Well.......my auto gearbox is finally giving up ....now shifting to Reverse will not make my car move ....have to tried so many times before it works. Initially not only the Reverse problem, gear changed from 2nd will drag RPM to very high and still not to 3rd gear, so have to release the pedal but to my surprise, the car become freeplay, so have to pull over and start from standstill, only it can continue to move. Sometimes 2nd to 3rd is as smooth as smoothies ...no problem at all............Went to change the gearbox oil n filter yesterday but still the same problem ......., my mechanic said will need about rm3k+ to buy a recond /overhaul unit.But this morning, while flipping a local chinese paper, found a advertisement saying Gearbox spealist, so I called up and the shop is located in Pandan Indah. The boss, Ah Meng said RM2500 will include labour n taking out my gearbox for overhaul. RM2500 and no hidden cost, will also give 3 months warranty as well.Sifu outthere, is this a fair n reasonable deal ?Wat are the things I should be aware when I send my car to this shop for the overhaul ?After the overhaul, how long with it last ?
Auto Gearbox Overhaul for E34
- Thread starter albertsew
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I only know the workshop been there in Pandan Indah as long as I stayed there.
But i hv not been there to repair my car before.
So when overhaul, parts inside that are good, I am sure they will use back right ? They will only change the faulty parts but charging us the standard price.
flash
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RM2,500 sounds like a good deal but better find out exactly what that covers.... i.e. labour, overhaul kit.... in the worse case scenario, there could be other parts that need changing and you may not know it until the box is opened up. Kena whacked once with one of my previous car.... initial price was very good but the cost of the parts that needed changing started to add up.... :beaten:
Calling 5201, calling 5201, you can check out the place too.... near your place, I presume....
Calling 5201, calling 5201, you can check out the place too.... near your place, I presume....
Faiz
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Yup. Flash is right. Once gearbox 'turun' and opened up, cost of parts to be changed will start adding up. Happened to me too with my volvo four years ago.. Same problem...cannot engage reverse. Mech said 'around 2K parts and labour' but after dismantling everything, he said many things to be changed including valvebody...about 4-5K! Asked him to get a secondhand unit which came to about 3.5K all in. Touchwood, smooth till today. Good luck...
In that case, my Mech said is around RM3k + to get an already recon gearbox + labour would be the option instead of the Rm2.5k in pandan indah.
I will pay him a visit tomorrow to check out if it is one off price RM2.5k and no other hidden cost.
Wat are the external parts that need changes /replacement after removing the gearbox out and reinstall back ?
Lionel_Koh
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Good Luck dude.... 
I have done some shopping around for the GM 4-speed gearboxes, and this is what I found out. There are several factors in gearbox prices. My choices listed below in order of preference:-
Option A: Rebuild own box:
Prices starts from RM3K. Depending on the condition of the GB and the parts required, prices may increase. As the repair kit and tranny oil adds up to almost 1.5K - 2K, 3K seems reasonable for rebuild, IF no other parts needed to be changed. 2.5K sounds really really reasonable in Albert's case.
Pros: U are assured that the damaged parts are changed and yr box is practically new.
Cons: Cost of rebuild cant be fixed till the box is opened and damaged accessed. Usual damage: RM3K (if u very very lucky) to RM5K (if u very very unlucky).
Option B: Recon:
This usually means getting it from a gearbox specialist, who rebuilds the boxes for resell. Depends on where u get them, the boxes are usually old boxes rebuilt from other spoilt boxes, or from potong shops.
Pros: Cost is fixed, depending on where u get them from, ranging from RM3.5-RM4.5K, warranty 3-6months.
Cons: U dont know the source or the original damage of the gearbox, as well as how extensive have the repair (or rebuild) work was.
Option C: 2nd hand (aka potong):
This usually means boxes that are taken from (1) cars involved in accidents, (2) half cut imported cars, (3) stolen cars, or any other sources.
Pros: Cost is relatively cheaper than the options above, E34 boxes starts from RM2.5K.
