The faulty vauxhall 1.7cdti 6speed m32 gearbox

painttech

Hi all, I know, another m32 thread. Hear me out though, could do with some advice. Basically my gearbox exploded, mechanic says its irreparable, there's a hole in the casing and it lost all its oil.

Now, most specialists are quoting me around £1000 for a fully recon gearbox delivered without exchange.
Cant afford that, so I'm looking at eBay, and there's a couple of second hand boxes with delivery at around 500. Some are with 1 months parts only warranty, but theres one spares company that tells me they actually remove the casing, inspect, and replace any worn parts, and do a 3 month parts only warranty.
Every breaker I've spoken to tells me they've tested the box and they show no symptoms of wear (whining, movement in stick, crunchy etc).

The vans at a local garage, they're waiting for me to get a box delivered and have quoted me 300 to fit.

I just need some general advice about what to do, and what to definately avoid. Maybe some reliable companies to source a box from?
Also i was thinking of supplying some decent oil, and asking them to stick 3 and a half litres (?) in it? Which oil is the best?
My thinking is, as money's tight, even if I get a salvage box, hopefully I'll get lucky and it'll last a while. But if it starts to go, I could then take it to get reconned if I had to.

Oh, also tried a quotes website, and it came back with a few breakers offering one for around £150??? What's that about, I need to contact them on Monday.

Thanks for all your advice guys
Al

forgotmyname

If you get sent a dodgy box you still have to pay your garage the £300 fitting and another £300 to remove the faulty box and fit another one. If the cars stuck on a ramp they may charge you storage also.

Watch the quotes websites, you may get nothing for your £150. Sister got caught on one of those.

Inner_Zone

Where do you get 3.5L oil from? 2L is specification when fitted to the Vectra 2.2 petrol. Fuchs TITAN SINTOFLUID SAE 75W-80 is highly regarded.

Also are you aware this gearbox is used on several engines, 1.9L 120 diesel, 2.2 petrol and also in the Insignia but apparently now modified. What I am getting at is not all gear ratios will necessarily be the same depending on engine, something you may need to check.

bigjl

Another M32 gearbox thread?

Maybe on a Vauxhall forum, don't remember there being many on here.

To be honest I don't know of anybody that has "blown up" one of these gearboxes.

painttech

Yeah I pasted it, put it on lots of forums. The gearbox is in flats and all sorts too, but im pretty sure the 1.3, 1.7 and 1.9 Vauxhall diesels all have the same ratios. I'll make sure I get the right box though. Unfortunately the m32 boxes are well known to be rubbish. I've read a few people saying to put more oil in than the spec, wondered if it was right. Cheers for the advice... I blew it up because I didn't get it reconned before the bearings came apart and punched a hole in the casing.