Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: feeutfo on 01 October 2011, 18:05:55

Title: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: feeutfo on 01 October 2011, 18:05:55
Now then now then. Memory time  :-[

I believe the GM's auto box (ar35) was also fitted to some BMW models under the guise of 430L (?) or something along those lines....?  And got wondering if they're interchangeable between models? ... And Marques...?

In short are they the same, bar bolt patterns to bell housings and lumps etc.

Reason for asking is, mate has a BMW 3.0d e39 touring, does mega miles in it for his business, and the auto box is going into limp mode on occasion.

This is not the cars original box, it's a recon some 4 years and 120k miles old which cost 1500 sobs. The original did similar miles I believe. Yes it's a high mileage car, but it's absolutely mint.

I suggested that a re con box sounded rather expensive given what we pay for used working boxes on here. £100 not being uncommon afaik? He said used boxes sourced from BMWs go for thousands, 2.5k in some cases. So re on makes sense, except are they the same as omega items?

All sounded like a plan until we realized his is 5 speed and ours only ever got 4 gears in the uk..... could one from the continent work? Without knowing their price over their.


Btw, there are no other codes in the car other than one showing a difference in input and output speed. Which means it's slipping I guess? This being the exact same code when the previous box failed. It is chipped.


Anyway, are these the same boxes or am I barking in the wrong tree?
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 October 2011, 18:51:57
Chris , 4L30E used on older 323,328, 523,525,528 models..
 
but all 3.0d engines have ZF..
 
this may help
http://www.autolinkdiagnostics.com/index.php?website=www.autolinkdiagnostics.com&webpage=BMW%20Gearboxes (http://www.autolinkdiagnostics.com/index.php?website=www.autolinkdiagnostics.com&webpage=BMW%20Gearboxes)
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: TheBoy on 01 October 2011, 19:52:26
incorrect ratio is indeed a sign its expired. Many tractor owners know this well....
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: Martin_1962 on 01 October 2011, 21:13:49
Thought it was the same as the facelift 5 speed tractor box.
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: feeutfo on 02 October 2011, 00:52:41
Chris , 4L30E used on older 323,328, 523,525,528 models..
 
but all 3.0d engines have ZF..
 
this may help
http://www.autolinkdiagnostics.com/index.php?website=www.autolinkdiagnostics.com&webpage=BMW%20Gearboxes (http://www.autolinkdiagnostics.com/index.php?website=www.autolinkdiagnostics.com&webpage=BMW%20Gearboxes)
Cheers cem, zf going by that as you say. That's that theory busted then. Refurb it is. Was probably going down that road anyway by the sound of it. ;)
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: Vamps on 02 October 2011, 01:44:03
Is the AR35 not also fitted to the Rover 3500 SD1? because I was of the understanding that this gearbox was often used on the Rover 3500 P6B as a replacement for the AR25 which was weaker? I know we are getting old here but seem to be the same stable at the end of the day..... :) :)
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: tmx on 02 October 2011, 03:01:22
All UK E36 6 pots all have the 5 speed ZF transmission with 3 settings Winter Sport & economy deffinate 100% its absolute rubbish and blows up between 100k & 150k if no fluid changes not good!!! my old e36 died from gearbox failure lost 2nd & 4th gear

All E39 5 Series also have the ZF 5 speed transmission also its easily identifiable as it has a huge plug on the sump saying DO NOT REMOVE FLUID SEALED FOR LIFE and then a german translation

i think the E30 & E34 uk models may have a 4speed autobox but i would expect this is mechanical? and so not a 4L30E

my E36 1993 deffinatly had a 5 speed transmission it went P-R-N-D-4-3-2  its not a ad autobox either if the fluids changed regularly it will last well this info applies to all automatic bmws even V8s if your gonna buy one get the fluid changed!!! i learnt the hard way!

i can provide proof of BMW TIS if the admins are ok with this?
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: Omegatoy on 02 October 2011, 07:38:01
Is the AR35 not also fitted to the Rover 3500 SD1? because I was of the understanding that this gearbox was often used on the Rover 3500 P6B as a replacement for the AR25 which was weaker? I know we are getting old here but seem to be the same stable at the end of the day..... :) :)

pretty sure the SD1 used the B.W. or the Gm400 or a derivative of it, as you say long time ago now,
and i only ever removed the auto and replaced with manual ;D so never took much notice!! 
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: VXL V6 on 02 October 2011, 13:33:39
GM180 rings a bell for the SD1.  ::) Could very easily be wrong though!
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 October 2011, 13:48:12
GM180 rings a bell for the SD1.  ::) Could very easily be wrong though!

It certainly wasn't an electronically controlled box like the 4L30 and IIRC it was a 3 speeder.
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: Omegatoy on 02 October 2011, 19:53:22
GM180 rings a bell for the SD1.  ::) Could very easily be wrong though!

thats the kiddie!!! :y
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: 2woody on 03 October 2011, 13:24:19
SD1, etc. had BW35 first, then BW65 ( the original slush-box) then finally GM180. All 3-speed.

Omega had 4L30E ( which Opel chose to call Ar25)

all of which are different to BMW of this vintage
Title: Re: GM auto boxes in Bmw's
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 03 October 2011, 14:07:52
The 4L30E is a 4 speed (hence the 4), Longitudonal mounted (Hence the L) with electronic control (hence the E).

Its is quite simply a 3L30 with an overdrive unit bolted on (and you can see the physical bolt on bit in the from of the section with the small sump). The 3L30 was not dissimilar to a TH180 or a TH180C (which has a convertor clutch for lockup)