it's been around 8 years in various makes with few issues, the main issue IMO is total lack of servicing, it should have a run in service of 1000 miles then every 25 to 30,000 after, Aisin quote 30,000 service intervals, but nobody follows that recommendation
I fully agree. In my opinion and without prejudice, BMW are negligent in communicating that the gearbox is sealed for life.
This appears to be in direct contradiction to the service intervals reecommended by Aisin.
I have always serviced my vehicles at 10,000 mile intervals regardless of the intervals rcommended by the dealer. You might call me old school and I know oil is more advanced now than ever before, but long drain doesn't sit well in my book. For the cost of oil and filter it's a no brainer.
I wanted to change the oil in the gearbox when I initially had issues at 30,000 miles with lumpy changes but was advised by BMW that I could probably cause more problems by doing so as the gearboxes are quite technical and finicky and sealed for life.
In hindsight I should have done it anyway. And you're right, the reason these boxes are not being serviced is because of that bad advice by the dealer. Its kind of waiving their responsibility and passing the book in many ways particularly when the warranty has expired when problems are more likely to occur and the onus and cost of repair then unfortunately falls back on the owner.
In all of my years of motoring I have never had an automatic gearbox issue and didn't expect it on a vehicle that has only covered 47,000 miles.
Poor do really.
