Gentlemen

I recieved a request to attend ZFs factory in Nottingham, to repair a test machine.

This gave me the chance to talk auto boxes with them.

At their premises, they re-manufacture the range of ZF products (gearboxes, steering racks, steering boxes etc), including the electronic valve/"brain" part.

I was given a tour of the factory, its very smart, very clean, and extremely well equipped.

BMW GB will not allow our dealers to use these products, our dealers are forced to only offer us products from Germany, this means you'll be asked for circa £5,000, instead of circa £1,500, ( I've just been through this process with my friends 735i).

Why BMW GB wont allow our dealers to use ZF GB, god alone knows, ZF GB are as good, if not better on some products than ZF Germany, the test equipment is the same, and linked to Germany, I can only imagine its BMW Germany dictating to BMW GB, preserving German jobs, (but that is only my guess, please feel free to contact BMW GB as "disgusted British/Irish BMW owner" and suggest that BMW GB may like to start supporting British dealers, enabling them to offer us better priced repairs.......I will be doing so ).

The result of BMW GBs stance, in my experience , is the local dealer, and ZF GB , both lose out, as when faced with a £5,000 quote on an older BMW, you just walk away, and get the box repaired (rather than re-manufactured), at some independant gearbox specialist.

Contact details :

Please note, I only met these people last week, if you have any problems, contact me, and I'll go direct to the factory for you,

ZF Great Britain Limited, Abbeyfield Road, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2SX.

Telephone (main switchboard) 0115 986 9211

Fax 0115 986 3650

OUR CONTACT, Tom Anderson, direct number 0115 935 5429, e-mail mailto:tom.anderson@zf.com - tom.anderson@zf.com

Good luck if you have a gearbox problem, I was very impressed with the factory & all that goes with it.

*NOTE

You will be buying a gearbox/steering box etc, you will have to get it fitted locally, they do not have facilities to change them over on your car. This fact makes ZF GB useful to all of us, as you wont be expected to travel to Nottingham !