BMW
X1 / X2
forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General BMW News and Cars Discussion ZF8 Transmission Replaced at Low Mileage

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-13-2024, 05:54 PM   #1
TonyB58
Enlisted Member
United_States
57
Rep
39
Posts

Drives: M340i RWD
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

ZF8 Transmission Replaced at Low Mileage

I have a 2021 CPO M340i with 20k miles as of this posting. I purchased the car when it had 12k miles and it's my first ever German car after owning 2 different Japanese cars. And ever since owning this car, it has been a constant headache. From something minor like the speaker rattling to having the whole rear suspension replaced help of 2 BMW field reps (it was at the shop for 2 months for that), and now needing a whole new ZF8 transmission (the list goes on but I'll save that when I get rid of the car). Don't get me wrong, the car has been fun and amazing to drive, but with the amount of issues I've encountered, it kinda ruins the experience.

Back to the transmission concern, I started to notice a weird jolt when accelerating normally that occurred in 4th-5th gear and the car showed no codes or lights on the dash. Brought it to the dealership, the first week they stated nothing was wrong, but the second week when came back with the same issue and they immediately opened a TSARA case. Note my car is bone stock, I've never used launch control (maybe the previous owner did who knows), and I rarely drive it aggressively. A few days later my advisor stated that they tried reprogramming the transmission which didn't work and that my car was approved for a whole new transmission. What ended up being the problem was the transmission had internal component damage causing improper shifts.

The moral of the story is, don't buy a BMW without its factory warranty or any type of warranty. And this will probably be my first and last BMW.
Appreciate 1
      03-13-2024, 06:14 PM   #2
DanG
Major General
DanG's Avatar
United_States
11521
Rep
7,175
Posts

Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Seattle, WA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2018 BMW M2  [8.01]
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyB58 View Post
I have a 2021 CPO M340i with 20k miles as of this posting. I purchased the car when it had 12k miles and it's my first ever German car after owning 2 different Japanese cars. And ever since owning this car, it has been a constant headache. From something minor like the speaker rattling to having the whole rear suspension replaced help of 2 BMW field reps (it was at the shop for 2 months for that), and now needing a whole new ZF8 transmission (the list goes on but I'll save that when I get rid of the car). Don't get me wrong, the car has been fun and amazing to drive, but with the amount of issues I've encountered, it kinda ruins the experience.

Back to the transmission concern, I started to notice a weird jolt when accelerating normally that occurred in 4th-5th gear and the car showed no codes or lights on the dash. Brought it to the dealership, the first week they stated nothing was wrong, but the second week when came back with the same issue and they immediately opened a TSARA case. Note my car is bone stock, I've never used launch control (maybe the previous owner did who knows), and I rarely drive it aggressively. A few days later my advisor stated that they tried reprogramming the transmission which didn't work and that my car was approved for a whole new transmission. What ended up being the problem was the transmission had internal component damage causing improper shifts.

The moral of the story is, don't buy a BMW without its factory warranty or any type of warranty. And this will probably be my first and last BMW.
Sorry to hear that. But your problems are not typical for an M340i. Every manufacturer has a few lemons and it sounds like you got one. I wouldn’t sware off BMWs but I would probably trade this one in for a different car.

Remember that Consumer Reports ranks BMW number one in reliability. https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2085692
__________________
BMWCCA member Puget Sound Chapter
Appreciate 1
      03-13-2024, 06:16 PM   #3
Rich1790
New Member
8
Rep
9
Posts

Drives: BMW M240i
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Clearwater, FL

iTrader: (0)

That sucks. Ive had my m240i since November bought preowned and so far so good. I don't beat the shit put of it but definitely do some spirited bursts. Hopefully its gets sorted after the trans fix. If not I would probably get rid of before the warranty period also. Good luck
Appreciate 1
TonyB5857.00
      03-13-2024, 08:20 PM   #4
alex2364
Brigadier General
alex2364's Avatar
3499
Rep
3,021
Posts

Drives: 2020 M4 ZCP / 2023 X3 M40i
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Northern VA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2020 BMW M4  [10.00]
2023 BMW X3 M40i  [9.75]
You either bought a lemon or the previous owner abused the car. Maybe it was a lemon and that’s why the previous owner sold it. Haven’t heard of any other ZF auto with problems.
Appreciate 1
F32Fleet3917.50
      03-13-2024, 08:36 PM   #5
tturedraider
Major General
tturedraider's Avatar
United_States
5736
Rep
6,654
Posts

Drives: 2018 340i M Sport
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Chicago, Edgewater (via Texas & Tennessee)

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanG View Post
Sorry to hear that. But your problems are not typical for an M340i. Every manufacturer has a few lemons and it sounds like you got one. I wouldn’t swear off BMWs but I would probably trade this one in for a different car.

Remember that Consumer Reports ranks BMW number one in reliability. https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2085692
this

Quote:
Originally Posted by alex2364 View Post
You either bought a lemon or the previous owner abused the car. Maybe it was a lemon and that’s why the previous owner sold it. Haven’t heard of any other ZF auto with problems.
and this. The ZF8 is just next to bulletproof.
__________________
https://youtu.be/-ay-8p2p29w
www.bmwcca.org
member #388003 - Use me as a referral
& you could win a one day ///M Driving School!!

