850i 4hp24 from an E32??

[8erBN]

Hi guys, blowed my tranny couple of days ago (this was not long after mechanic changed filter, pan gasket and fluid using zf lifeguard 5 fluid. Not sure if this was one of the cause though) I have sent the car to him for engine repair and thought it was wise to do job on the transmission as well. So long story short, mechanic had car with him for a while to complete repair and once ready the Car was driven for quite a bit for few days both engine and the transmission job done too. All was fine till guess what on the day i was about to bring it home and driving on a slightly steep hill boom it happened. Heard some sort of an exploded sound and Gears dont work at all and car was not able to move. Prior to this on a flat road,i also felt the car slightly vibrating during brake and idle

Anyway, got the car towed back to him and He convinced me in Picture 1(with screwdriver pointing) whilst the valve body off - saying something abt the lining is gone (not quite sure what he meant but just for information, i have never done gearbox myself. Not an expert fixing cars too) so kinda need some help here, i pretty much hear lining is gone and something to do with clutches

So today he pulled out tranny, was suprised to see that the gearbox was kind of from an E32 with 4hp24 black plate?? Am I right or its just me??? See picture, it even has a “e32 word” stamped on it. This surprises me, shouldnt i be having 4hp24 which has gear selector on the right side of the tranny? If its an e31? I have asked previous owners about this and they never mention changing the tranny before (not sure again if this true). Anyway, the valve body had 7 pin but the harness pin just above and outside of the tranny had 8 pin. Also the gear selector is on the left side for this tranny. Refer to all photos

This made me very curious and confused and thus have couple of questions below

1. What do you think was the real cause of my tranny failure? Prior to car getting repaired and tranny serviced, the tranny was well working perfectly well and normal (car was just over 45k Kilometers)
2. Are all E31 4hp24 designed with 8 pins including the valve body? and do they supposed to have gear selector on right side?
3. Is there difference with RHD and LHD with regards to position of the shifter selector on e31/e32?
4. What is the tranny that i currently have with me? Could it be retrofitted during built or this possibly have been replaced by previous owners without them realising (fact is i never actually pay attention to my car’s gearbox plate before, even during purchase and to be honest this is the first time i see it)
5. What should i do now:
A) Find spare E32 tranny with left side gear selector and go on with the current setup?
B) Find spare E31 tranny with right side gear selector and move back all the stuff to the right? What else do i need to do for this? Any change in modules required etc? Or is it just simply as shifting the gear selector back to the right?
C) Go ahead with rebuild on the current tranny which would cost me an expensive 3900USD. Sounds crazy but that was really the asking price (absurd!) and going through all this, i do not feel comfortable at all with cost and the nature of fix and kits that will be ordered by mechanic himself



Looking forward to your reply guys, any advise or tips would be helpful at this moment. Thank you very much

[shogun]

1043 030 040 was used 11/89-07/1992 on E32 750 and on E31 850 https://transmisevilla.com/wp-conten...ransmicion.pdf
That is a 7 pin trans, the connector may have 8 poins, but not all are wired.
Color of the name tag from ZF is always black for this 4HP24 as far as I know.
On left hand cars on the E32 750 the lever is on the left side of the trans viewing in driving direction, on E31 it is on the right side . If there is any difference for RHD cars, I do not know. It can be easily converted from right to left side, the main housing has the hole already and there are just different shaft part numbers. If RHD E31 have the lever on the left side, someone owning an E31 850 RHD has to tell you.
4HP24:
The 1st version, designated Early "E-7", has 5 solenoids on the valve body, was introduced in 1986 and used up thru 1989. This version includes a solenoid for reverse lockout.
The 2nd version, designated Late "E-7", has 5 solenoids on the valve body, was introduced in 1988 and used up thru Mid-1989. This version includes a solenoid for reverse lockout.
The 3rd version, designated "E-9", has 4 solenoids on the valve body, was introduced in Mid-1989 and used up thru 1994. This version uses a shift solenoid for the reverse lockout function.
http://parts-at.ru/wp-content/upload...Tech-Guide.pdf

Cause of failure was in my opinion not the use of zf lifeguard 5 (officially for 5HP) use for the 4HP24, these 4HP are not very sensitive, Dexron III/Mercon comparable will do. https://www.alleuro.com/resources/13...FFluidInfo.pdf

If you go to an official BMW dealer in Brunei, thay have deeper access into the internal BMW VIN system than we have with the online systems, they even can find out the serial number of your trans originally built into the car. But I assume it is original.

