Hi to you all out there.  I am seriously perturbed about the somewhat cockeyed notion that gearboxes  in both BMW and Mercedes Benz cars are seal for life and do not require servicing !!

Indeed it has been said that they (both marques ) that they only need working on when they totally fail as functioning transmissions !!

My question to the forum is simply - has anyone had or got a 635 Auto that has had had a transmission service or is booked in for one and what cost is involved ?

 

I have scrutinized the documentation/service book/record and there is no evidence of the car having had a transmission service in the year since it was first registered in July 2008. albeit the mileage is now as  133,250 miles.

Morning John 

Not just the marques you name the poor old gearbox and Diffs are probably the most abused parts of any car. With most Garages Oil and Filters and a quick visual inspection is seen as a service (time is money) 

ZF Service intervals are 60k to 100k Kilometres (about 60k miles) So "sealed for life" for most Marques meant "End of Warranty Responsibility" 

My X5 E53 4.6is was serviced by ZF the cost was £630 (8 years ago) but they pulled the Mechatronic unit serviced it and fitted new seals flushed the Torque converter the put it all back. Even though my box was smooth it felt better after service. My X5 E70 I have doe myself using genuine ZF parts cost was £220 Fluid Filter Sump Seal and Bolts (Euro Car Parts last year) I also changed fluid in both Diffs and Transfer Case

Check Google for ZF specialists or a ZF service centre for costs if your not into DIY

Dave

Tip make sure you can undo the fill plug before draining the fluid I had to help a friend who had drained his box then couldn't undo the Fill plug and damaged it 

5 hours ago, Greydog said:

Morning John 

Not just the marques you name the poor old gearbox and Diffs are probably the most abused parts of any car. With most Garages Oil and Filters and a quick visual inspection is seen as a service (time is money) 

ZF Service intervals are 60k to 100k Kilometres (about 60k miles) So "sealed for life" for most Marques meant "End of Warranty Responsibility" 

My X5 E53 4.6is was serviced by ZF the cost was £630 (8 years ago) but they pulled the Mechatronic unit serviced it and fitted new seals flushed the Torque converter the put it all back. Even though my box was smooth it felt better after service. My X5 E70 I have doe myself using genuine ZF parts cost was £220 Fluid Filter Sump Seal and Bolts (Euro Car Parts last year) I also changed fluid in both Diffs and Transfer Case

Check Google for ZF specialists or a ZF service centre for costs if your not into DIY

Dave

Tip make sure you can undo the fill plug before draining the fluid I had to help a friend who had drained his box then couldn't undo the Fill plug and damaged it 

Hi Dave. Thank you for your quick reply. SCARY is the first thing that comes to mind especially as I can no longer do my own work on my cars unless it is something like changing wiper blades and stuff that does not require a garage for shelter in the event of bad weather !

I will sound-out my Indy as I have been using him on my previous 4No E45's.

A very very brief word with him a little after opening up your post revealed that the transmission service on the forthcoming E63 involves a new sump (made of plastic !!!) which has an integral filter as part of the construction.

He was talking a figure circa £450.00.

We will see when the time comes.