03-20-2024, 04:04 PM | #1 |
Old Fart
361
Rep 694
Posts |
Gearbox oil change, Leeds area
Has anyone got a recommendation for a decent place for a gearbox oil change around the Leeds / Yorkshire area?
Tried Google and it brings up a place that has all the right stuff on the website but it's also over £600 and I think that's a little pricey. Don't get me wrong, I'll pay for the job done right but as I've no experience of them and don't know anyone who's been to them it's a risk. My local indi is not an option, bad attitude and more expensive than main dealer, and I have heard mixed reviews about them anyway. Doing it myself is also out as I don't trust myself with something so critical when I don't have facilities to get under the car properly.
__________________
The doctors said it's OK to listen to the voices..... just don't do what they tell me
|
03-20-2024, 04:15 PM | #2 |
Idiotic lifter of heavy stones...
1891
Rep 2,085
Posts
Drives: 2015 F31 325D M Sport touring
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Preston, Lancashire - UK
|
Should be around the c£400 mark
If you want bit of a road trip (you'll need your passport ); can highly recommend Grant and his lads here in Preston at Automatic Transmissions, Preston Otherwise look on the ZF website and see if they recommend anyone local to you
__________________
My car: 2015 F31 325D M Sport Touring in Glacier Metallic Silver - Keeping it OEM 'Plus'
Project: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1982298 |
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
03-20-2024, 05:03 PM | #3 |
Lieutenant Colonel
840
Rep 1,993
Posts
Drives: F30 335d
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Sheffield
|
Martin Lowe Auto Transmissions in Barnsley did mine several years ago. Can't remember the cost exactly, think it was around £380.
__________________
if I've helped - an Appreciate would be, er, very appreciated!
|
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
03-20-2024, 05:53 PM | #4 |
Enlisted Member
45
Rep 48
Posts
Drives: BMW F31 335d
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: East Mids, UK
|
This link should get you local places within 100km of Leeds who are ZF partners. If you search the ZF Aftermarket portal, don't make the same mistake I made - do not select the ZF brand as this removes basically all the matches except their HQ in Nottingham (who definitely don't do servicing on passenger cars as I called them just in case).
I've had a price of £700 inc vat from PK Automotive (ZF ProTech) in Lincoln. Waiting for prices from Sheffield Gearboxes (ZF ProTech) and ADC in Stockport (who aren't ZF partners but after danb1979 pointed them out to me they clearly do a LOT of tricky BMW jobs so I feel like they'd be trustworthy to do it right...) Williams Performance (Northumberland) list it at £390 - but they say they use Millers fluid rather than genuine ZF which might explain the cheaper price. Their page for that is also word-for-word identical to a BMW specialist in Reading apart from the mention of Millers, which makes me think someone just wanted to add a workshop page saying they do gearbox servicing and needed some content with minimal effort...which doesn't give me confidence that they'd do it right. |
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
03-21-2024, 03:42 AM | #5 |
Lieutenant
265
Rep 424
Posts |
If you're anywhere near Keighley, Doherty Brooks Car Clinic did one for my mate last month. Their labour rates are good. I stupidly started to ask them about the procedure to test their knowledge and they're well aware of all the gear changes/top ups/temperatures needed - I was put suitably in my place (in a friendly way - I know them quite well). The genuine ZF kit was used; which I think is over £300 itself
|
03-21-2024, 04:24 AM | #6 | |
Enlisted Member
45
Rep 48
Posts
Drives: BMW F31 335d
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: East Mids, UK
|
Quote:
Service kits can be had with OEM fluid for ~£250 seemingly (a little less as it's on sale, and can be even less with aftermarket oil), my concern is more about the expertise of doing it, and I'm OK with paying a little for someone who does know/follow the procedure since it's clearly a complex piece of kit. Do you remember what they charged your friend for the work? |
|
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
03-21-2024, 01:15 PM | #7 |
Enlisted Member
45
Rep 48
Posts
Drives: BMW F31 335d
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: East Mids, UK
|
Sheffield Gearboxes just replied to my email and quoted "around 485 inc vat", so about £200 less than the other ZF ProTech place in Lincoln. I haven't had mine done yet so I can't recommend them, but there's clearly some choices out there with quite a spread of prices...
|
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
03-21-2024, 05:06 PM | #8 |
Lieutenant
265
Rep 424
Posts |
He had other work done at the same time, but the labour for the gearbox was only about an hour (maybe one and a half), cos I rang them early in the procedure to get a rough finish time and the gearbox was done and dusted.
They would be more than happy with you providing your own kit too. Give em a call. I bet they'd even do it while you wait, but they're a busy garage, so it might be a week or three for a slot |
03-22-2024, 02:41 AM | #9 |
New Member
6
Rep 17
Posts |
I used Senior Performance at Batley for my gearbox and diff service, really nice guy and knows what he’s doing and his workshop is pristine.