[rjjablo]

To determine the failure you have to open the transmission up. Likely that one of the plates failed due to age, lack of use etc. Could also be the Torque Converter but to inspect you have to cut it open

When I pulled the pan on mine it was covered filled with sludge from the remains of the plates.

Rebuild kit is about $200, big cost is labor and these are not run of the mill transmissions and you will pay the BMW premium. I have the dead one out of my 850 I was thinking of ripping apart just because I can and see if I can just put new plates etc into it.

My recommendation is to source a used one either from a 750 or an 850 and hope it is good. Japan is a good source as they break cars with 50K miles, guy I bought mine from said it came from Japan. My 850 is on its third trans with 185K miles

[shogun]

here is one 4HP24 from an 850 in Japan for about $1100, part number ZF 1043 030 041 and it says 51710 km https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/v636457501 and includes the torque converter
complete car is disassembled https://www.apm-net.jp/item/6394/ that is a left hand drive 850 here in Japan, pics https://www.apm-net.jp/item/6394/

you can purchase thru this japanese auction partner for overseas order, they will arrange shipping and bid for you https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/v636457501 auction time Remaining11 hour(s), but probably no one will buy now, as in Japan all is closed and people are on holiday during Golden Week till May 7. Buyee FAQ https://faq.buyee.jp/pkb_Home?l=en_US

you can see that on this LHD 850 the shift lever is on right hand side in driving direction. As mentioned before, I do not know if there is a difference on the lever when the car is RHD.

[8erBN]

Rjjablo,
Do you happen to know which website the guy bought it from? Im looking for the 750 ones

[shogun]

try to get the same transmission as mentioned on your originally installed transmission ZF sticker = 1043 030 040 , otherwise the transmission control unit might not match
Here some info:
1043 030 052 was used 01 / 92 - 03 / 94
1043 030 034 was used 11 / 88 - 12 / 91
1043 030 012 01 / 87 - 01 / 87
1043 030 019 04 / 87 - 03 / 89
1043 030 021 07 / 87 - 05 / 90
1043 030 026 03 / 89 - 01 / 94
1043 030 034 11 / 88 - 12 / 91
1043 030 035 11 / 88 - 10 / 91
1043 030 039
1043 030 040 11 / 89 - 07 / 92
1043 030 052 01 / 92 - 03 / 94
1043 030 053 01 / 92 - 09 / 94
1043 030 058 02 / 92 - 04 / 94

from this thread https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...arbox-problems

[rjjablo]

Rjjablo,
Do you happen to know which website the guy bought it from? Im looking for the 750 ones

Shop I bought it from was in California. Already imported

[8erBN]

Thanks shogun, i assume the best would be finding like to like replacement 1043 030 040

Which of the other 1043 030 XXX would closely match the control unit for a (040) you Reckon? Years before or years after?

[shogun]

I personally would stick to the same number 1043 030 040, then you are sure your existing trans computer module will work. Others might work or might not work, maybe with the trans control unit of the other transmission. The detailed differences one can only see when getting the parts lists from ZF. I do not have them. But if you want, you can find that out here, there is always mentioned which part is in which system https://www.automaticchoice.com/uplo...ue/zf4hp24.pdf
Another option is you send your transmission to a reputed repair shop and let them remanufacture your original transmission. There are ZF authorized shops in the USA, U.K./Europe, and also in Australia, which might be closest to you.
Dragon850 offers you one from U.K. https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-4hp24-e31-rhd

In USA for example Eriksson industries
they also ship to Brunei reman ones http://worlddrivetrainsupply.com/ sub http://rebuiltzftransmission.net/index.html

and then you have the option that your repair shop offers you to replace the wear parts in the existing trans, there are repair kits available online, master kits, examples
https://www.amazon.com/Transmaxx-Tra.../dp/B071VP59JH
https://www.europeantransmissions.co...w.reb.kit..htm
https://www.europeantransmissions.com/

[8erBN]

Once again thank you for all the help and information! You da man