Cons: U really dont know the original source, and worse still, no assurances of the condition of the gearbox u r getting. Meaning the box could die on you on yr way home from the workshop. Also, warranties are usually not given at all.
There u have it, all the options available for GB, with my personal pros and cons. My personal choice, Option A. It may be the costliest, as u change the rings, clutch plates and get the soleniods changed too, but the pros outweight the cons, as u r assured of a "new" GB with all damaged parts replaced. This gives me good sleep at night as i dont worry of the GB dying on me the next day.
Some advice for those of u doing up yr GB, tell yr mech to rebuild yr torque converter too. There is a clutch plate in it too, and as u have opened up yr box, the cost to replace the clutch plate in the torque converter is minimal. If u r buying a recond GB, u can try to find out if they did rebuild the torque converter. From experience, RM3.5K buys u a recond GB without work done on the torque converter.
My 2 cents, meant to be info shared. Pls down yr own legwork and decide what is the best for you.
5201.
Option A: Rebuild own box:
Prices starts from RM3K. Depending on the condition of the GB and the parts required, prices may increase. As the repair kit and tranny oil adds up to almost 1.5K - 2K, 3K seems reasonable for rebuild, IF no other parts needed to be changed. 2.5K sounds really really reasonable in Albert's case.
Pros: U are assured that the damaged parts are changed and yr box is practically new.
Cons: Cost of rebuild cant be fixed till the box is opened and damaged accessed. Usual damage: RM3K (if u very very lucky) to RM5K (if u very very unlucky).
Option B: Recon:
This usually means getting it from a gearbox specialist, who rebuilds the boxes for resell. Depends on where u get them, the boxes are usually old boxes rebuilt from other spoilt boxes, or from potong shops.
Pros: Cost is fixed, depending on where u get them from, ranging from RM3.5-RM4.5K, warranty 3-6months.
Cons: U dont know the source or the original damage of the gearbox, as well as how extensive have the repair (or rebuild) work was.
Option C: 2nd hand (aka potong):
This usually means boxes that are taken from (1) cars involved in accidents, (2) half cut imported cars, (3) stolen cars, or any other sources.
Pros: Cost is relatively cheaper than the options above, E34 boxes starts from RM2.5K.
Cons: U really dont know the original source, and worse still, no assurances of the condition of the gearbox u r getting. Meaning the box could die on you on yr way home from the workshop. Also, warranties are usually not given at all.
There u have it, all the options available for GB, with my personal pros and cons. My personal choice, Option A. It may be the costliest, as u change the rings, clutch plates and get the soleniods changed too, but the pros outweight the cons, as u r assured of a "new" GB with all damaged parts replaced. This gives me good sleep at night as i dont worry of the GB dying on me the next day.
Some advice for those of u doing up yr GB, tell yr mech to rebuild yr torque converter too. There is a clutch plate in it too, and as u have opened up yr box, the cost to replace the clutch plate in the torque converter is minimal. If u r buying a recond GB, u can try to find out if they did rebuild the torque converter. From experience, RM3.5K buys u a recond GB without work done on the torque converter.
My 2 cents, meant to be info shared. Pls down yr own legwork and decide what is the best for you.
5201.
ALBundy
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The cost of tranny is pretty much fixed, basically depending on how much the mechanic charges for labour and his profit margin. The reason is once the gearbox is opened, its better to replace all wear and tear parts, irrespective of whether the part is broken or not.
AS for replacing solenoids as part of the rebuilding process, thats news to me. Even EH auto also won't do that (and they are charging more than 5.5k for a recon unit) already, in a ZF-5hp18 tranny there are 7 solenoids and each one cost more than RM300 a piece.
I may wanna add a bit more on the tranny rebuilding. Most if not all of the mechanics claiming to be experts arent really expert, most of them do not have the proper tools to ensure the proper torque and also measure the proper clutch pack setting. If you are lucky, the GB will be smooth, if not there will be a slight jerk at 1st and 2nd speed changes.