___________________________________________
Appreciate 1
      03-13-2024, 09:31 PM   #6
Westside Guy
Major General
Westside Guy's Avatar
7469
Rep
5,288
Posts

Drives: 22 Z4 M40i, 21 228i Retired
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Hallandale Beach, FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by tturedraider View Post
and this. The ZF8 is just next to bulletproof.
I totally agree with you about the ZF8 transmission. 👍🏻

The OP had to replace the rear suspension and now the transmission, it definitely sounds like the previous owner totally abused this car. 👎🏻
Appreciate 0
      03-13-2024, 09:44 PM   #7
SYT_Shadow
///M Powered for Life
SYT_Shadow's Avatar
11972
Rep
10,560
Posts

Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Greenwich, CT

iTrader: (2)

Zf is pretty bullet proof.

I currently own 6 bmws out of warranty. No problem.
Appreciate 1
      03-13-2024, 10:04 PM   #8
TonyB58
Enlisted Member
United_States
57
Rep
39
Posts

Drives: M340i RWD
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Westside Guy View Post
I totally agree with you about the ZF8 transmission. 👍🏻

The OP had to replace the rear suspension and now the transmission, it definitely sounds like the previous owner totally abused this car. 👎🏻
The mystery behind this previous owner is that he did do frequent oil changes and visits to the service center according to the Carfax. And even if he was an abusive driver, that rear suspension would have not been covered under warranty. My end theory is, that my car is legit a POS. Nah jk, but on a serious note, I believe during the COVID era, quality control went downhill due to the supply chain disruptions. Now I could be completely wrong with that theory tho.
Appreciate 1
M3SQRD4072.50
      03-13-2024, 10:39 PM   #9
DanG
Major General
DanG's Avatar
United_States
11521
Rep
7,175
Posts

Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Seattle, WA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2018 BMW M2  [8.01]
What it really sounds like to me is that car had been in a bad wreck. And the repair wasnt posted to CarFax. Could explain why it was traded in with such low mileage. Most BMW dealers will CPO a repaired BMW.

One of the disadvantage of buying a used car.
__________________
BMWCCA member Puget Sound Chapter
Appreciate 0
      03-14-2024, 07:59 AM   #10
Westside Guy
Major General
Westside Guy's Avatar
7469
Rep
5,288
Posts

Drives: 22 Z4 M40i, 21 228i Retired
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Hallandale Beach, FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanG View Post
What it really sounds like to me is that car had been in a bad wreck. And the repair wasnt posted to CarFax. Could explain why it was traded in with such low mileage. Most BMW dealers will CPO a repaired BMW.

One of the disadvantage of buying a used car.
I totally agree that not all accidents are posted on CarFax. This happened to my son recently when he was buying a supposedly clean and accident free Mazda from a dealer in California. The dealer had a return policy and he took the car to an independent shop for an inspection. It only took minutes for them to discover undisclosed repairs from an accident and he returned the car to the dealer for a full refund.

The OP should have the car inspected by an independent shop. Put the car up on a lift and see if there are any visible signs of repairs performed from an undisclosed accident.
Appreciate 0
      03-14-2024, 08:27 AM   #11
Ugly Kar
First Lieutenant
526
Rep
370
Posts

Drives: E92 to C43 Cab to G42
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

BMW has had their issues with electronics, injectors and coils, and a few more things, but nobody builds a better transmission than ZF.

Who knows what the previous owner did to it. That's the risk you take saving $ buying used car. Low of averages says some people are going to get a lemon.
Appreciate 2
SYT_Shadow11972.00
      03-14-2024, 08:35 AM   #12
Westside Guy
Major General
Westside Guy's Avatar
7469
Rep
5,288
Posts

Drives: 22 Z4 M40i, 21 228i Retired
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Hallandale Beach, FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ugly Kar View Post
BMW has had their issues with electronics, injectors and coils, and a few more things, but nobody builds a better transmission than ZF.

Who knows what the previous owner did to it. That's the risk you take saving $ buying used car. Low of averages says some people are going to get a lemon.
However very, very few have had any issues with the ZF8.
Appreciate 0
      03-14-2024, 08:48 AM   #13
Rob_G77
Major
1239
Rep
1,440
Posts

Drives: Nothing
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Regina, SK

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by alex2364 View Post
You either bought a lemon or the previous owner abused the car. Maybe it was a lemon and that’s why the previous owner sold it. Haven’t heard of any other ZF auto with problems.
I'm guessing the car was abused. It's extremely rare to see anyone have a tranny issue on the forums.

Rob
Appreciate 1
      03-14-2024, 09:00 AM   #14
Westside Guy
Major General
Westside Guy's Avatar
7469
Rep
5,288
Posts

Drives: 22 Z4 M40i, 21 228i Retired
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Hallandale Beach, FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_G77 View Post
I'm guessing the car was abused. It's extremely rare to see anyone have a tranny issue on the forums.

Rob
Spoken by a person who should know considering all the issues you’ve had in the past! 🤪
Appreciate 0
      03-31-2024, 07:04 PM   #15
agnesgam
New Member
0
Rep
22
Posts

Drives: BMW F16
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: United Kingdom

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
Zf is pretty bullet proof.

I currently own 6 bmws out of warranty. No problem.
I would like to believe that. My car with ZF 8hp70 is stock outside the house with reverse gear acting as drive, drive acting as drive too shifting between R-N- with violent jerk. Waiting for diagnostics.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
bmw m340i tranny failure, bmw quality, transmission failure, zf8 transmission

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:48 AM.




u11
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST