2011 Astra CDTi - New gearbox

chrisrawles

Hi all,

I am looking for some advice. I have a 2011 plate Astra which has just had its 4th year service as per the book and I have been notified that the gearbox needs replacing. The miles on the clock are 55k

I purchased the car used so it came with the standard 1yr Network Q warranty which has now run out.

The cost for repair is £3500
Vauxhall have offered to pay 80%
I have to pay the remaining 20%

Now although I am lucky to have been offered 80% from Vauxhall, I think that replacing a gearbox at 55k on a relatively new car is not right.

Would you say I have a case for "not fit for purpose" or should I be grateful Vauxhall have even offered to pay anything considering the car is out of warranty?

Thanks

Chris

AdrianC

No, you have no case to argue it's not fit for purpose. You don't say when you bought it, just that it was at least one year ago - so, even if you did try to argue it, you'd have to prove the fault was present at the time of your purchase.

It's a 4yo 55k car. Sometimes, things wear prematurely. 80% is a generous goodwill gesture from GM.

forgotmyname

£700 is probably similar to what a gearbox specialist will charge to recondition your gearbox.

Whichever option you choose think about getting the clutch replaced whilst the gearbox is off. You will only be paying for the parts so maybe worth replacing it all.

LiGhTfasT

Sounds like the M32 6 speed gearbox on the 1.4t 1.6t and 1.7 diesel. Prone to failure. I have been looking at the 1.4t but decided not to due to this gearbox.

Like mentioned you might as well get the clutch done too or try a independent specialist that will just change the bearings.

Strider590

Hold on a minute, the gearbox replacement (using a recon box) on my Vectra cost me £750 including a new clutch and slave cylinder.

The place I had it done, do ALL the gearbox work for almost all of the main dealerships within the Midlands area. Vauxhall, Ford, Peugeot, Citroen, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, pretty much all of them.

So basically the OP is paying the actual cost of the work, with the dealership giving up their £3000 profit. In truth the dealership is lying about the price and simply passing on the full cost of the repair, whilst trying to look like the good guys.

And 55k miles for the gearbox, i'm betting it's the main input shaft bearing that's gone (made of chocolate) and that's perfectly possible if it's been driven by a complete moron before you bought it.

bigjl

What are the symptoms?

You say they told you it needed a box when it went in for service, did you have issues or is this out of the blue?

I would probably go down the reconditioned gearbox route and also change the flywheel and clutch if needed.

If it is fitted with a DMF they can now be checked for wear so no need to just replace them, DMFs are a lot more reliable that when they first came out, and even back then were normally damaged due to people labouring the engine in too high a gear causing the DMF to overheat.

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

Hold on a minute, the gearbox replacement (using a recon box) on my Vectra cost me £750 including a new clutch and slave cylinder.

The place I had it done, do ALL the gearbox work for almost all of the main dealerships within the Midlands area. Vauxhall, Ford, Peugeot, Citroen, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, pretty much all of them.

So basically the OP is paying the actual cost of the work, with the dealership giving up their £3000 profit. In truth the dealership is lying about the price and simply passing on the full cost of the repair, whilst trying to look like the good guys.

And 55k miles for the gearbox, i'm betting it's the main input shaft bearing that's gone (made of chocolate) and that's perfectly possible if it's been driven by a complete moron before you bought it.

You've made quiet a large leap there "my gearbox cost £750 to recondition, Vauxhall are saying that they fitting a new gearbox and asking for a £700 contribution from a £3,500 bill, so the figures are similar for what i paid for a recon, therefore the dealer is lying"? :eek:

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

What are the symptoms?

You say they told you it needed a box when it went in for service, did you have issues or is this out of the blue?

I would probably go down the reconditioned gearbox route and also change the flywheel and clutch if needed.

If it is fitted with a DMF they can now be checked for wear so no need to just replace them, DMFs are a lot more reliable that when they first came out, and even back then were normally damaged due to people labouring the engine in too high a gear causing the DMF to overheat.

Out of curiosity, why would you opt out of getting a brand new gearbox, fitted by vauxhall, to taking a reconditioned gearbox?

At very least the new gearbox fitted by vauxhall will sound a lot better than a recon box having been stuck in.

chrisrawles

Thanks for all the replies.

Let me start from the beginning

Car went in for a service. When we took it in we mentioned that there is a noise when you drive it but could not locate where it was coming from. (this turned out to be the famous whining noise) The garage have also reported the gear stick kicks back in 5-6th gear.

The replacement gearbox will not be brand new, its a recon unit that Vauxhall will ship to the dealer.

My dealer gave me the price of £3500 less 80% contribution from VX. (very kind of them, but the car is not that old, nor has my missus driven it badly)

A gearbox specialist has quoted me £1500 to recon and take out/ refit the gearbox.

So i'm wondering how my dealer has come to the figure of £3500 when all they are doing it swopping a gearbox and don't even have to do any investigation work etc.

I know the bill to me is going to be £670 which is still cheaper than if I went to a specialist, but I'm now thinking my dealer is ripping me off from the start.

burlington6

Some of the idiots that work for me could kill a gearbox in no time so it could well be down to you

kripel

thats what you get for buying Opel!