Ecotuning the TD6 gearbox

[Laurie]

This looks like a cheap and very viable upgrade for the 5L40E ! From the Fullfatrr site:

fullfatrr.com - View topic - TD6 Ecotuning gearbox (http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic14768.html)

Laurie

[harlie]

Been following this too, I had the TCU reprogammed in our other car earlier this year, massive improvement, wanting to do the Rangie now at some stage, been waiting for few extra 'testers'....

[jx2mad]

I have just read this article and it is exactly what I need. The question is what is the mod and how is it done? Jim

[harlie]

Jim, it is an exchange Transmission Computer (with updated software). Pay your money + bond, they send you a modified ECU, swap it over and send your old one back. They then refund the bond.

The trans ECU cannot be updated via the OBD2 port like the engine ECU. Has to boot directly through the chip. They are only playing with the torque converter pressures (partial lockups) and full lockup, all shift mappings remain unchanged.

I think you should do it and report back :D

[donrover0]

Don't want to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but I believe the main concern with these gearboxes seems that it is:
Underrated for the engine. TD6 is 390Nm; 5L40E is 340Nm. (BMW wisdom?)
Wear of valve blocks.
200,000km??? life.
By lowering/changing the TC slippage and lockup speeds, surely this will only put MORE load on the gearbox components.
BUT if you always drive with a light right foot, then your box may not be overloaded.

[ahebron]

I think you will find the main issue with the valves is the soft material the factory made the bits from. If like me you have your box rebuilt with a Sonnax kit and other parts refurbished/replaced/upgraded then this should pose no problem and may improve the gearbox life with less slippage and therefore less heat.

Adrian

[jx2mad]

I thought that the valve body was part of the housing. Does the sonax kit overcome the wear in the valves?

[Homestar]

I thought that the valve body was part of the housing. Does the sonax kit overcome the wear in the valves?

Yes, the Sonnax kit includes resleeving the valve bores and installing different seals. Tooling up to do the resleeving is the expensive part, which is why it has taken some time to start to see these become available.

I could be wrong, but this may mean you can use different fluid in the trans.

[donrover0]

Looking at other car makers who use the GM 5L40/50E's.
GMH/Commodores- Dextron 6, mineral
GM/Cadillac- Dextron 6, mineral or synthetic.
BMW- Dextron 6 Synthetic.

I've just changed the tranny fluid in my TD6 with Nulon ATF Synthetic- meets Dextron 6 specs.
It WAS in a very poor state; clogged filter; brown oil ( not burnt though) and high mileage, 250,000km; no history available, but I suspect not changed for quite some time! Has jerky downshifts, particularly if using the "manual" changes, high T/C stall, high lockup speed.

[harlie]

Don't want to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but I believe the main concern with these gearboxes seems that it is:
Underrated for the engine. TD6 is 390Nm; 5L40E is 340Nm. (BMW wisdom?)
Wear of valve blocks.
200,000km??? life.
By lowering/changing the TC slippage and lockup speeds, surely this will only put MORE load on the gearbox components.
BUT if you always drive with a light right foot, then your box may not be overloaded.

As mentioned the valve body is the major issue. The theory with this mod, as Adrian mentions, is significant reduction in heat generation from the TC.

There are many tuned TD6 cars running around with out issues, one the other hand, there are many stock TD6 car have big trans issues - especially ones never serviced.

[RoverNova]

The problem with sonnax is they only sleeve valves they know give problems in the US. Here in Australia you see other issue they don't do sleeves for.

It would be cheaper to just fit a brand new GM valve body for $1100 That way you have a new unit as well as new electronics. The next problem is the Pump if you can get your hands on a new GM unit fit it also.

Im not a fan of tuning as a fix, These transmission go 100-150K with out issues and normally on original oil so tuning may clean up some problems but its not really repairing internal issues.

[harlie]

Don’t think anyone is talking about tuning as a fix for reliability issues, purely for drivability improvements. I just don’t think it will make it worse it terms of reliability.

[peter g]

I think you will find the main issue with the valves is the soft material the factory made the bits from. If like me you have your box rebuilt with a Sonnax kit and other parts refurbished/replaced/upgraded then this should pose no problem and may improve the gearbox life with less slippage and therefore less heat.

Adrian
Hi Adrian,
Where did you have the Sonnax work done on the box, if US, what was the procedure ?
regards
Peter

[ahebron]

Hi Adrian,
Where did you have the Sonnax work done on the box, if US, what was the procedure ?
regards
Peter

Hi Peter
I had it done local to me in New Zealand. Sonnax sell kits all over the world. I had the complete gearbox overhauled while it was out.
There is plenty of info on the net about this.

Adrian

[Declan]

Well lads I took the plunge and have bought a ecotuning kit for the RR, away at present moment hopefully it come from Germany and is there when I come back and I will let you know what I think of it, from the forum's I have read ( BMW/ RR ) they all rave about it but time will tell.

Declan :twisted::twisted::twisted:

[Homestar]

Just a quick plug here for Rovernova (Rhys from Furious Performance) - he currently has BRAND NEW valve bodies for sale - straight from the US, that will bolt straight in and solve all your worn valve body issues for good.

Head over to the verandah - he has posted there about them. If I can put some dollars together I'll be grabbing one for mine.

[harlie]

Well lads I took the plunge and have bought a ecotuning kit for the RR, ...


Nice one mate, looking forward to your thoughts.

[Declan]

OK lads got the ecotuning kit from Germany put it in the RR today ( about half an hour you have to solder one cable not hard if you are handy ), he says it takes about a week to get to know your driving but what I have notice straight away is the elastic band shifts are gone and it drives a lot better not hoping up & down changing gears, it kicks in at between 55km & 60km hr sports mode comes up and goes out at between 80km to 100km so your lock up your torque converter very early so hopefully less wear only time will tell will let you know more in the coming months as if I believe it was worth the money if any of you are interested here is the link Eco Tuning für Automatikgetrieben <br> Intelligente Motortuning (http://www.ecotuning-automatic.de/Preise/index.html)

Declan :twisted::twisted::twisted:

[Declan]

Lads the link I gave is in German if you go to fullfattrr.com and then to fullfatrr.com - View Forum - Maintenance & Modifications (http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/maintenance-modifications-vf3.html) page 3 it translate it to English.
Declan :twisted::twisted::twisted: