ZF gearbox service, garage recommendations

[apollo]

Could anyone recommend a garage or gearbox specialist that would service (oil change) a BMW 6 speed ZF gearbox. I have the genuine ZF kit already purchased, but my usual garage refuses to do the work as he wont fit any parts he hasn't supplied himself. Im located Newtownabbey but will travel.

 

[Terry]

D B Motors on the Beersbridge road came highly recommended for those gearboxes in the past. Would be worth a phone call or visit

 

[mayweather]

Surely this is a piece of piss??

I’ve never done that particular box myself but I’ve done plenty of others, and done a couple of outboards.

 

[Antoin]

Surely this is a piece of piss??

I’ve never done that particular box myself but I’ve done plenty of others, and done a couple of outboards.

Needs to be at a certain gearbox temperature for filling so ideally you have INPA or some other diagnostics. Also needs to be level as well which isn't easy on axle stands. Needs filled from beneath.
It's a bit of a faff tbh
I've been putting mine off for those reasons. Waiting on my uncle moving half a Massey Ferguson from over his pit. Or until I buy a scissor lift.

 

[mayweather]

Needs to be at a certain gearbox temperature for filling so ideally you have INPA or some other diagnostics. Also needs to be level as well which isn't easy on axle stands. Needs filled from beneath.
It's a bit of a faff tbh
I've been putting mine off for those reasons. Waiting on my uncle moving half a Massey Ferguson from over his pit. Or until I buy a scissor lift.

Hold out for the pit.

I’m used to pulling m3 gearboxes out by myself lying on my back, so anything relating to an oil fill I reckon is child’s play.

I didn’t know anything about gearbox temp for filling, **** that modern stuff!

 

[Coog]

Hold out for the pit.

I’m used to pulling m3 gearboxes out by myself lying on my back, so anything relating to an oil fill I reckon is child’s play.

I didn’t know anything about gearbox temp for filling, **** that modern stuff!

My 1990 W124 needed the box oil at a certain temp for changing lol

 

[mayweather]

My 1990 W124 needed the box oil at a certain temp for changing lol

Aye drive her hard and then pull the drain plug.

I’m sure the mechanic keeps a keen eye on the oil temp....

 

[Graham]

Could anyone recommend a garage or gearbox specialist that would service (oil change) a BMW 6 speed ZF gearbox. I have the genuine ZF kit already purchased, but my usual garage refuses to do the work as he wont fit any parts he hasn't supplied himself. Im located Newtownabbey but will travel.

Les at Turkington Pitstop on Saintfield Road in Belfast is doing mine. He has whatever machine is required to do a full flush of the system.

 

[Cooper]

Autotune did my 335d auto box service years ago.

 

[southsky sunrise]

Brian Drysdale in dundonald, has all the latest equipment and is also a bmw specialist. 07798 927463. Tell him Fred give you his number.

 

[Steve750]

You need to do it twice after 500 miles or so to replace all off the old fluid since a couple of litres sits in the torque converter. Or flush the system by pumping in new fluid to the oil cooler outlet pipe and stop when you see clean fluid coming out of the inlet pipe
Temperature is important too

 

[Antoin]

You need to do it twice after 500 miles or so to replace all off the old fluid since a couple of litres sits in the torque converter. Or flush the system by pumping in new fluid to the oil cooler outlet pipe and stop when you see clean fluid coming out of the inlet pipe
Temperature is important too

Even more than twice if just dumping it from the sump.
Someone on a jag forum did the calcs on how much of the old oil was left after each change. It needed 4 to 5 changes to get to over 90% new oil in it overall.

 

[jinjur]

Thick question, auto noob here.

F31 325d on 85k with one of those "never needs serviced according to bmw" zf 8 speed boxes.

Its a bit lazy sometimes and I was wondering, would an oil and filter service help it? I know the kit (oil pan with built in filter and oil) is a few hundred quid alone. Would these guys still be the best placed to do so?

Car shows no codes relating to the box or anything nasty in ISTA

Sorry for the hijack

Cheers
J

 

[Cro]

Thick question, auto noob here.

F31 325d on 85k with one of those "never needs serviced according to bmw" zf 8 speed boxes.

Its a bit lazy sometimes and I was wondering, would an oil and filter service help it? I know the kit (oil pan with built in filter and oil) is a few hundred quid alone. Would these guys still be the best placed to do so?

Car shows no codes relating to the box or anything nasty in ISTA

Sorry for the hijack

Cheers
J

I did an oil change and relearn on mine and it was night and day difference, definitely worth it.

Inpa cycled the system to flush all the old stuff out. An oil, filter and seal change on them is a real easy job

 

[jinjur]

if you don't mind me asking bud, where did you source your kit from?

Have to work out if ISTA would do the purge and relearn stuff as well. I take it you had to drive at certain speeds and all that to get it to relearn?

