Well the not so great news is that apparently i need a new gearbox. The mechatronic is knackered, and god knows what else. Total bill at the moment estimated at around £2,500 plus VAT.

The potentially good news is that I have a Warranty, with Warranty Direct, so they should pay the lions share. Of course it's never that simple is it! So far having lots of hassle between WD and the gearbox place. But to be fair, what WD are asking is pretty reasonable, they just need a full breakdown of parts and labour. Also the gearbox place I can see their point too. They see a refurbished transmission as a product at a fixed price. They don't want to break down each one by parts and labour, so they just have a price for a rebuild.

So I'm stuck in the middle tearing my hair out!

Still, on the bright side, I have a Hyundai Santa Fe hire car, and it's so crap that I'm still glad to be a FFRR owner, driving such a lesser car makes me really grateful, even if FFRR ownership is not without it's challenges! Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

By the way.

I'm told by the transmission place that they get a lot of these gearboxes in. I know the six speed unit has a better reputation than the 5 speed, but I think now the 6 speed are getting older we may find they are just as bad.

The only warning sign on mine really was a harsh downshift from 2-1. I got the software updated to try to resolve this, and in resetting the adaptations, the problems became apparent. I believe they had occurred over a long time, and the gearbox had learned to live with the issues, and was compensating. As the adaptations were reset prior to installing the new software, the game was up!

So if you have a six speed, at least check the oil, and if necessary replace! My car only has 85k on it!  Range Rover-less at the moment - Pining!

Feel sorry for you ... been there myself with my 5spd 4.4 V8 when it hit 60k miles.

Have you ever had the oil and filter changed?

Given the issues with auto boxes lunching them selves at around 80k miles, I'm surprised that manufacturers haven't been taken to task by someone in the EU with the whole "sealed for life" sticker on the bottom of sump ... when quite clearly its an item that needs mechanical maintenance.

My bill came in at 2.7k all in IIRC a few years back and that was via Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow.


Suffice to say, refreshing the autobox oil is now something I do every 12 to 18 months. V8 or else ...

Hmmm, legal definition of "life" required - is it until the gearbox knackers itself? What is merchantable quality? How long should one expect the/a gearbox to last? Oh and remember, it will always be "driving style" that is the reason!!  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

I just had filter and oil changed on my 6 speed. Not really any reason for it, other than that I just wanted to make sure it would be alright and hopefully not get issues like you guys have had. Hope you get it sorted out soon and have no more issues in the future. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

From a discussion I had today, "life" in terms of a car = 10 years! Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I think from the point of view of manufacturers ... its more like

life = length of warranty ( which is typically 3 years of 60k miles )


So they're unlikely to give a stuff beyond that. V8 or else ...

I agree with the 10 year term as being the point where a lot of cars seem to develop a lot of "extra" issues. Some say it is design and experience that allow car manufacturers to design that in and I tend to agree that they probably can. Although on the other hand the difference between "bad" and "good" treatment of a car should make a lot of difference.

And then there is Africa, where cars seem to run forever. Anyone who has visited Lagos would have seen the Classics and VW vans that look like they should have died but are still pootling around as "zombies". It is amazing how over here they seem to be able to make everything last forever !

Coming back to the gearbox, if you ask the dealers they would say you shouldn't touch it for 10 years and all but when you mention that it is not acting as perfect as you expect it should, then they recommended oil and filter change after all.

I am leaning more and more to the side of changing it out after 5 years or 100,000 km (mine is 6 and has done 81,000 km) just to get clean oil in there, especially if you have not owned it since new and don't know how the previous owner used it. MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!