How to transport a transmission?

fastboatster · 11-12-2019, 01:52 PM

Figured I’ll ask here since this is not a bmw. Long story short, bought a 2010 s4 project which I honestly regret and think was my dumbest car purchase so far - 147kmiles, badly repaired front bumper, serviced by retards.
Anyway, it turned out to have a bad sensor inside a trans and that requires trans removal and splitting transmission cases. I decided to buy an eBay trans with lower miles, reseal it and install it into my project car. I’d like some tips on how to load this heavy junk (stronic, 300lbs) into my wagon when I come to pick it up at the freight location as well as how to unload it and move it around without a second or a third person. Would like to have some pointers for good trans jacks and stands since I need to remove the old trans and do some seal refresh with a new one. I’m asking here since it doesn’t look like b8 s4 are getting this kind of work diy’ed, and here there are a lot of people generally well versed in this kind of repairs.

m5james · 11-13-2019, 02:05 AM

Are you asking for a transport company (the seller should figure that out) or ideas on how to install it, ie laying on the ground?

I recently installed a trans in my X5M, seller used a shipping company because it was heavy as hell. I bought a built trans for my turbo K swapped MR2 and the seller used FedEx because it's fairly light.

As for install, I tried using a creeper but sometimes it'd roll around on me when I didn't want it to, needed leverage, etc so ultimately it was easier to lay on cardboard on the concrete and then just humped the trans up on my stomach and with some help of a floorjack.

fastboatster · 11-13-2019, 11:42 AM

Thanks for you response, appreciate it. I'm having that trans shipped to a freight terminal. My next step will be to pick it up, wonder how I can load it into my wagon myself. It's very heavy at 300 lbs. Next, when I get home, I'll need to unload it and move it to my apartment which is first floor, fortunately. There, I might need to set it on the table to pull it apart as well to replace some rubber seals. After that, I'll have to load it into my car again and drive to my friends place where I'll install it. As you can see, have to move it a lot. So I'm thinking i can secure it to the engine jack by the bellhousing for rolling it around and need to find some low profile trans jack for the install

m5james · 11-13-2019, 09:27 PM

While I had a buddy help me move it from pallet in my bed into my garage because it was awkward and heavy.

I'm guessing the X5M trans coming from an SUV will be larger/heavier than a cars trans, point being it can be lifted by one person (I'm a decent sized kid at 6'4" 260lbs) if you're really trying, but I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have to. I'd just do all the gaskets and whatnot while at your buddies...it takes like 15 min if it's on a bench.

aBMWfan · 11-13-2019, 09:38 PM

I’ve shipped entire e46 m3 SMG transmission via FedEx ground cross country with 2 layer box and packing peanuts and strong tape

Worked-out well

eluded · 11-14-2019, 03:12 AM

I strapped my v160 tranny to a pallet and shipped via freight. No issues.

fastboatster · 11-14-2019, 11:38 AM

I'll have to unload it from the wagon I'll use myself first, I need to get it home to slowly pull the new to me trans apart, might hit a few snags along the way. Who knows if that trans had 56kmiles as they claim or 156kmiles.

fastboatster · 11-22-2019, 09:56 PM

Brought it home today. The freight company told me I need to show up with a truck, cargo van would be okay, but station wagon will not. So I rented a cargo van. When I got there, it looked like they could easily load it into my wagon, kind of sucks I had to spend it was 140 bucks to rent the van but I guess its okay.
I unloaded the transmission myself by sliding it on the ramps I loaned from the home depot. The thing is VERY heavy, 300 lbs as per spec. Rolled the trans on the pallet jack and rolled it into the yard. Could have used a rolling dolly from the HF, I guess.

Colodano · 11-27-2019, 06:36 PM

Too late now, but I know my area, Home Depot rents pickup trucks for 19.95 a day.

fastboatster · 11-27-2019, 09:28 PM

thanks, I rented a van from the uhaul. Home depot does the same in my area, too.
140 bucks was with all the miles I put on the van, I did about 120.

fastboatster · 11-27-2019, 09:32 PM

Anyways, the trans i bought was in parts only condition and they didn't tell me it had its output shaft seized up due to rust. Kind of a bummer, I thought can just swap in my mechatronic and be good to go but looks like I'll be splitting my transmission in half to replace a broken drive range sensor.

