :fencelook:

You are quite correct. The D10 came with the gearbox from the 540i, think it was the ZF5HP24. The normal 530d did come out in a manual box, so swap to that. Swapping to another auto will be a colossal headache, and you will resort to getting all the electronics from a donor d10, or 730d(which also had the ZF, IIRC). Sourcing a D10 manual box, well lets just say there are more hens teeth in circulation. Fitting a 6 speed from an E46 will be a challenge - because the flywheel bolt pattern differs and thickness/offset is not compatible.

Oh, and changing the oil will not prolong the life of the gearbox in the case of the GM - here it really is a case of "lifetime oil" - meaning that the oil will outlast the mechanics of the gearbox...

 

[Solo Man]

P1000, iirc you also had or still have a E39 530d auto with something like 290k on the odo? Have you ever had problems with the auto gearbox? One hears of problems but it is only Osiris (i think) that had problems. OK, my X5 had a gearbox replaced when my brother still owned it but i know what my brother towed with the X5 and am not surprised that the gearbox went, although it is not always because of the load but because of a solenoid giving up the ghost. What i am trying to say is that gearbox problems do exist but i think that the problems are overrated. Would like to hear from more owners of autos who have experienced problems and also was it ZF or GM?

 

[RAArmstrong]

Interesting stuff, thanks P1000 :ty:

I do echo what Solo Man is saying here as the only 2 failures I know of are Osiris' (150kw with S/W IIRC) so it was stressed and DieselFan's and that has crazy mileage...

 

[DieselFan]

P1000, iirc you also had or still have a E39 530d auto with something like 290k on the odo? Have you ever had problems with the auto gearbox? One hears of problems but it is only Osiris (i think) that had problems. OK, my X5 had a gearbox replaced when my brother still owned it but i know what my brother towed with the X5 and am not surprised that the gearbox went, although it is not always because of the load but because of a solenoid giving up the ghost. What i am trying to say is that gearbox problems do exist but i think that the problems are overrated. Would like to hear from more owners of autos who have experienced problems and also was it ZF or GM?

The gearbox in my 330d is it 3rd refurb. -GM boxes.

Also I have a friend who has a ?E53? X5 3.0i and his box also went kaput but at 300 000km. So thats not so bad. Not sure what auto is in that car though.

 

[P1000]

My car did most of its miles on the open road, so wear and tear was limited in that way. First year was 80kkm. She is at 302kkm now, still original turbo and gearbox, but the gearbox is ready to let go at any moment. Torque converter clutch does not work anymore, so lockup only happens in 5th. I can also hear metal-to-metal shifting to second (faint chirp) and lots of slip if I push hard into second and sometimes 4th (actually slip is too much so it gets failure to engage into 4th with revs jumping up and down). So I drive with a very light foot. If she lets go, gizmo will get a manual swap job...

 

[ChefDJ]

P1000, iirc you also had or still have a E39 530d auto with something like 290k on the odo? Have you ever had problems with the auto gearbox? One hears of problems but it is only Osiris (i think) that had problems. OK, my X5 had a gearbox replaced when my brother still owned it but i know what my brother towed with the X5 and am not surprised that the gearbox went, although it is not always because of the load but because of a solenoid giving up the ghost. What i am trying to say is that gearbox problems do exist but i think that the problems are overrated. Would like to hear from more owners of autos who have experienced problems and also was it ZF or GM?

I also think they're over-rated, but please don't get me wrong. I'm not waiving the fact that they can let go at any moment completely.

I know someone with a '97 540i steptronic which has had the gearbox replaced twice, however he drives the thing at max speed any chance he gets. Very aggressive with the car.

I believe it all comes down to how you treat the car :thumbs:

 

[DieselFan]

P1000, iirc you also had or still have a E39 530d auto with something like 290k on the odo? Have you ever had problems with the auto gearbox? One hears of problems but it is only Osiris (i think) that had problems. OK, my X5 had a gearbox replaced when my brother still owned it but i know what my brother towed with the X5 and am not surprised that the gearbox went, although it is not always because of the load but because of a solenoid giving up the ghost. What i am trying to say is that gearbox problems do exist but i think that the problems are overrated. Would like to hear from more owners of autos who have experienced problems and also was it ZF or GM?

I also think they're over-rated, but please don't get me wrong. I'm not waiving the fact that they can let go at any moment completely.

I know someone with a '97 540i steptronic which has had the gearbox replaced twice, however he drives the thing at max speed any chance he gets. Very aggressive with the car.

I believe it all comes down to how you treat the car :thumbs:

Driving style and terrain.

They are still not the best gearboxes and a manual is a safer option. I'd rather replace a clutch every 100 - 200 000kms then a whole gearbox.

 

[Rudi]

Thanks to all that commented.:ty:

I drove the car this morning wonderful mechanically and body in good nick.

Spoke to the previous owner. All franchise services to date. The gearbox is very smooth, would have preferred a manual but for the time being this is as good as it gets. :rollsmile:

What would be a reasonable price for the car, purely academic question as I have already committed.

When the gearbox goes I will consider a conversion to a manual box, can this be done cost effectively?

Rudi

New oil burner

 

[P1000]

Without knowing mileage, not more than R70k (unless stupid low mileage)

 

[Rudi]

Mileage 206,000km

 

[P1000]

Around 50-60k. Make sure you have R25k handy for a manual swap when the auto blows.