I got a Black Friday deal at £360, but think his normal prices are very competitive. |
03-30-2024, 09:11 PM | #10 |
Major
640
Rep 1,381
Posts |
Senior Performance or Bram Racing in Castleford.
I use Bram for everything now that I don't wanna do myself, hunter alignment, dyno sessions, suspension, uprated anti-roll bar installs, diagnostics. Last time I was in Brad asked if I had done mine as they had begun offering it for customers; however I had already done mine myself. They're extremely fairly priced on labour and really sound lads, they know exactly what they are doing and I wouldn't go elsewhere really. I haven't been to Senior myself but I only ever see praise for them, Brad at Bram also suggested them when I considered having my dif building out to an LSD. Also my oil pan gasket is leaking at the back just like they always go, I believe this is Arran's bread and butter these days as he's always getting the same job in.. so I'll probably be booking this one in at Senior for the job doing, I believe he actually sends the alignment jobs over to Bram ironically.
__________________
2015 435i - 401whp
Scorpion catless dp, VRSF 6.5" HD FMIC, MST V2 inlet, NGK 97506, MHD Stage 2+ 102, xHP Stage 3, M Performance Exhaust (modified for valved straight thru) |
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
03-31-2024, 06:06 AM | #11 |
Enlisted Member
45
Rep 48
Posts
Drives: BMW F31 335d
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: East Mids, UK
|
I went to Senior Performance last Wednesday. The guy seemed sound, sounded like he knew what he was talking about with the filling procedure, has a good-sized spotless workshop and turned up for work in a Porsche so must be doing something right.
The website is slightly out of date by a fiver, it cost me £390 and 3 hours in and out. Opens at 9, I drove away at 12, but as I'd driven a bit to get there I imagine there was some period of letting things cool off to get the final fill in the 10 degree temperature window. So I just walked up the road to Starbucks and worked from there for a couple of hours while he did his thing. Did it actually make a difference to the gearbox? I'm not 100% sure, honestly. I think it feels smoother, but it wasn't bad to start with, and maybe I'm just looking for a justification having spent the money so I'm placeboing myself. But I've got fresh oil in a 95k gearbox so it was more than due and I imagine gearbox repair/replacement costs considerably more if it gets totally neglected so prevention is better than cure and all that. |
04-04-2024, 07:04 AM | #12 |
Old Fart
361
Rep 694
Posts |
Bram I used to go to when my Volvo needed 4 wheel alignment, they were the only guys I found that could get it to run straight if you took your hands off the wheel on the motorway. I never even considered them for the gearbox, I'll give them a call.
Senior performance I'd never heard of and Google didn't bring them up when I searched for "zf gearbox oil change Yorkshire". Their website looks reassuring but I'm not so keen on millers oils - I want genuine zf oil in there. I'll drop them a message but as they're on my side of Leeds they're my favourite option so far. Thanks very much for the suggestions 👍👍
__________________
The doctors said it's OK to listen to the voices..... just don't do what they tell me
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-04-2024, 01:12 PM | #13 | |
Enlisted Member
45
Rep 48
Posts
Drives: BMW F31 335d
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: East Mids, UK
|
Quote:
Or just speak to him about using OE fluid, it's the same procedure either way and he's well-priced so I'm sure he wouldn't gouge you on ordering ZF fluid |
|
04-05-2024, 03:44 AM | #14 |
Lieutenant
265
Rep 424
Posts |
|
04-05-2024, 07:12 AM | #15 |
Major
791
Rep 1,009
Posts |
The ZF fluid is made by Shell. Vehicle manufacturers don't waste their time developing oils when dozens of companies out there exist already to do precisely that. Vehicle and drivetrain makers just hand them a list of requirements. Who ever fulfils the demands for the cheapest price wins the contract.
|
04-05-2024, 08:07 AM | #16 | |
Major
640
Rep 1,381
Posts |
To my knowledge you can't just buy legitimate ZF oilpans on their own, they're probably just using Millers as it's a preferred quality, I'm sure they'll swap to the ZF branded bottles if you ask though.
You always end up with far too much anyway, no doubt they'll have plenty of spare untouched bottles laying around haha. Quote:
__________________
2015 435i - 401whp
Scorpion catless dp, VRSF 6.5" HD FMIC, MST V2 inlet, NGK 97506, MHD Stage 2+ 102, xHP Stage 3, M Performance Exhaust (modified for valved straight thru) Last edited by fortythirtyfive; 04-05-2024 at 08:13 AM.. |
|
Appreciate
1
TiredGeek360.50 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|