L322 Gearbox

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spitfire

Active Member
Posts
194
Location
Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham
Hi, After looking online it appears the gearbox on the L322 is not as bulletproof as believed and some owners recommend changing the oil as a preventative measure. I had mine changed last week as my TD6 had hit 80,000 and I was having a few minor gearbox niggles. The old oil was dirty and smelt burnt, we found a procedure online to replace the oil and since then the gear change has been much better though the minor faults are still there.
First thing when I reverse off the drive and then select D there is no drive for a second or two then it slurrs in and will be fine all day.
My second fault is at small throttle openings between 30 and 55 mph with the box in 5th, if you depress the throttle slowly it wont change down which is fine, but a vibration is felt through the car as if you had driven over the white lines on the motorway and the car will not accelerate. Give it more gas and the box changes down and away you go. Doesn't do it all the time but bad if fully loaded.
Any advice would be most welcome, also can anybody recommend a good Independant in the Birmingham area who knows the L322.
Thanks Ian.
 
I'm afraid that the GM 5L40-E transmission is prone to torque converter failure around the mileage you mentioned (in the L322 TD6 application, that is). The vibration that you're sensing may be an indication that the LUC is disintegrating. The resulting debris finds its way into the valve block causing the valves/proportional solenoids to stick.
 
Thanks Bemble, sounds like bad news. Do you know if the box can be repaired or is it a case of complete replacement, there were a few bits in the oil when it was changed.
Regarding the question of whether the engine has been chipped I'm afraid I don't know as I purchased the vechicle second hand. Is there any way of telling?
Regards Ian
 
I wasn't aware that Ashcrofts did 5-speed rebuilds.

I guess you could have the torque converter replaced & the valve block stripped and cleaned but I'm not sure how much cheaper this would work out than having the 'box replaced with a remanufactured one. For example, K Motors near me do a replacement for £2300 including a new torque converter and oil cooler Range Rover L322. There will be places nearer to you that do the same, I'm sure.

I can recondition a 5HP24 ('02-'05 petrol L322) transmission for around £500 but I don't tinker with the GM boxes I'm afraid.
 
I ask if it was chipped because all the failures I have seen have been on chipped cars.
Ashcrofts are no longer redoing these boxes,they are buying them in from an external supplier.They need to be run on a dyno to test/set them up - which Ashcrofts dont have.One of the main failures is a shaft which is a rolled and welded tube,(Like the inside of a bog roll.) this unwinds itself and jams up,trashing the box.It could be upgraded by making it out of solid tube,but this is a very expensive outlay with large min orders etc.
Another shining example of BMW crap.
 
spitfire said:
Hi, After looking online it appears the gearbox on the L322 is not as bulletproof as believed and some owners recommend changing the oil as a preventative measure. I had mine changed last week as my TD6 had hit 80,000 and I was having a few minor gearbox niggles. The old oil was dirty and smelt burnt, we found a procedure online to replace the oil and since then the gear change has been much better though the minor faults are still there.
First thing when I reverse off the drive and then select D there is no drive for a second or two then it slurrs in and will be fine all day.
My second fault is at small throttle openings between 30 and 55 mph with the box in 5th, if you depress the throttle slowly it wont change down which is fine, but a vibration is felt through the car as if you had driven over the white lines on the motorway and the car will not accelerate. Give it more gas and the box changes down and away you go. Doesn't do it all the time but bad if fully loaded.
Any advice would be most welcome, also can anybody recommend a good Independant in the Birmingham area who knows the L322.
Thanks Ian.
Click to expand...

Hi I have the same problem with my gear box in the morning put it in D and it don't go I can rev it but nothing I can rev it nothing until I put it in tiptronic and select gear 1 then 2 then it pulls away and I can switch it to auto ??? Help everyone
 
denzel,

Bemble is perfectly correct... the delay in actually moving off is symptom of a failing box. some people have mmanaged to prolong the life by changing the fluid and filters etc but it does appear its usully terminal.

The best thing is to budget for a new one and try and just live with the symptoms for as long as you can... :(

The two boxes ..ZF for petrol and GM for diesel both have their own problems but the ZF ones are usually repairable where as the cost of the GM repairs means a remanufactured box is more economical...

Bemble is the true genius in this so his words are pure gold..
:praise:

Good luck
 
i think that the seal in the valve compartment is breaking down. i have beeb search myself for the parts nr ,,, for the 4hp22 seal myself ,, anyone there with a rave ,, can give the parts nr .........please
 
Hi All
My gearbox appears to be doing the full vibration when gently applying the throttle from around 30pmh. Also on the M40 today doing just over 70, I lost power and had to pull over onto the hard shoulder and drop down to 50pmh. I managed to nurse her home but think I now have a large bill coming. Also there appears to be a loud ticking noise from the TD6 BMW engine. Oil and water fluids are OK but doesn't sound healthy.

Any ideas - is it just the gearbox, could the vibtration also be the drive shafts. Either way, MJA in Bromsgrove is getting a call on Monday!
 
Sorry storm99, are you saying that because I was going a little over 70, that's what killed the box. Never ever heard of that one!
 
Ah he's just being a clever dicky then. And no, not breaking the law when overtaking as long at you return to the speed limit as soon as it is safe to do so. And didn't know it was a gearbox issue until checking the forums.
 
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