2018 X1 20d same issue. Went to BMW today and they say it needs a full new gearbox. Car only has 31,000 on the clock and FSH.

Car currently has an Auto Care warrant in place however Arnold Clark are only willing to cover the first £6000 of what is looking like £11,000 worth of work.

Told the guy Im going to email BMW as I’ve concerned that a gearbox has failed on a 6 year old car with 31k on the clock and I’m now expected pay for the repair given that it’s clearly a known fault.

anyone had any joy with good will from BMW or had dealings with Arnold Clark auto care for the same issue?

 

Yes, but first ask your dealer to push BMW UK for a goodwill, I’d expect at least 50% on a car with so few miles. No joy then go direct to BMW UK complaints.

 

Is there any evidence out there as to what model years this (potential) gearbox fault can affect? I've recently bought a 2016 X1 XDrive 20D with this Aisin box and my dealer supplied warranty runs out tomorrow. I've been looking at ALA Insurance Aftermarket Warranty for it (as it covers up to £14k) but quickly skimming through this post it seems most are 2018 cars?

Anyone know for sure if its a newer car thing, and if earlier X1s are "less" at risk?

TIA

David

 

The evidence from all the various threads is that 2018 vehicles seem to be most affected. Could have been a bad batch of gearboxes? Funnily enough, I have a 2018 F48 with a bad gearbox myself. This doesn't fully answer your question but, that's what it looks like.
I have seen a few others with X2s from other years but have only heard of this being repeated for 2018 X1s. There is another thread on here which contains quite a few complaints about this - all 2018.

 

HI guys.

The cars on the MINI platform such as X1, X2, MINI made between 2018-2019 can have a defective gearbox.

My story.

Bought a used X2 2018 20I XDrive in August 2023 (milliage at the moment of buy was 30000 KM) . The gearbox is 8AT Aisin. Noticed the kicks on 3, 5 and rear gear with delay up to 10 seconds and kick from time to time.

I had come to official BMW and they told me it's out of warranty, as the car was almost 5 years, just proposed me to replace that for about 10K Euro. I told it's nonsense, milliage is low and no gearbox in the world must be broken on this milliage. They told me just "sorry".

This year in July the car started kicking all the time and I had come to officials again. I already had another case with my friend who bought the same car (same model, year etc) and he successfully replaced the gearbox by warranty. So I insisted that they must manage my case as warranty as milliage is too low for a gearbox to be broken (the milliage was around 40K at that moment)

A person managing my case helped me a lot. He made diagnostic and wrote in the BMW headquarter. They approved replacement by warranty both: labour and the part. Only one thing I covered from my pocket were two broken engine mounts, as due to kicks they had torn.

So, who has the same problem and low milliage even if the car is out of warranty, insist on the free replacement.

 

I've got exactly the same issue with my 2019 X1. 37,500 miles and the gears are snatching between 3/4. Any further advice would be grateful as BMW UK state mine is out of warranty, however the item was obviously not fit for purpose when manufactured.

 

Can I ask a daft question, if bmw replace the gearbox, is the issue likely to return in 20-30k miles again with the new gearbox?

 

No idea if there have been any improvements to them but given it’s quite a range of ages affected I would hazard a guess and say even with a replacement box it’s likely issues will crop up again down the line.

 

The smartest course of action is to clean the car up best you can, and sell it to WBAC. They rarely test drive anything and because they are owned by BCA (British Car Auctions), they just get auctioned off.

Let someone else have the drama with it. These cars aren't worth owning. Anything based on the MINI platform is trouble and Aisin gearboxes are garbage - the horror stories I hear from my mates at Sytner.

 

I have 69 plate x2 wirh 38k miles. Bought from bmw with 3700 miles on clock, 5 months old demonstrator. Started developing bad gear changes and delayed engaging of reverse followed by a knock and a jolt around 6 months to a year ago - 30k miles ish. At first bmw dealer said there is no fault. The second time i took it in, the technicican felt the jolt and said it shouldnt be doing that. Diagnosis....a failed part in the gearbox. We have official extended warranty from bmw that expires on 8th september. Although they said part has failed, they are asking for purchase invoice, service history etc ( all from official bmw dealer i hasten to add) . Sounds like they are trying to find any reason not to pay up being as the replacement gearbox is £11k. Can anyone offer advice? I assume they dont have a leg to stand on as to not paying up??

 

Sounds like BMW need taking to task as there are loads of people suffering because of this gearbox. Does anyone know if there is a group action being organised like the current VW court action in Europe, which has been upheld by the judge to be heard with only 40 cases.
Basically, issues start under 40, 000 miles which is before the first recommended BMW service and totally unacceptable for a major component failure. Aisin 'suggest' a service interval at 2 years or 20.000 km.

 

We got our x2 repaired under our extended bmw warranty. They wanted our purchase invoice and service history. In the end they replaced the gearbox at a cost of £12,000. Ps- the Aisin gearbox in bmw is a sealed unit and bmw say it shouldnt need servicing.

 

It’s not a sealed unit, can and should be serviced regardless what BMW say. They do same with the ZF8. It’s just to keep lease companies happy same as the nonsense CBS schedules
Yet Aisin and ZF state they should be serviced.

 

Wish id seen this before I bought my X1 last week

 

If you haven't already, get an oil change done before you decide to replace the gearbox.

 

Does anyone know if the m235i gran coupe transmission had/had this issue (thinking of buying one)? My wifes 2019 x2 2.0d had this issue at 30k miles. Bmw authorised my local dealer to replace transmission at a cost of £12k. The vehicle was 4 years old but we took extended bmw warranty at £600 per year. Lucky we did!

