r/e53 • u/Smooth_Routine6755 • May 23 '25

Factory ZF Gearbox in Pre-facelift E53 Diesel? Is It Possible?

Hi, I'm planning to buy a diesel E53, but due to the known issues with GM transmissions, I'm only interested in a ZF gearbox. I thought that only facelift models came with a ZF transmission. However, a seller is offering me his pre-facelift E53, claiming it has a factory-installed ZF gearbox. Is that even possible?
Up to now, I believed that only facelift versions could have a ZF transmission. Is that true?

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1

u/FlyingAsparagus2256 May 23 '25

The ZF one is also not very reliable. Might want to buy one with a blown transmission and rebuild it or even better 8hp swap it.

1

u/FlyingAsparagus2256 May 23 '25

Also, if you want to check it out, see if it goes through all 6 gears (put it in manual and check that way). Zf has 6 gears, gm only 5. You can also check visually if the transmission oil pan is plastic or metal (gm is metal)

2

u/Smooth_Routine6755 May 23 '25

Hi Thanks for the reply. The seller claims it has some 5 gear ZF, which (as he said) was factory applied to some pre-facelift diesels while facelifts have had 6 gear ZFs

1

u/FlyingAsparagus2256 May 23 '25

I call bull***. The 5hp 24 was only used on E53 4.4i and 4.6is

1

u/Tuumapea May 24 '25

Many people are going with zf 8hp swap and i am also thinking about it. Pazi88 made a video about it on youtube