Rgds
Al
AS for replacing solenoids as part of the rebuilding process, thats news to me. Even EH auto also won't do that (and they are charging more than 5.5k for a recon unit) already, in a ZF-5hp18 tranny there are 7 solenoids and each one cost more than RM300 a piece.
I may wanna add a bit more on the tranny rebuilding. Most if not all of the mechanics claiming to be experts arent really expert, most of them do not have the proper tools to ensure the proper torque and also measure the proper clutch pack setting. If you are lucky, the GB will be smooth, if not there will be a slight jerk at 1st and 2nd speed changes.
Rgds
Al
My car is now in my mechanic's workshop for 2 days but my mechanic is still sourcing out the best price option for me ........no worries, the mechanic is my relative.
These are some of the options he found out :
a) get a recond unit from RM3.8k to Rm5.5k, fix it back and end of story.
B) a lot of expert suggested to get a Japanese spec gearbox (5 speed) which will be more powerful, less maintenance and minimum repair cost in the near future, BUT have to get the complete set of wiring, ecu and blar blar blar .......cost would be RM6.8k.
c) or a whole half cut but can opt for 525 transplant but no guarantee of the condition of gearbox as mentioned by 5201. No pricing indication from my mechanic. How much would it cost for the whole thing ?
d) Pandan Indah mechanic that said RM2500 but definitely gonna be more $$RM after he has dismantle the gearbox.
I am really really in dilema as which option to go for as cost is my main concern.
Please HELP !!!
These are some of the options he found out :
a) get a recond unit from RM3.8k to Rm5.5k, fix it back and end of story.
B) a lot of expert suggested to get a Japanese spec gearbox (5 speed) which will be more powerful, less maintenance and minimum repair cost in the near future, BUT have to get the complete set of wiring, ecu and blar blar blar .......cost would be RM6.8k.
c) or a whole half cut but can opt for 525 transplant but no guarantee of the condition of gearbox as mentioned by 5201. No pricing indication from my mechanic. How much would it cost for the whole thing ?
d) Pandan Indah mechanic that said RM2500 but definitely gonna be more $$RM after he has dismantle the gearbox.
I am really really in dilema as which option to go for as cost is my main concern.
Please HELP !!!
OK...just went to the Pandan Indah, shop behind RHB bank. The boss, Ah Ming is friendly and patient to explain to me the details.
Upon entering the single shoplot, I saw lots of gearbox lying on the floors and some workers and actually working on them. All cars there are all gearbox related problem
RM2500k is not for GM gearbox, apparently mine is GM
They will dismantle the gearbox, replace all parts inside including o-ring, switch and blar blar blar, then he mentioned if i wanna service/recond the "converter" (big round thing with gear on the side), will have to add rm400 for it.
So the whole thing gonna take 2 days and will not cost more than rm4k.
When asked about recond unit, he said depends on luck, since recond unit comes ready, we would not know if they used 318 parts for the e34 gearbox, therefore will cost lost of power if not the correct parts being used.
Recond unit will cost RM3.8k without the "convertor" being service/recond.
So to me recond or rebuild would be the same, still fixing the gearbox problem and replacing parts inside, just that different in cost and if we can trust the mechanic who repair the unit or the seller who sold the recond unit ?
Upon entering the single shoplot, I saw lots of gearbox lying on the floors and some workers and actually working on them. All cars there are all gearbox related problem
RM2500k is not for GM gearbox, apparently mine is GM
They will dismantle the gearbox, replace all parts inside including o-ring, switch and blar blar blar, then he mentioned if i wanna service/recond the "converter" (big round thing with gear on the side), will have to add rm400 for it.
So the whole thing gonna take 2 days and will not cost more than rm4k.
When asked about recond unit, he said depends on luck, since recond unit comes ready, we would not know if they used 318 parts for the e34 gearbox, therefore will cost lost of power if not the correct parts being used.
Recond unit will cost RM3.8k without the "convertor" being service/recond.
So to me recond or rebuild would be the same, still fixing the gearbox problem and replacing parts inside, just that different in cost and if we can trust the mechanic who repair the unit or the seller who sold the recond unit ?
Lionel_Koh
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