Gearbox Roulette

[7builder]

My X5 has now done more than 135,000 miles and the gearbox is operating faultlessly (tempting fate I know) and changes gear smoother than greased weasel shit. However I know this sunny day scenario cannot last forever and will one day turn round and bite me in the arse as "sealed for life" transmission fluid will eventually fail followed shortly by the gearbox itself.
I have read about people changing transmission fluid only to have the gearbox fail soon after and the theories behind such failures so this leads me to the question, what to do about my gearbox? Should I just leave it until it fails then spend a fortune replacing it or should I try some sort of preventative work now but risk premature failure by disturbing and stirring up sediments and swarf settled in the bottom of the box?

[shadrack]

id just stick allow to get a £2500 ish bill at any point and carry on, lots report failure just after so if theres no problem to fix, just leave it, many on high miles are fine, as you say its roulette with no apparent milage/ pattern other than some go, some dont

[7builder]

[quote="shadrack"]
id just stick allow to get a £2500 ish bill at any point and carry on, lots report failure just after so if theres no problem to fix, just leave it, many on high miles are fine, as you say its roulette with no apparent milage/ pattern other than some go, some dont
[/quote]
I think you're right Shadrack but it just seems like a daft ploy as you wouldn't run an engine on the same oil until a catastrophic failure. Lets hope I have one of the gearboxes that go on forever.  ::)

[shadrack]

also alot are changing trans fluid to get rid of knocks/ slipping if you have none of these why bother?  if you develope one of the above then change it, i understand what you mean about oil, but i know someone whos done 89k miles without an oil change on a seat alpha people carrier thing with no issues

[Smeeagain]

[quote="7builder"]
[quote="shadrack"]
id just stick allow to get a £2500 ish bill at any point and carry on, lots report failure just after so if theres no problem to fix, just leave it, many on high miles are fine, as you say its roulette with no apparent milage/ pattern other than some go, some dont
[/quote]
I think you're right Shadrack but it just seems like a daft ploy as you wouldn't run an engine on the same oil until a catastrophic failure. Lets hope I have one of the gearboxes that go on forever.  ::)
[/quote]

Totally agree with your point, but ....... why risk accelerating that potential failure? If it aint broke dont fix it ?
I speak as someone who has 189,000 miles on the clock and I'm happy to date with gearbox performance. And know the oil has not been changed I have the money set aside for full rebuild and I have AA cover to two me straight to the garage when it happens.....

[7builder]

[quote="Smeeagain"]
[quote="7builder"]
[quote="shadrack"]
id just stick allow to get a £2500 ish bill at any point and carry on, lots report failure just after so if theres no problem to fix, just leave it, many on high miles are fine, as you say its roulette with no apparent milage/ pattern other than some go, some dont
[/quote]
I think you're right Shadrack but it just seems like a daft ploy as you wouldn't run an engine on the same oil until a catastrophic failure. Lets hope I have one of the gearboxes that go on forever.  ::)
[/quote]
Totally agree with your point, but ....... why risk accelerating that potential failure? If it aint broke dont fix it ?
I speak as someone who has 189,000 miles on the clock and I'm happy to date with gearbox performance. And know the oil has not been changed I have the money set aside for full rebuild and I have AA cover to two me straight to the garage when it happens.....
[/quote]So who is the gearbox specialist of choice for the rebuild when that fateful day arrives?

[X5-D-Sport]

Re gearbox oil...

With past vehicles, it's almost as if they get comfy with their oil... and throw a strop if you take it off them...
You think you're doing the right thing & change the oil... and 3 days later the bloody thing dies...

I think I would follow the advice here, just get the levels topped up if needed, and put some money by for a rebuild as and IF necessary one day.

I've had vehicles that drove perfectly, and being a perfectionist I changed the box oil, and killed the bloody thing within a week.....

If it works fine.... don't try to fix the unbroken... or you will break it for sure.

GB

[fenj66]

plus one for the last post, i changed my gearbox oil to try and cure the lurch, it didnt cure it and i got another hiccup of an up change when the box is cold, id wish i had just saved the money and not bothered.  :'(

[dgm]

For what it's worth I changed the gearbox oil when I bought mine with 75,000 miles on it and there have been no negative effects whatsoever.  3 years and 30,000 miles later, the box is performing really well.

[AVI-8]

It's an old question
Been asked for years, the "experts" will advise to leave alone  as they've read many posts on Internet forums whereby changing the oil will cause witchcraft in the gearbox to cause it to self destruct. Most of these experts had problems with their gearbox then changed their oil ... Wrong way round  ... Change the oil before the problems exist.
BMW UK say it's a sealed for life product ... Sealed for life means ... For the life of the warranty, most would agree that they'd like their gearbox not to self destruct as soon as the manufacturers warranty expires, therefore ......

Have a look on t'internet, find your local ZF dealer, call them and ask what they recommend, after all they make the gearboxes not BMW, I guarantee they'll recommend that you get the oil changed .. After all, it's not rocket science, a gearbox is a mechanical component which obviously won't last forever bathing in 10 year oil oil.

It's funny how BMW America change the oil as part of a service schedule and BMW UK don't? Same gearbox!!!

As I said speak to the specialists  (ZF) don't take my advise

[Steamyrotter]

You do realise that now you have posted about it, its going to get a strop on and start playing you up......
>:D