L322 Dreaded transmission? 2004 BMWTD6

HI,

Looks like I may have bought a lemon. Seems to be the transmission failing. I have read loads of info and understand most of it but I do have one question.

Symptoms - Very slow to change up the gears going uphill? Engine good and running well, no brakes stuck on etc. Hills not to steep should fly up but think it only manages to get to third gear?

Is it the torque convertor / mechanical problem

Any suggestions welcome

Best regards

Personally I'd do a transmission fluid change first. If the fluid comes out silvery of full of bits then you are looking at a recon. It could be that the fluid is low or worn out. Check to see if it smells burned.
If you can, drop the transmission sump and change the filter at the same time. Easier to check for metal lumps too.

davidsmith1307 said:

Personally I'd do a transmission fluid change first. If the fluid comes out silvery of full of bits then you are looking at a recon. It could be that the fluid is low or worn out. Check to see if it smells burned.
If you can, drop the transmission sump and change the filter at the same time. Easier to check for metal lumps too.

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HI David, Thanks for the reply. I was hoping not to get this but I sort of know thats what I need to do. Once I do it I will post back results and any other info I find.
Best regards

Delayed gear changes may just be fluid level or the fluid overheating... Keep the faith!

Its really easy to default to worse case scenario, but I would urge you to just do a few simple checks first as suggested already. I had the same with mine. Its gone from being almost undriveable with torque convertor shudder, to being a dream to drive. Its cost me £150 for the correct oil as from the looks of it, mine had beem filled with standard ATF rather than Lifeguard.

rewmer said:

Its really easy to default to worse case scenario, but I would urge you to just do a few simple checks first as suggested already. I had the same with mine. Its gone from being almost undriveable with torque convertor shudder, to being a dream to drive. Its cost me £150 for the correct oil as from the looks of it, mine had beem filled with standard ATF rather than Lifeguard.

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Thank you. You are totally correct - i was defaulting to new transmission !!! I will do an oil / fiter change and use the best oil recommended and report back.Thanks for positive thoughts and ideas.

How many miles has it done by the way?
If you all go in both feet first with these motors then you'll soon be bankrupt. Get into the habit of trying the cheap and simple things first.
If the fluid change fixes it then use the money you saved to buy decent diagnostics. That will pay back in no time...

davidsmith1307 said:

How many miles has it done by the way?
If you all go in both feet first with these motors then you'll soon be bankrupt. Get into the habit of trying the cheap and simple things first.
If the fluid change fixes it then use the money you saved to buy decent diagnostics. That will pay back in no time...

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Its done 138K Miles. Good advice again.
Will read up all things about cheap / easy fixes carried out by others. Oil change first
Thanks

Sadly that model, with that mileage, if it has not had one before, is a candidate for a recon box and torque converter. Not always but more often than not.

I agree, but it may be possible that that day hasn't arrived. Yet.

davidsmith1307 said:

I agree, but it may be possible that that day hasn't arrived. Yet.

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Depends how it has been driven to some extent, but the day will arrive as sure as eggs are eggs. Lads went at around 120,000 miles.

Yep, but no need to scramble them so close to Christmas if you don't need to.

davidsmith1307 said:

Yep, but no need to scramble them so close to Christmas if you don't need to.

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Ok wait til the weather gets better to tell him the bad news.

Well would it be better to say "Yes, change the transmission. It may only be that the box has gone into extra cooling mode but, heh, what's £3-4k?"
I think not.

davidsmith1307 said:

Well would it be better to say "Yes, change the transmission. It may only be that the box has gone into extra cooling mode but, heh, what's £3-4k?"
I think not.

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Needs looking at and assessing by someone who is not sat at a computer keyboard i would think. But the track record of these boxes is well known especially around that mileage unfortunately.

Unfortunately so. Many a decent car ruined by a weak/cheap gearbox.

davidsmith1307 said:

Unfortunately so. Many a decent car ruined by a weak/cheap gearbox.

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Just so. The one my lad had was a nice motor, but the gearbox koofed at 120,000 miles. He flopped it and got a TD V8 then flopped that and got a sport, got shut of that and now runs a Merc people carrier. And got his missus an AMG Merc. No problems from either of those, think he has been on a steep (and expensive) learning curve.

The electrical issues of a P38 seem trivial compared to the L322's weaknesses. Doesn't stop me wanting one though, but it would probably have to be an early V8.
Not that they are without problems.

wammers said:

AGM

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AMG?

Stone thrown....








Running away............