 

No, this will be a ZF box. Much more reliable.

 

Hi. I know the zf is better as i have it in my 330d, 81k miles and no service and perfect so far. I am sure that the 235 gc has the aisin though, as it is front wheel drive bias with xdrive.

 

unfortunately the F44 autos are the junk aisin box, the 235i of that era is 4 cylinder if I recall correctly the older 6 cylinder 35i had the ZF8.
I would actively avoid any of the cars with aisin 8 speed

 

Maybe it depends on the year. Most searches say 8HP which is a ZF.

 

Bmw can't provide a service interval for the Aisin autobox. However an oil service at my expense, may of sorted the gear jerking. Is there anyone on this site with the same issue who has the balls to take action or just visits here to moan about stuff?

 

BMW's with transverse engines including X1, X2, BMW mini use an Aisin automatic transmission. My October 2018 X2 and 2000 miles now in November 2024 has an amber warning to have transmission serviced. Furthermore, the diagnostic code 421203 states "Transmission Oil Service Life Exceeded". Having done hours of research I note that similar vehicles of the same age have had transmission problems. I am convinced that I now know the answer, the Aisin web site clearly states that an ATF fluid change is required at 6 years or 20000km. Coincidentally virtually all of the comments on this forum and BMW mini refer to 2018 registered vehicles.

 

You're absolutely on the money that the gearbox should have had a service at 200000km. However there is no written servicing timeframe from BMW UK nor can they provide when challenge. Instead, you are expected to fork out £400 pounds to have it done unless you are one of the unlucky ones that have ended up with a damaged gearbox with repair costs exceeding £7000. My case will be being sent to the Motoring ombudsman.

 

Hi F48 18d 60k on the clock,i had the jerking lower gears and the p0741 torque issue,i changed the torque converter and two sticking solenoids,cleaning the valve body,the box is very smoothnow like day1.dont be fooled with bmw dealers,the box it self is strong,the valves are weak .

 

I am experiencing the same drivetrain/transmission fault with my BMW X1 (68 plate, registered February 2019). I purchased the vehicle from Big Motoring World at 40K miles on finance. The initial issue occurred at 44K miles, after an oil change a year ago resolved the problem temporarily. The problem went away for 500miles and started building up again. The problem has now fully resurfaced at 59K miles. I am willing to join the group complaint regarding this matter.

 

I think this needs to be reported to the motoring ombudsman

 

Depends if it’s E84 or f48 model, f48 came out in 2016 but there will still be late E84 around aswell.
E84 is ZF
F48 is aisin

 

I have the same gearbox issues on my 2018 BMW X2. Started around 60.000 Km and was progressively getting worse, huge shocks in the drivetrain, slippage, failure to engage certain gears. Eventually I did an oil change in the hopes that it would fix the issue, unfortunately it only made it slightly better. I can feel something isn't right mechanically in the transmission. Now I'm waiting for an opening to get it checked at a BMW dealer, I hope they find the issue so I can contact my third party warranty provider. If it all goes well they will approve the claim and I won't have to pay a dime. I don't know if I should keep the car afterwards since so many people have the same problem with this transmission. Really unfortunate because otherwise the car is a dream.

 

Keep us upto date

 

My F46 (2018) has shown none of the symptoms mentioned in this thread, it just sounds like a London taxi. This started after it had been into the dealer for the EGR recall. They first thought it was the vibration dampener causing the noise, but it wasn’t - the tensioner was ‘stiff’ so this was replaced. They have now said that they think there is an internal fault with the gearbox. The car has had two owners, myself and BMW, was purchased from BMW in 2020 and has a FBMWSH and has done 90,000 miles (mostly motorway). I am having difficulty accepting that the gearbox is defunct when it has shown no signs of having an issue with the job it is meant to do. The dealer has gone back to BMW U.K. to seek a goodwill payment towards any work (without me having to request this), but something just isn’t gelling for me.

 

We bought our x2 2.0d from bmw. Ex demo. Full bmw service history. At 30k ish miles the gearbox started to judder. Sytner said nothing wrong with it until a senior technician said it shouldnt do that. The warranty had run out, but we took out extended bmw warranty. I still thought bmw would somehow worm their way out of paying for repairs, being as they were asking for our purchase invoice, service reciepts etc. Anyway, in the end, bmw paid the whole cost of repairs, and when i say repairs, i mean a brand new gearbox at a coat of £12k! We just paid £100 excess. If the car is under warranty with bmw, they will/should cover the whole cost of the repair. Personally, even if the car is out of warranty, i would argue that bmw should repair or replace the gearbox being as no half decent gearbox should go kaput at 30k miles. Most decent gearboxes should last into the low hundred thousand miles with no issues iff not abused.

 

I'm the above poster with a similar car, mine is also ex demo, full service, etc. I also have the extended warranty for mine and I'm wondering what were all the documents they asked in order to provide the warranty? I'm going with mine on 9th to diagnose the problem, after which I will have to get in touch with the warranty provider about the claim. Knowing what documents I should ask from BMW would be of great help.

 

Hi there

So bmw had the service history anyway, being as it had always been serviced at sytner

They did however ask for the invoice for when we purchased the car, which we had anyway (by email)

Sytner diagnosed the issue and informed bmw head office, who did approve the replacement gearbox.

We did take out the extended warranty with bmw, so the replacement was covered under this. We just had to pay £100 excess

I hope this helps

If you need anymore infor, please do not hesitate to drop me a line
Nick