11-12-2019, 01:52 PM	#1
fastboatster Captain 440 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	How to transport a transmission? Figured I’ll ask here since this is not a bmw. Long story short, bought a 2010 s4 project which I honestly regret and think was my dumbest car purchase so far - 147kmiles, badly repaired front bumper, serviced by retards. Anyway, it turned out to have a bad sensor inside a trans and that requires trans removal and splitting transmission cases. I decided to buy an eBay trans with lower miles, reseal it and install it into my project car. I’d like some tips on how to load this heavy junk (stronic, 300lbs) into my wagon when I come to pick it up at the freight location as well as how to unload it and move it around without a second or a third person. Would like to have some pointers for good trans jacks and stands since I need to remove the old trans and do some seal refresh with a new one. I’m asking here since it doesn’t look like b8 s4 are getting this kind of work diy’ed, and here there are a lot of people generally well versed in this kind of repairs. __________________ 09 328i TiAg 6MT barebones with sport package Last edited by fastboatster; 11-12-2019 at 11:32 PM..
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11-13-2019, 02:05 AM	#2
m5james Colonel 436 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	Are you asking for a transport company (the seller should figure that out) or ideas on how to install it, ie laying on the ground? I recently installed a trans in my X5M, seller used a shipping company because it was heavy as hell. I bought a built trans for my turbo K swapped MR2 and the seller used FedEx because it's fairly light. As for install, I tried using a creeper but sometimes it'd roll around on me when I didn't want it to, needed leverage, etc so ultimately it was easier to lay on cardboard on the concrete and then just humped the trans up on my stomach and with some help of a floorjack. Attached Images __________________ '10 BMW X5///M - Alpine White on Sakhir Orange - JB4 w/ HCP Stage 2 BEF, NGK 97506 @ .20, SS tubing & BMC filters, gutted cats, AC Forged 312 22's, H&R 2" '98 BMW 740iL - ///E39 M5 6spd swap, fully built engine (sleeved, P&P, cams), 3.46 LSD, H&R Stage 2/Bilstein HD, Magnaflow 14816's '97 BMW 328ci - ///E36 M3 clutch & L/W flywheel, Z4///M 18's
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11-13-2019, 11:42 AM	#3
fastboatster Captain 440 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for you response, appreciate it. I'm having that trans shipped to a freight terminal. My next step will be to pick it up, wonder how I can load it into my wagon myself. It's very heavy at 300 lbs. Next, when I get home, I'll need to unload it and move it to my apartment which is first floor, fortunately. There, I might need to set it on the table to pull it apart as well to replace some rubber seals. After that, I'll have to load it into my car again and drive to my friends place where I'll install it. As you can see, have to move it a lot. So I'm thinking i can secure it to the engine jack by the bellhousing for rolling it around and need to find some low profile trans jack for the install
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11-13-2019, 09:27 PM	#4
m5james Colonel 436 Rep 2,062 Posts Drives: '10 X5M Alpine White on Sakhir Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Marysville, WA iTrader: (0)	While I had a buddy help me move it from pallet in my bed into my garage because it was awkward and heavy. I'm guessing the X5M trans coming from an SUV will be larger/heavier than a cars trans, point being it can be lifted by one person (I'm a decent sized kid at 6'4" 260lbs) if you're really trying, but I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have to. I'd just do all the gaskets and whatnot while at your buddies...it takes like 15 min if it's on a bench. __________________ '10 BMW X5///M - Alpine White on Sakhir Orange - JB4 w/ HCP Stage 2 BEF, NGK 97506 @ .20, SS tubing & BMC filters, gutted cats, AC Forged 312 22's, H&R 2" '98 BMW 740iL - ///E39 M5 6spd swap, fully built engine (sleeved, P&P, cams), 3.46 LSD, H&R Stage 2/Bilstein HD, Magnaflow 14816's '97 BMW 328ci - ///E36 M3 clutch & L/W flywheel, Z4///M 18's Last edited by m5james; 11-13-2019 at 09:44 PM..
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11-13-2019, 09:38 PM	#5
aBMWfan Banned 1198 Rep 3,670 Posts Drives: 08' M3/'15 M4/ '06 M3/ '09 M3/ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Thousand Oaks iTrader: (11)	I’ve shipped entire e46 m3 SMG transmission via FedEx ground cross country with 2 layer box and packing peanuts and strong tape Worked-out well
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11-14-2019, 03:12 AM	#6
eluded 2JZ-GTE 3187 Rep 4,177 Posts Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sofia iTrader: (0)	I strapped my v160 tranny to a pallet and shipped via freight. No issues. __________________ A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
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11-14-2019, 11:38 AM	#7
fastboatster Captain 440 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	I'll have to unload it from the wagon I'll use myself first, I need to get it home to slowly pull the new to me trans apart, might hit a few snags along the way. Who knows if that trans had 56kmiles as they claim or 156kmiles.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-22-2019, 09:56 PM	#8
fastboatster Captain 440 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Brought it home today. The freight company told me I need to show up with a truck, cargo van would be okay, but station wagon will not. So I rented a cargo van. When I got there, it looked like they could easily load it into my wagon, kind of sucks I had to spend it was 140 bucks to rent the van but I guess its okay. I unloaded the transmission myself by sliding it on the ramps I loaned from the home depot. The thing is VERY heavy, 300 lbs as per spec. Rolled the trans on the pallet jack and rolled it into the yard. Could have used a rolling dolly from the HF, I guess.
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11-27-2019, 06:36 PM	#9
Colodano First Lieutenant 138 Rep 318 Posts Drives: 2010 X5M Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Co iTrader: (0)	Too late now, but I know my area, Home Depot rents pickup trucks for 19.95 a day.
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11-27-2019, 09:28 PM	#10
fastboatster Captain 440 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	thanks, I rented a van from the uhaul. Home depot does the same in my area, too. 140 bucks was with all the miles I put on the van, I did about 120.
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11-27-2019, 09:32 PM	#11
fastboatster Captain 440 Rep 983 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 328i Join Date: May 2019 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Anyways, the trans i bought was in parts only condition and they didn't tell me it had its output shaft seized up due to rust. Kind of a bummer, I thought can just swap in my mechatronic and be good to go but looks like I'll be splitting my transmission in half to replace a broken drive range sensor.
	Appreciate 0 Quote