[Simply335]

hi guys, i have recently noticed that there is some problem with my car (335d) when accelerating from low rpms in 5 and 6 (autobox), car vibrates slightly (when reaching top torque i guess) then theres a weird sound like thumping rattle too, once revs go higher its gone but its annoying and worries me a lot :/ i have replaced both wheel bearings and rear suspension bushes but it is still there, my car was mapped few weeks ago and wondered if this can be an issue?!
i would appreciate any comments on this, maybe some of you have had this sort of problems? what was the cause? thanks in advance!

[phil200tdi]

Could be the box.

Reset gearbox adaptions. Later try changing the fluid..

[oldbilly]

have a look at the rubber doughnut on the prop shaft.

[CustomColours]

Its sounds like what haopened to my friends 535d touring. He has had the car for a long while. Decided to tune it and then had whats sound like the sane problem as you. It turned out the map had caused the tourque converter in the box to finially give up. It foes happen often to lots of different cars so is worth checking.

[Simply335]

bm do you know what was the cost to replace this thing?
i hope this isnt the TC but cannot rule it out... gonna book her in for a check up in a garage today

[CustomColours]

I think my friend jay payed 700 for it to be removed. Cut open fixed and welded back up. Apparwntly the tourque converter will be stronger tuan it ever was once done aswell. Ill find the correct guy and post his number

[q_jonblaze]

me thinks its the centre bearing on the propshaft...its manifests as a brief vibration every time you set of initially.

or the coupling if its worn but i doubt it becasue if it was the coupling it would constantly vibrate.

yea as u may have guessed...ive had all the issues any bimmer could ever have. sigh*

[Simply335]

thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated, i have booked my baby for the garage visit again on monday, also friendly bmw mechanic is suppose to test drive it tomorrow...
i still hope it is not the TC, tuners said it may be the bearing or flex joint but also the monster torque distorting the propshaft under load!! - im finding it hard to believe but will tune the power down if necessary... fingers crossed all will end up good...

[Simply335]

Originally Posted by bm335i

I think my friend jay payed 700 for it to be removed. Cut open fixed and welded back up. Apparwntly the tourque converter will be stronger tuan it ever was once done aswell. Ill find the correct guy and post his number

i have been told by the mechanic that it will be a torque converter
i think it would be worth to try the reconditioning specially if people saying that it may be stronger...
i would appreciate if anyone could point the company that could help with this please

[CustomColours]

I knew it would be the torque converter did I not?

Ill get the number of the guy to get the job done. Theres only one guy most in the country will use so best going to him. Ill pm you shortly.

[CustomColours]

Here you go mate. There is one other guy vloser to me that is bloody good and done my friends 535d converter.

http://www.autotransmissions.co.uk/

[Simply335]

cheers mate, thanks a bunch for that i was really busy today but will give em a ring tomo...

[ed330D]

It's probably the torque converter . As far as I know, the gearbox fitted to the 335D is a ZF GA6HP26X. The maximum torque for this box is 600nm, which is fine for its intended use - the 335D produces 580nm in standard guise, and of course if it happens to be a good one, maybe a bit more.

So given there is little headroom for increasing torque, tuning isn't the best idea, especially with an older car. Obviously the tuner will say different, and there will be forum members who will tell you their modified cars are just fine, but it appears you have dipped out.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and it's something trivial. You can but hope.

[Simply335]

right the expert confirmed it is a torque converter at its early stage of going out of order, from what he also said it is more complex issue which apparently all ZF boxes are suffering from...
i have been quoted around £2k to get the box+tc fixed/upgraded... not sure what i am going to do with this yet, but simple tc or even entire gearbox replacement will not take me far from what i've been told... feel bit stuck tbh and bit doubtful, maybe someone has bit of a more experience with this kind of stuff? any inputs are welcome

also forgot to mention that i have asked if remap was the cause and been told that it is not directly related, as it is construction issue and transmission fluid pressure drops are to blame for clutch plates getting overheated and glazed what is causing the slips later
and odd vibration and noise i am experiencing is nothing else but these dual clutch slips which are finally going to happen more frequent leading eventually to gearbox failure: misshifts or not locking into gears. not quite cheering news for the beginning of the week

[335DEE]

who did the remap ?
How many miles on your car?

[wallsmk2]

My torque convertor went, but very early stages. On lock up there was a tiny slip which resulted in a 'chirp' noise. BMW added an additive which made the noise go away apparently but the ZF guy said it would be temporary so they swapped it out. Luckily it was done under warranty.

It may be worth contacting ZF yourself to confirm details with them info.zf-services-uk@zf.com

[Simply335]

car has done about 85k now... Remapped by More BHP

[Simply335]

wallsmk2 - thanks for the ZF contact details,
i am already checking up the torque converter rebuilt/upgrade topic, should know more tomorrow... but will be happy to talk to ZF maybe they will throw some light at the case...

from what the gearbox guy was saying i understood that the fluid change or torque converter change will help but as a temporary solution... and the gearbox rebuilt is the only guaranteed cure... apparently the issue lies in the mechatronics unit which is sadly the most expensive piece of the gearbox... he also said that these things (gearbox+torque converter) similar to dual mass fly wheels are designed to brake down right after the warranty expires (usually after 40k miles and within 100k miles)

Oh, dear BMW AG why are you going the same road as VW Group?? i always thought that your vehicles are better built, reliable and fun to use, slowly starting to think that only the last word is whats left, but fun ends when it comes to repairs...

[Josh1a1h]

gd luck with trying to sort this mate. post back once it is sorted.

[Simply335]

surely will do! so far i have some idea about outsourcing parts as i am good at it, also know mechanic brave enough to do the dismantling of drivetrain and reassembling it afterwards... just in two minds still between TC/gearbox replacement and full gearbox rebuilt... need more info, should know more tomorrow.

[CustomColours]

Did the guy I give you the details of quite 2k???

The same guy sorted my friends one for 750 all in. That included the tourque converter being cut ooen rwbuilt stronger and reassembled. His car has done another 50k since and is mapped to stupid levels and is running like a champ.

[Simply335]

yep same guy...