[tom619]

Hi everyone,

The more days that go by owning my lovely 10 plate E90 I notice something.

Most recently, I've noticed that when heading to and from work in the morning/evening, in steptronic mode there are noticeable judders when changing up gears. They tend to disappear after 10-15 mins of controlled driving but I was just wondering whether this is normal for the auto transmission e90?

Thanks

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by tom619

Hi everyone,

The more days that go by owning my lovely 10 plate E90 I notice something.

Most recently, I've noticed that when heading to and from work in the morning/evening, in steptronic mode there are noticeable judders when changing up gears. They tend to disappear after 10-15 mins of controlled driving but I was just wondering whether this is normal for the auto transmission e90?

Thanks

Mileage? Re these does them the world of good to have a trans fluid change and re set adaptations(none of this key in throttle to the floor stuff, proper adaptation reset) catch the issue early no real hard is done, worth checking under the car to see if the gear box pan is sweating as we usually see this and the oil leakage is from pilot plug or sump gasket, remember sump is plastic and has an integral filter.

These gear boxes adapt to how you drive therefore when cold for instance fluids not warm it'll not be working at its best and if the fluid level is low the gearbox will be snatching perhaps due to the fluid level being too low i.e scavenging for fluid.

[tom619]

It has done 75k mate.

The things you mention, are they things I can check myself?

[m20b25]

Originally Posted by tom619

It has done 75k mate.

The things you mention, are they things I can check myself?

If you have access to a jack and axle stands, yes. Just need to drop the plastic cover and look at the gearbox sump.

FYI, mine was a 85k when i changed it and had no sweating at all.

As a lot of people are saying now- its worth getting the box fluid changed.

[Pacman83]

Originally Posted by old grey steve

if the fluid level is low the gearbox will be snatching perhaps due to the fluid level being too low i.e scavenging for fluid.

My gearbox sometimes snatches as you mention. Maybe low on fluid? It does have FBMWSH, so surely this is checked?

[tom619]

Ok I will at changing the gearbox fluid.. But I'm not going to be able to do it myself based on the information in this thread!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1017782

[old grey steve]

a ramp will help the normal thing we see is sweating on the plastic sump underside and also the oil can vent back(with air flow)on to covers even exhaust and body underside, might be possible to get a basic idea on the floor but the best view 100% is up on a ramp 6ft high(I'll post some pics later on)

[m20b25]

Someone may correct me, but I don't think bmw check it at all as they say it's 'sealed for life'. Life to them means 100k miles.

Yep, wouldn't recommend to anyone doing it yourself for the sake of a couple hundred quid labour. The reason I did it myself was because at the time, it was expensive for a garage to do it. Costs have since reduced a lot.

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by m20b25

Someone may correct me, but I don't think bmw check it at all as they say it's 'sealed for life'. Life to them means 100k miles.

Yep, wouldn't recommend to anyone doing it yourself for the sake of a couple hundred quid labour. The reason I did it myself was because at the time, it was expensive for a garage to do it. Costs have since reduced a lot.

BMW don't check it to the best of my knowledge as its sealed for life, yet call them in the morning and request a sump you'll have it in the afternoon as they are a stock item via warehouse stock and fluid is off the shelf or again from warehouse stock, therefore if its sealed for life how come they have plenty of stock available? Work that out

Re costs they have gone down sure and by us looking outside the "old usual channel" there's money to be saved making it cheaper to carry out this "essential" service to prolong the life of your gearbox.

Pity BMW don't follow Mercedes's lead every 4 or so years 48k on most its even in their service book/on line service book data screen.

[tom619]

So is this something I could get BMW to check?

I live in glasgow and there are only 2 BMW dealers to choose from.

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by tom619

So is this something I could get BMW to check?

I live in glasgow and there are only 2 BMW dealers to choose from.

Yes or a half decent garage with a bit of savvy could to carry out the procedure but re setting adaptations will require some one with necessary coding software to carry out the procedure with the required care

[tom619]

Would you be able to check it mate?

Cheeky but worth an ask

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by tom619

Would you be able to check it mate?

Cheeky but worth an ask

We could for sure if there was an issue but please bare in mind there will be a min charge but it'll get a good look over... but re the pics of a sump when looked at from the underside




you'll normally see oil if its leaking sitting on the side of the plastic sump of sittiing on/inbetween the veins on the plastic sump fairly easy to spot and failry common if you look at the sump that's been removed below you'll see some shiny residue on the veins on the pics below




though we've seen far worse. Pic of the sump removed and inside view




the precious cargo you're protecting(well the outer casing)





and the fluid colour after say 70k's worth of driving



and how we fill the sump



WE do these now fairly reguarly always with a good result and it makes the car feel so much better

[tom619]

Wow. Looks like a big job.

Where is your garage Steve?

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by tom619

Wow. Looks like a big job.

Where is your garage Steve?

Stevenage Herts, its not too big a job a bit of time and some basic knowledge covers most of it but you have to take your time feeding the fluid back in and we always use 2 people when running the car up and getting the last of the fluid in watching temps as we do so.

[tom619]

Would I be able to bring her in on Saturday?

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by tom619

Would I be able to bring her in on Saturday?

Yes by a booking though no chance whatsoever this week as we are rammed, booking needs to be done and to be safe if you were looking to get it done I'd book with name phone number reg details and I'll pull a ZF kit in with the aim of doing a service there and then.

You can PM details if you like opening times on Saturday's are 8am close 12.30 cars need to be with me by 9am latest as one thing I do like to do is get the boys off at or around about closing time as they work hard enough as it is during th week often leaving after 6.30