S-Type Gearbox Oil Change

[DTIMSON-HUNT]

My 2004 S-Type is due a gearbox oil change (56,000 miles) and the only reputable place I know of the Bristol Transmissions. I live near Southend in Essex, so its a bit far. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of independent centres doing oil changes nearer to my area?

(By the waty I have already spoken with ZF in Nottingham. They can provides names of dealers that supply parts to, but couldn't vouch for any and suggested going to my jaguar dealership... not an option, as we know).

Daren

[J44EAG]

Hello Daren,

Mike here.

Bristol Transmissions are the business. They rebuilt my 5R55N Ford derived 5 speed nearly two years ago after it blew up. Director Simon Park is a guru in his field and his staff are brilliant. I cannot recommend these guys highly enough. Total professionals.

Simon recommends an oil change on any modern Jaguar at intervals of 24k miles or two years. Which ever is the sooner.

Your local Region guys might be able to point you in the right direction for a good tranmission rebuilder/servicing business. Otherwise have a look in the recommeded suppliers section adjacent to the S-type BB log on. There could be someone there to help you.

Most Jaguar main dealerships farm out any transmission work to specialists who have the correct kit to totally change the oil. That correct kit costs in excess of £20k to purchase. The majority of main dealers do not have that equipment.

Many owners take their cars direct to a transmission specialist for service. This avoids the large dealer mark up for such work. You have the advantage of being able to talk direct to the guys doing the work. That is worth its weight in gold.

A Google or Yellow pages reserch is worth doing. Make sure when you call a local transmission workshop to enquire if they have done previous work to a Merc transmission S-type, that they use the correct oil and have the appropriate correct full flush and change equipment. If the man you speak to flannels in his answers or sounds inexperienced, just walk away. A confident operator will leave you in no doubt that he knows what he is doing.

If all else fails, I cannot recommend Bristol Transmissions highly enough.
A truely reassuring and experienced group of guys to do business with. They exceeded my expectations, ferried me around and returned the car in spotless condition. They treated my car as I wanted it treated. A rare occurence in the world of today. Definately the best.

My car will be going back there when the service becomes due. I would not want to take it elsewhere.


Mike

[richardtoulouse]

Hi,
I am started to be convinced that I can't change my oil gear box myself (even if I not yet understand why....).

Because I will not going to Bristol, because I have no idea if they are some specialist with such kind of gear box (in france, automatic gear box is unusual) so the question is:

Do you think that it is a good idea to go to the official jaguar repair shop for this kind of operation?

In case, if somebody have an experience with a repair shop close to Toulouse, any advices are welcome.

[J44EAG]

Few if any Jaguar Main Dealers have full flush oil change equipment due to the high investment purchase costs which I understand to be around £20,000 for that equipment. If you take your car to a Main Dealer for this type of work, they are more than likely to contract the work out to an independent transmission specialist and charge you heavily for their time and effort.

I would try to find a local independent transmission reconditioning/service company. You need to make sure they have worked on a Jaguar previously and understand the gearbox oil changing does not just mean taking the sump off and replacing the oil there in.

it is important to understand that a large quantity of oil is held in the torque converter and oil cooler system. This must also be changed and not ignored. Whilst the cooler can be drained, the converter does not have a drain plug. Therefore to do a correct and proper oil change, specialist equipment must be used. This removes the old oil and cleans out the internal components of the gearbox and converter. It is impossible to do this without the correct equipment.

In addition, the car must be run up to the correct temperature, with rear wheels lifted from the ground and the transmission cycled a set number of times whilst maintaining the correct transmission temperature. Oil refill is via the breather unit and it is not easy to reach without a bent tube or pipe attached to an oil refill pump.

This work is best left to the specialists.

Also please note that Dexron 3 type oils are not suitable for either Ford 5R55N or ZF units found in an S-type. The correct spec oil MUST be used and nothing else.

I would suggest you look around locally in Toulouse and see if there is a specialist gearbox company equipped with the equipment described above.

There are no short cuts to be had with this type of work. It must be carried out correctly or damage may be done to your gearbox.

Advice in previous posts above, still holds good.

Mike

[richardtoulouse]

Thanks Mike,
it is very clear....... I need to search for THE good guy!

[richardtoulouse]

After some research, I found a specialist on automatic gear box very close to my house......

The guy told me that the price would be around of 400 £ to replace the gear box oil.

What is the usula price in UK?

[J44EAG]

This is around what we expect to pay in the UK.

The oil is not cheap, in fact it is outrageously expensive. Possibly about 5 times the price or ordinary ATF/Dexron oils.

You should ensure your specialist does have the full flush equipment previously described.

Mike

[Montana5]

Had mine done a few weeks ago by my independant, oil and Filter + 6 sump pan bolts (another reason why its not worth even thinking about diy, these bolts are known for seizing or snapping) Parts alone £232. 42. Not sure how much the labour charge was, unfortunately it was added to the service costs.

Doug.

[humbrol]

50,651 miles Finally had mine done a couple of weeks ago at Elite performance Jags in Derby. Total bill £499.12p of which a big proportion was the oil with the sump coming in next and then labour after that.
Car does seem a little slicker on the changes now. Interesting that they advised that I do not use the sport button for at least 100 miles after the change

[J44EAG]

Service costs for the ZF or Merc 6 speed units are higher than for the early model Ford 5R55N unit.

The later cars have the filter built into the sump and the whole filter/sump component is replaced at service time. I believe that it costs around £180 for that unit. Hence nearly a £500 bill for the work on Ian's car above.

The 5R55N filter can be reused if clean. I`ve seen one being washed out which if in good condition reduces service costs.

The genuine oil is expensive. Some transmission service companies use an equivalent bought in bulk which can further reduce costs. The secret is to find an honourable and decent servicing establishment who know their subject and also their way around the oil supply industry.

Mike

[redcat]

Do these gearbox oil changes also apply to a manual box?

Redcat

[J44EAG]

Short answer is, no. Auto and manual are two different types of unit and do not relate to each other in any way.

However, even with a manual car, the occasional oil change cannot do any harm.

Mike

[latebreaker]

I'm based in Warwickshire, but having read your positive recommendation of Bristol Transmissions, I'm tempted to take a trip down there, even though its 80+miles away, unless I can find a suitable specialist cloer to home.

Mine has 61k on the clock and looking through the service history, doesnt appear to have had the transmission oil changed.

[J44EAG]

Definitely the time to do the oil change now that you have 60k miles on the car.

Does anyone know a decent gearbox servicer in Warwickshire?

Mike

[latebreaker]

I've found a local indy called Warwick Jaguar based in Snitterfield about a month ago.
When I spoke to the chap who runs it he seemed knowledgeable and at the time he did say he could perform the transmission oil change, however having read's Mike list of jobs that Bristols perform, I'm now not sure he would have the capability/equipment to perform it to this standard. I guess I could contact him again to double check.