Gearbox: A used one? Rebuild mine? How much?

[Gardus]

Hi guys, during the last trackday at Franciacorta my 2nd gear syncromesh finally gave up. It's never been in great shape since I bought the car but now is gone for good.
The 5th and 1st gear are not perfect either.

I'm thinking about this and here are the possibile solution:
Used gearbox:
-cliospares has one for £350 + shipping from the UK, but they haven't told me in what shape it is yet.
-a local spare shop here in Italy has one with 150k £ on it for € 350...that's crazy for a piece of c*ap like that which will need full rebuild.
-??

Rebuild mine with new syncros, maybe it'll need something else like bearings or even cogs (i hope not), 200+ €

The problem is with the second solution obviously I'll had my car off the road for quite some time, and I can't afford it as it's my daily drive.

As labour hours are not free I want to do it right once and for all.
Mabe it would be better to buy one from the dealers (no idea about the price!!), a refurbished one or a new one (if they still have some)?

I think gearbox rebuilders give you a warranty of 6 months...

What do you think is the best solution?

I'd also like to fit the Yanoo shifter while I'm at it.

 

[mr.pink87]

I'd always prefer a rebuild box over a used one in unknown condition. Don't you have gearbox specialists in italy?
Had mine rebuilt by Agency Transmission in Worcester and it took about 2 days. Maybe you could arrange something with cliospares and Agency, that the used box gets straightly rebuilt and then posted to Italy?
Car will be off-road for a few days anyway.

 

[Gardus]

That would be good. How much did they charge for yours?
I just received a quote from my mechanic, he said that a company here in Italy asks 200+ € to rebuild a box, depending on how many parts they need to change.
I think that's probably the best solution, especially if they give me a 6 months warranty as I hope.
I soon as I decide I'll order the shifter from Yanoo.

 

[mr.pink87]

About 300 quid for new synchros, bearings, a few bits and labour. Could be that they have reconditioned boxes on the shelf.
You could give him a call, the phone number is somewhere floating around on the forum.

 

[Gardus]

I've just given them a call:
Agency Transmissions
Unit 17k Shrub Hill
Worcester
WR4 9EL
tel: 01905 24896

But they haven't got any in stock. Honestly if I need to buy one from cliospares, have it shipped to AT, rebuilt and then shipped to Italy it's going to cost way too much.
I think I'll have mine rebuilt here in Italy, hoping they'll do a good job.

Is there anyway to make it more reliable, like stronger synchro or anything like that?

 

[Silent_Scone]

builders normally 6 months warranty or 12k miles. I think whatever you do, if you're buying one from the UK it'll cost you a fortune! Maybe haggle the box for 150k? That's way too much what they're asking. Then obviously get it rebuilt in Italy

Also have a dig, but I don't think theres much in the way of strengthening. The JC5 is rated up to 200nm of torque, which is what normally destroys gearboxes. The later sports have a higher rating iirc but not a worthy swap, nor is it possible without heavy work.

I'd rather if possible move away from Renault boxes entirely, VAG conversion would be nice

 

[Budgie]

Buy Nick172cup's gearbox. It was only rebuilt 8k ago and he only wants £250.

 

[Christopher]

I'm in exactly the same situation. My syncro gave up on Tuesday on second gear.

I'm storing the car for the winter but I'll be refurbishing my current 'box rather than buying a used item.

There's too many unknown factors with buying used, IMO. Best to stick with a 'box that you know's been rebuilt to proper standards and has a warranty.

 

[Christopher]

Buy Nick172cup's gearbox. It was only rebuilt 8k ago and he only wants £250.

172 Cup gearboxes have the speedo feed that you'll have to plug if it's going into a normal 172/182.

 

[Silent_Scone]

Think mines going Chris :/ Can't believe it

 

[hatyy]

have to do the same job in the same place........buy the syncro kit or syncro plus bearings kit ......the first 100 the last near 300 euros........plus other 250-300 labour........but after you will get a god box ....

problem is that when you open your box you could find strange thinks in it ....so the bill could increase changing a selector(100euro one)......

used boxes won't last you long doing trackdays..........

 

[Christopher]

Think mines going Chris :/ Can't believe it

It's all that granny shifting. Try double-clut...

Sorry.

Yeah, luckily I have a garage to store mine over winter so I'm just ignoring the issue until March.

Your Ph1 isn't your daily though, is it? Is it your second that's gone too?

 

[Gardus]

I think ph2 FF and 182 get the speed from the ABS, am I right? His car is a ph2 cup...
I sent a pm to Nick, let's see if he wants to pack the box and I'll arrange the courier. Thanks to Budgie, I own you a beer.

 

[Christopher]

I think ph2 FF and 182 get the speed from the ABS, am I right? His car is a ph2 cup...
I sent a pm to Nick, let's see if he wants to pack the box and I'll arrange the courier. Thanks to Budgie, I own you a beer.

Correct. ABS sensor. Ph1 also.

172 Cups use a manual feed from the 'box because of the lack of ABS.

 

[Silent_Scone]

It's all that granny shifting. Try double-clut...



Sorry.

Yeah, luckily I have a garage to store mine over winter so I'm just ignoring the issue until March.

Your Ph1 isn't your daily though, is it? Is it your second that's gone too?

LOL
Yes, second gear, only noticing it on downshift though currently, the box was recondition in 2009 :/

No it's not my daily - but I've not driven the thing in over 8 months so I'm a bit pissed .

Also Ph1s have two sensors, one of which is the speedo drive iirc?

 

[SBV116]

There not that expensive from renault you know...circa £700, not bad for a recon box from a dealer i thought!

 

[Gardus]

I thought more SBV...well maybe in the UK. In Italy spare parts from Renault are crazy expensive...

 

[Silent_Scone]

Mk2 Renault Sports, the only hatch where a gearbox group buy could actually work

 

[Gardus]

I'll get Nick's one if he wants to pack it, if not I'll get a refurbished one from cliospares (450£) along with a new front subframe.

I won't spend much less as I'll need two shipment instead of one if I go with Nick's box.

Ahaha Silent you're so right!
Actually there is also another one, the R50 Mini Cooper...midland boxes don't last more than 60k miles.

 

[hatyy]

nearly 900euros for the rebuilt box from renault

 

[SBV116]

^ whats that in £? excuse my ignorance, not up on that stuff!

 

[Gardus]

Ok, I'm definitely not buying one from Renault!

DHL economy is 45 € for 50 kg package,how heavy is a gearbox?

900 €-> 768 £
Also, Hatyy probably got that quote with taxes at 20%, now it's 21%, not much of a difference but still....

 

[Budgie]

Correct. ABS sensor. Ph1 also.

172 Cups use a manual feed from the 'box because of the lack of ABS.

Almost.

Ph2 172 & 182 use the ABS sensor

Ph1 172 and 172 cups use the speedo sensor on the gearbox.

Ok, I'm definitely not buying one from Renault!

DHL economy is 45 € for 50 kg package,how heavy is a gearbox?

900 €-> 768 £
Also, Hatyy probably got that quote with taxes at 20%, now it's 21%, not much of a difference but still....

Gearbox is 37kgs from memory.

 

[Gardus]

Ok with a bit of packaging should be 40 to 50 kg so 40/45 € with DHL economy.