 

[Eddies]

Bm is dicks over the boxes. Seal life mean absolutely nothing. I've seen sealed life boxes in bits within hours. Worked with a new seal unit once broke within hours and had to get hand drawings to get parts for it as they hadn't catalogued it internally. Things break better servicing it for peace of mind if nothing else.

 

[Cro]

if you don't mind me asking bud, where did you source your kit from?

Have to work out if ISTA would do the purge and relearn stuff as well. I take it you had to drive at certain speeds and all that to get it to relearn?

Pretty sure it was carparts24 I got it from after a check of the emails. Yeah after a reset I took it on the Glengormley to Larne autobahn for the relearn procedure

 

[jinjur]

Ach ballix but also a little lol ..................... I mean ........ SURE JUST PUT ALL THE DIRTY LAUNDRY OUT THERE WHY DONCHA!

 

[Graham]

Les at Turkington Pitstop on Saintfield Road in Belfast is doing mine. He has whatever machine is required to do a full flush of the system.

So, a wee update...

Gearbox service – my thoughts;

The 6-speed ZF gearbox fitted to my E60 530d was, I thought, flawless. Despite being in service for 14-years and covering 113,000 miles, it was smooth and reasonably precise at predicting the gears that I wished for.

Having had its fluid flushed, it is a different transmission now. The drive home after servicing was surprising, to say the least.

Up-shift was barely noticeable; down-shift was much more accurate in its timing; kick-down didn’t jolt in the way it used too. I was genuinely glad I’d chosen to get a full flush done, rather than just a partial oil change.

Day two of driving and I was doubting my choice, mainly as the ‘box didn’t quite seem to know what gear to be in. It was also very jerky changing gears when cold and held revs in D mode, like it used to in D Sport mode.

I was aware that the internal workings needed to adjust and self-learn again, so wasn’t put off too much.

Day three of driving and even from cold, the ‘box was almost as smooth and precise as it was in the hours after having the service done. It was maybe holding gears a bit longer than I’d have liked, but the learning is all going the right way, or maybe I got used to what was becoming a lazy ‘box, and the service has made it suitably lively again.

I've a full day on the road on Saturday, so that will give me a proper gauge of just how it's meant to be. Regardless, I am very pleased so far.

 

[Cossie_1986]

Im booked into Turkington Pitstop of ZF 8HP flush and new pan.

The kit I bought has 8 litres of ZF lifeguard 8, but Turkington say I need 13 litres for the flush, seems alot could anyone confirm?

 

[swansty]

yep you will need a good bit more to flush all through

 

[Graham]

Im booked into Turkington Pitstop of ZF 8HP flush and new pan.

The kit I bought has 8 litres of ZF lifeguard 8, but Turkington say I need 13 litres for the flush, seems alot could anyone confirm?

That's correct. You need almost double to do a proper flush.

 

[jinjur]

Picking this up again as finally managed to source the zf pan, bolts and 8l of zf fluid for a good price.

I guess my question is around the flush.

I was always of the opinion that a flush was never a good thing, never did it with any engine etc as in my head, there was always risk of dislodging some nasties inside.

So I guess the question is do you think it really needs a flush?

We are coming on to 95k, box never serviced (as per BMW nonsense) and I am hoping to do this myself.

If I drain it and use ISTA to purge the system to remove as much as possible, would the change not suffice given this is not a stupidly high powered car?

Still in 2 minds as to the re-learn. I may just do the change and see how it feels although I appreciate that the re-learn is to allow it to adjust for age and wear.

J

 

[Cossie_1986]

I had flush done few months ago on the ZF 8hp , car was at 100k. I am glad I got the flush done personally but you would need another 5 litres to complete the process properly.

Some have recommneded you change the oil this time then in a few more thousands miles do the full flush, I though F it im flusing it now and if the box dies so be it I will get a second hand box.

Turkington did the flush and took vid and photos of the crap that came out, Id recommend them personally.

The box felt amazing for a few days after the flush then it did wried stuff like holding on to gears or changing at the wrong time for a while time but I think it was re-learning. Now the box is very smooth again, smoother than it was at 60k when I bought the car.

Flush it completely gets my vote.

 

[Alan_B]

Picking this up again as finally managed to source the zf pan, bolts and 8l of zf fluid for a good price.

I guess my question is around the flush.

I was always of the opinion that a flush was never a good thing, never did it with any engine etc as in my head, there was always risk of dislodging some nasties inside.

So I guess the question is do you think it really needs a flush?

We are coming on to 95k, box never serviced (as per BMW nonsense) and I am hoping to do this myself.

If I drain it and use ISTA to purge the system to remove as much as possible, would the change not suffice given this is not a stupidly high powered car?

Still in 2 minds as to the re-learn. I may just do the change and see how it feels although I appreciate that the re-learn is to allow it to adjust for age and wear.

J

Where did you get the service kit from? Looking at getting this done as well!