P38 Gearbox Problem

Hi guys,

I have had my P38 for about 3 month now and its causing no end of problems.. Its a 1995 (M) 2.5 DT with the 2.5 BMW deisel engine and manual box... I paid 1500 for it with 6month tax and 3 month test and its done 92000 miles at the moment..

About a month ago the clutch went (pedal stuck to floor), gearbox out, garage thought it was the slave cylinder that had gone and that had caused the clutch fork to come off the release baring.. So they put it all back right and still no pedal, after some messing about and 2 weeks later I got it back, new clutch kit, new slave cylinder, new clutch fork and a bill for £700..

All was good untill around 100 miles later, i was on the motorway doing about 75 - 80 and 5th gear went and engine cut out.. In the fast lane... In the panic I moved down to 4th and it started up again and was ok but 5th gear still wasnt there.. 5 mins later (after doing a steady 50 in the slow lane) 4th gear went.. and 3rd and 2nd and 1st... had to be carried home by the RAC..

Car now back in garage and gearbox is out.. Ive just been to see it and the mainshaft is the problem, Its wobbly and just moves in and out, up and down and all around.. So now i need a new gearbox..

The problem is... Am i just very very unlucky or could this be something the garage has done thats caused the gearbox problem? They say the car has been repaired before, badly, as in bolts missing from bell housing, different bolts to connect the gear and transfer box, which I have seen and from other repairs Ive seen on this car I can believe...


Any advice much appreciated..

Thanks
Shaun

Hi.
Is the rest of the car okay? if so i think you have to bite the bullet and just get it fixed. I would get a quote from a reputable reconditioning company (someone on here will have used one) and get yours fixed. Unless the actual casing is very worn you should be okay.
When i had trouble with mine i was quoted £1000 to get it fixed. with a little digging and a little bit of ingenuity i changed the drive chain for £300, with a genuine part, so don't take the price lying down.

Where abouts are you?

Nick.

njh2 said:

Hi.
Is the rest of the car okay? if so i think you have to bite the bullet and just get it fixed. I would get a quote from a reputable reconditioning company (someone on here will have used one) and get yours fixed. Unless the actual casing is very worn you should be okay.
When i had trouble with mine i was quoted £1000 to get it fixed. with a little digging and a little bit of ingenuity i changed the drive chain for £300, with a genuine part, so don't take the price lying down.

Where abouts are you?

Nick.

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Yeah im gonna do some shopping for definate, it does need fixing.. Im in halifax, west yorkshire mate

hi mate same problem with mine

my post is one down from yours i got a guy called Keith at KN Transmissions in preston who is going to put a 2nd gear synchro in mine he said about 275 also i ve seen a company called thornton 4x4 on ebay they in bradford they do a gearbox for the manual 517 with yours as exchange havent seen anyone any cheaper

hope that helps i know how you fell ****ed me off i had the box out and everything and i ve had it all put back in now i have to get it taken out again at cost of 200 if any one can do it cheaper pls let me know

riz325 said:

hi mate same problem with mine

my post is one down from yours i got a guy called Keith at KN Transmissions in preston who is going to put a 2nd gear synchro in mine he said about 275 also i ve seen a company called thornton 4x4 on ebay they in bradford they do a gearbox for the manual 517 with yours as exchange havent seen anyone any cheaper

hope that helps i know how you fell ****ed me off i had the box out and everything and i ve had it all put back in now i have to get it taken out again at cost of 200 if any one can do it cheaper pls let me know

Click to expand...

Its a right pain in the arse.. Im gutted, but it need to be fixed, as I cant afford to stand the loss if I scrap it.. Ill shop around and hopefully Ill find a reasonably priced solution.. I just hope the box going hasnt damaged the new clutch thats only done 100 miles..

Anyone any idea what could have caused this? someone mentioned that if it was all aligned poorly when the clutch was fitted it could have caused this but im no mechanic so hope someone else can shed some light on it..

Had to have my gearbox rebuilt when I had a manual as the output shaft snapped pulling out of a junction. Cost me quite a few hundred quid although can't remember the exact figure. Bugger me and two years / 25,000 miles down the line and it's knackered again. Not broken this time, just worn out. Noisy / baulky change etc. Also found the input shaft waggling about like a lost dogs tail when it was removed. Completely shot. I too suspected the original 'rebuilders' but couldn't prove anything. Did what I should have done in the first place this time and exchanged it with one from Ashcroft transmissions. Cost me another Nine hundred quid with assorted bits to have it done. Wouldn't have another manual (or diesel) again....
Good luck.

Well i may have finally sorted the problem... I sent the old gearbox off for repair, as i thought is its gonna be done it may aswell be right.. The transfer box was done in too, badly worn chain and a well shot viscous coupling.. so i had the gearbox and transfer box fully reconditioned... At a cost of £950 for cash.. Is that good or bad?

seems a fair price to me,you have got it fixed,thats what matters now.