Just wonderd have you guy's ever experianced any like unsmooth gear shifts with your auto or semi auto gearboxes.

I have the Alpina b10 v8 model e39 which has the option of a total auto box or a manual shift box. The thing i find weird is Bmw call it a sealed for lfe gearbox but this isnt the case.

As like any manual or auto gearbox the clutch plates where over a considerable amount of time which contaminates the oil and filter in the gearbox. Which in time cause these violent like gear shifts. It mainly happens when the car is coming down the shifts not up. Having had the oil changed in my gearbox, drained over night then toped up and all is well now no like rough gear shifts. just wondered have any of you guys experianced anything like this and if so what methods are taken to aviod it or do you know of a better system to renew more oil when changing. Thanks.

Sounds like you have taken care of the problem. Thanks for posting the thread.
I haven't encountered any difficulties yet with my 102k tranny, but I don't know for sure if the PO changed out the fluid.
I think flushes aren't recommended for trannys with the mileage mine has, however I think a filter change is a good thing if you haven't already done that.
Also, FYI a mityvac fluid evacuator (http://www.mityvac.com/hq_images/07201.jpg)can make tranny fluid changes a much easier DIY.
Cheers :drink1

Cheers James. In the uk Bmw recommend that most of the lifetime gearboxes should have a oil change at around 60k miles to stop the oil becomming dead. Just wondering do your dealers recommend a change. Its seems most guys on the forums in the uk are having the change just incase any problems in the future. Like you im not a fan of the flushing rig. They say more oil can be drained by doing this but i think more harm could be done than good. Also it does get as much oil from the torque converter as from just draining and leaving overnight.

Most BMW dealers dont use or know of a flushing rig system. Just do the draining process.

My transmission is from the ZF trans and they do offer a flush through. The thing is most bmw specialists ive talking to who do some fantastic mods to cars, dont use the flush just the draining process, run the car 5 seconds then stop in again to get as much out as poss. Im happy with this as the car isnt having the rough shifts now.

Is there anyone thats had simlar trans probs on the forum.

Thanks.

What sort of intervals do you tend to replace the atf oil and filters on your Trannys. Bmw Eu recommend every 60k. It seems alot of guys here are having problems with such long periods without a change.

Has anyone any views on this.

free bump...

good topic

I was having the Same problem... changed oil / filter ... got rid of it.. at least for now.

Its really good to hear this problem can be erased but its one that can be back before you know it.

Its also good to ues the correct atf oil bmw recommend to suit your actual trans. Most modern E39 auto trans use a fully synethetic atf oil so make sure you have the correct oil to suit your trans. As could make things worse than better using the wrong stuff.

Also this problem only seems to happen with the V8 and not to many Straight-sixes. Is this due to more torque of the v8 shifting through the Gearbox.

The Alpina B10s have a ZF Gearbox right? Thats what my 540 has. They use the esso fluid.

The Alpina B10s have a ZF Gearbox right? Thats what my 540 has. They use the esso fluid.


Thats correct Alpina540i, thats what zf transmissions said it was when talking with them over the phone.

Just wonderd have you ever had any like rough shifts with your BEAST. If so what mileage you at.

Lovely looking car going by the pictures.

Thanks for the Kind words!

I will start by saying that I am a transmission shift connoisseur and I am very picky about the way it shifts. I have had one extremly rough downshift rolling from like 25 to 15mph
That has only happened once. I also have noticed slightly rough upshifts in each gear equally. I bought the car with 130,000 miles on it so I replaced the filter in the trans and the esso fluid. I only replaced like 6 quarts. So I think I may drop the pan again and replace the filter again and replace more fluid. I replaced the fluid the first time about a year ago. Hopfully this will smooth out the shifts. I wish I couldn't feel them at all.

How much did you pay for the valve body of the trans. to be rebuilt?

Do you think replacing the sensors in you trans helped more than the new valve body or vise versa?

Thanks for the Kind words!

I will start by saying that I am a transmission shift connoisseur and I am very picky about the way it shifts. I have had one extremly rough downshift rolling from like 25 to 15mph
That has only happened once. I also have noticed slightly rough upshifts in each gear equally. I bought the car with 130,000 miles on it so I replaced the filter in the trans and the esso fluid. I only replaced like 6 quarts. So I think I may drop the pan again and replace the filter again and replace more fluid. I replaced the fluid the first time about a year ago. Hopfully this will smooth out the shifts. I wish I couldn't feel them at all.

How much did you pay for the valve body of the trans. to be rebuilt?

Do you think replacing the sensors in you trans helped more than the new valve body or vise versa?

As the car was under warranty at the time i didn't have to foot the bill but looking at the invoice i reseved in total includ labour 670£ not shaw to what that is in American $ but that was the cost.

The car is without doubt shifting better, up and down the box. I never experianced any harsh shifts going up the box only ever from 2nd to first. That was when in the auto mode not steptronic.

My car has 65k on now so it was due a change.

This only seem to happen when the car was well warmed up. Also did have the ocasinal rough shift when in the steptronic mode but again from 2nd to first no other gears. Very strange this problem it spoils such a great car when its there.

There is also a software upgrade you can get to hepl with this. If you go to your dealer they can tell you if you have it or if the car needs it. I dont know lots about this only what ive read.

The extremly rough shift occured to my car after I had been driving 2 hours+

When you say the car was shifting better do you mean like new? or just ok...

I may ask my dealer if my car has the lastest trans software. Mabey that will help.

The extremly rough shift occured to my car after I had been driving 2 hours+

When you say the car was shifting better do you mean like new? or just ok...

I may ask my dealer if my car has the lastest trans software. Mabey that will help.

It was SMOOTH bro thats all i can say.

I dont know if you are aware but the Alpina B10 v8 has the swicth-tronic gear shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel and shifts as smooth as any auto trans out there. Also the Switch-tron system allows you to hold on to the gear in manual mode much more the steptronic does. As well as dropping gears can come right to the rev limits in manual mode. But in the E programme as its called wont upshift or down shift at the same rpm as manual option. Its a cool setup just like F1 cars.:)

It was SMOOTH bro thats all i can say.

I dont know if you are aware but the Alpina B10 v8 has the swicth-tronic gear shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel and shifts as smooth as any auto trans out there. Also the Switch-tron system allows you to hold on to the gear in manual mode much more the steptronic does. As well as dropping gears can come right to the rev limits in manual mode. But in the E programme as its called wont upshift or down shift at the same rpm as manual option. Its a cool setup just like F1 cars.:)


Just wonderd is there any other B10 V8's on the forum.

Or does anyone have the paddle gear shift option :alright:)

Surely somone has the paddle- shift moded to there there beast.

Who wants to be reaching down to shift all the time. ;)