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Gearbox recon..
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:47 pm
by Imola_Sid
Hello everyone,
I owned a C5 RS6 around 10 years ago! Looking for some current/up to date info.
My younger brother is looking to buy a C5 RS6 and suspects the gearbox is showing signs of giving up. He may be able to get it for a good price.
Who's best to go to these days for the gearbox and what can one expect to pay for a full recon?
Any help is much appreciated

Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:52 pm
by Shoppinit
Hey Sid! Good to hear from you. How’s things?
The latest info I have is in the FAQ. There was a place doing them site cheaply but I don’t really have any up to date info.
What’s the issue with the gearbox?
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:42 pm
by Imola_Sid
Hi Ben,
All good here, thanks

Hope all is well with you.
Just sold the C6 RS6

Gutted but a 3rd child meant it wasn't going to work for us. Replaced it with a 7 seater GL63, so not all doom and gloom.
Re the C5 - the 'PNRDS' all light up on startup and then goes normal shortly after. It's also thudding a little when driving hard in 'D'.
Have you got a link to the gearbox info in the FAQ's?
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:38 am
by srichards
First thing to try is always a gearbox service and the F125 switch replacement. Check for other leaks as they seem to have them in later life. They also like to leak from seals just after a gearbox service so you have to do it again.
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:08 am
by Shoppinit
End of the first post:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=90358
Yeah, that sounds like a F125 issue. No biggy, although a PITA to replace (at least, I found it was).
Mine needs doing again. On a cold start, if I put it in D or R too quickly then it gives the PRNDS fault and thunks slams into gear. You've only got 4th or reverse when it faults out. I know it's the F125 though so I'm just trying to build up the courage to replace it again. I've got a cheap Chinese F125 to try, out of curiousity.
Anyway, what you describe doesn't sounds like the gearbox itself, but that doesn't mean that the gearbox isn't borked also. If you can drive it without the PRNDS lit up and it drives normally without slipping on WOT gear changes then I'd take that as a positive sign.
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:54 am
by Imola_Sid
I think it changed gears ok when driven normally. It was when it was being driven hard that it thudded.
What codes would I expect to see on the
Vagcom if it was the F125 sensor?
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:19 pm
by Imola_Sid
Seller said he changed the 'range sensor' and cost him around £300. Assuming thats the F125?
Only place I spoke to who said they can do a full recon was QST but it's around £6,000!
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:02 pm
by Shoppinit
Imola_Sid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:54 am
I think it changed gears ok when driven normally. It was when it was being driven hard that it thudded.
Yeah, that sounds like a box at the end of its life.
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:41 pm
by Imola_Sid
It's like nobody touches these boxes anymore. Maybe the parts are hard to find these days...
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:57 pm
by Shoppinit
Imola_Sid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:54 am
I think it changed gears ok when driven normally. It was when it was being driven hard that it thudded.
What codes would I expect to see on the
Vagcom if it was the F125 sensor?
Somthing like this:
http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/17090
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:05 pm
by Imola_Sid
Thanks mate. I think he's going to pass on the car. Doesn't make sense taking a risk with £6k being the cost of a potential repair.
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:40 pm
by Shoppinit
Yeah. Get an E92 M3.

Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 6:13 pm
by Imola_Sid
Had an E90 M3 myself. Was quite possibly the best all rounder I had. Not the fastest but in terms of a full package, performance, practicality, looks, reliability, cost etc it may just be the best car I've had. It literally did everything brilliantly and wasn't ridiculous money at the time.
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 6:19 pm
by Shoppinit
They are fantastic. Might have to get one. I reckon they''ll be a future classic, too.
Re: Gearbox recon..
Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2023 6:28 pm
by Imola_Sid
Yeah, 100%. Not paid much attention to the coupe but the saloons have risen since I had mine. Mine had high miles (around 130k i think) but it was backed up with full BMW dealer history. I sold mine for around 13k in around 2019 iirc. Prices have crept up since then.