BMW E46 330D Auto Box slipping?!?

[bmw328]

You're in for a gearbox refurb I'm sorry to say

I guess u are right, dropped the transmission sump today and discovered metal shavings everywhere!!!!! The magnet on the sump was covered about 1CM thick shavings. Cleaned everything and did a filter and fluid change anyway. Now it behaved al little bit different:

P - Car seems to fight itself - Forward and reverse.
N - Drives forward. (Still)
D- Drives forward and actually shift from 1st to 2nd but not any higher.
Got error code "Check gear 3"

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Hello all,
What would u guys recommend:
Refurbished replacement auto box,
Secondhand auto box,
Or manual conversion?

Most reliable and cheapest method? :flyfun:

 

[DieselFan]

Cheapest and least reliable: 2nd hand gearbox.

About the same in cost as manual conversion but less reliable: refurb

Most reliable and about the same cost as a refurb: manual conversion

 

[RAArmstrong]

Manual conversion is gonna work out cheaper in the long run cause you're never going to have this problem again :thumbs:

 

[bmw328]

I Must agree with u guys on the manual option.

BUT

The car originally came with the GM A5S360R transmission,
As far as I can understand accourding to the comments the GM A5S360R was not rated for the power of the 330D, explaining the failure of there transmissions?

There is another option, I can get a local GM A5S390R transmission from a low milage 2005 X3 3.0 that was side sweeped. (I know the car and know it was treated well). Accouding to research on "google" the A5S390R transmission is rated for 30% more power than the A5S360R.
I see the A5S390R transfer case can be removed and replaced with the output shaft from the A5S360R making it a straight swop in theory.

But have anyone ever done this UPGRADE?

 

[RAArmstrong]

390R will give you the exact same problem down the line...

 

[DieselFan]

A5S360R - 360nm
A5S390R - 390nm

I think even some 330ds came with the 390 or it was the 530ds.

As far as I know they have stronger 4th and 5th gear shafts or something.

You may still have this problem, its not even 10% stronger.

You can give it a shot but its still coming off a second hand car.

What is the mileage of your car currently?

 

[RAArmstrong]

A5S360R - 360nm
A5S390R - 390nm

I think even some 330ds came with the 390 or it was the 530ds.

As far as I know they have stronger 4th and 5th gear shafts or something.

You may still have this problem, its not even 10% stronger.

You can give it a shot but its still coming off a second hand car.

What is the mileage of your car currently?

I know the 530d's def have the 390R

 

[bmw328]

A5S360R - 360nm
A5S390R - 390nm

I think even some 330ds came with the 390 or it was the 530ds.

As far as I know they have stronger 4th and 5th gear shafts or something.

You may still have this problem, its not even 10% stronger.

You can give it a shot but its still coming off a second hand car.

What is the mileage of your car currently?

The cars cot 240 000KM on the clock, BUT I suspect the box was swoped before...

 

[DieselFan]

I wouldn't be surprised. Ours only lasted about 130 000kms each.

 

[bmw328]

I wouldn't be surprised. Ours only lasted about 130 000kms each.

YNA, Are these boxes really that bad?
If I convert to manual, will I lose my cruise control?

 

[RAArmstrong]

I wouldn't be surprised. Ours only lasted about 130 000kms each.

YNA, Are these boxes really that bad?
If I convert to manual, will I lose my cruise control?

You wont. Not if done by a reputable mechanic...

Check this thread out: http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=44042

 

[DieselFan]

I wouldn't be surprised. Ours only lasted about 130 000kms each.

YNA, Are these boxes really that bad?
If I convert to manual, will I lose my cruise control?

Maybe if the oils changed every 80 000kms they might last but you never know.

You've got to decide what best suits you. Some people wont like a manual diesel.