Auto gearboxes - fail more than manual gearboxes ? Opinion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ross

It was broken.

---

exactly.

Overhaul an autobox for $350?? Please share the name of your trans builder.
The automatics are necessarily more complicated and failure prone than a manual gear box, add the electronics and the unfortunate fact that some asswipe at BMW decided to recommend never changing the fluid.
Anyone interested in a manual swap?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by repenttokyo

AT's often miss shifts, through slippage. I had one that would miss first all the time.

---

It was broken.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ross

Overhaul an autobox for $350?? Please share the name of your trans builder.
The automatics are necessarily more complicated and failure prone than a manual gear box, add the electronics and the unfortunate fact that some asswipe at BMW decided to recommend never changing the fluid.
Anyone interested in a manual swap?

---

well here in the PI, it will cost that much... anyways, it is AUTOMECHANIKA. They do service, Lambos, Porsche, bmw's, benz, jags, practically almost all european and some american cars... 10,000 sq.m of covered work space, complete tools and equipment. this company is supported by the germans who they bought their equipment from. And they carry ZF parts if you need them for rebuilding or replacing your power steering and auto tranny.

the e39 auto tranny does have electronic problems.. this sucks compared to the older e34.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ross

All indications are that the clutch in my '89 is original. The odo reads 256k miles and hasn't worked for 5 years. Estimated to be a bit past 300k.
Fingers crossed

---

clutch in my 91 is original,389 000 km.

All indications are that the clutch in my '89 is original. The odo reads 256k miles and hasn't worked for 5 years. Estimated to be a bit past 300k.
Fingers crossed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ross

All indications are that the clutch in my '89 is original. The odo reads 256k miles and hasn't worked for 5 years. Estimated to be a bit past 300k.
Fingers crossed

---

My experience is clutches on manuals (driven by all family members) last about 60k miles. My older son had a clutch go at 12k miles on his car. Ok it wasnt a new car-its a Corsa so maybe a driving school had it first! Coincidence or do we have a suspect?:D There is a lot of talk about the GM 4speed auto falling to bits but not too many problems with the 5 speed ZF. Another coincidence?

I was having the "Trans Program" message pop up occasionally. It also would hang the downshift from second gear to first occasionally. However, it did have 160,000 miles on it and functioned perfectly most of the time. I really blame the faults with my transmission with the electronics. If it had been mechanical, it most likely would have happened all the time. My problems were intermittent. Having heard that the 4HP22 trannys were a bit fragile, I always kept the filter clean and changed about 3.5 quarts of fluid every 5-7,000 miles to keep it fairly fresh. Manuals on the other hand typically can last a long, long time if you don't miss shifts or grind gears. Same goes for the clutch. If you don't ride it at stoplights or abuse it in general, I'm sure it can last over 100,000 miles.

Robert K
BMW-less at the moment