As per the VXR online thread here http://www.vxronline.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?136046-The-m32-gearbox-reliability-list

Can everyone post your mileage, and what the reliability is for your M32 gearbox. I'd be interested to see if the Croma is typically more reliable with the M32 than a VXR - or if you are equally as likely to need a rebuild.

Is the M32 the six-speed manual on the 16v? In which case mine's fine at 82k, no issues.

I'm surprised it's fitted to a VXR though - it's the most clunky gear-change I've ever known. Or is that just due to the position of the stick in the Croma?

10/05 196500 km (about 125k miles) no issues so far planning on changing transmission oil @ next service in September.

After 70.000 KM the noise of bearings is audible in fifth gear. Want to refresh transmission fluid in manual gearbox on a 1.9 multijet 16V built 2008, but don't know where to find position of drain and top up plug. Can you please enlighten me?

Thanks in advance
Vento

If the noise is that bad, a fluid change will do very little in my opinion.

I think this is the filling plug...



Image taken from here - and I suggest you take a look as it explains why there are so many M32 gearbox issues!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.222779744430616.52834.207028252672432&type=3

That is the overflow plug. Filling plug is on the top of the box.

You could fill though the overflow plug but could get messy.

s130 said:

That is the overflow plug. Filling plug is on the top of the box.

Click to expand...

Want to remove the air intake hose from the intercooler to the throttle body, to see if I can get access from the top, for filling up the gearbox.

Yes I have done/do this every two years when I change and bleed the brake and clutch fluids.

Secret I learned is take the car for a drive till nice and warm. This softens the hoses up and they become easy to remove.

You also need a pair of special hose clip pliers otherwise you will need to replace the factory fitted hose clips/bands with Jubilee / similar new bands.

s130 said:

That is the overflow plug. Filling plug is on the top of the box.

You could fill though the overflow plug but could get messy.

Click to expand...

I've always filled gearboxes with a long tube filling via the hole until the fluid is at the same level...

Never even gone looking for a different hole

Hellcat said:

I've always filled gearboxes with a long tube filling via the hole until the fluid is at the same level...

Never even gone looking for a different hole

Click to expand...

Me too. The Croma is the first gearbox on a Fiat car that I have come across with a topside filling hole. Is this something GM actually got right on the Croma?

I don't plan on changing the Croma box oil for a long while yet.

Hmmm

The ability to fill from the top (after removing a whole load of pipes) versus it throwing a bearing and mashing the gears.

Nope, they didn't get the gearbox right!

Ooooh!

You are being a little unfair! Big smiley.

With Fiat you get one tempting hole. With GM you get two, one of which is shrouded in mystery!

(no offence meant to anybody with more sensitive ..... xxx ... yyy ... etc.

s130 said:

With Fiat you get one tempting hole. With GM you get two, one of which is shrouded in mystery!

Click to expand...

Signature worthy!

s130 said:

You also need a pair of special hose clip pliers otherwise you will need to replace the factory fitted hose clips/bands with Jubilee / similar new bands.

Click to expand...

Because of this I took out battery and battery tray instead of the humped hose, thanks anyway.

Mine failed at 50 000 miles, not driven hrd or abused. Starting with an audible whining that just got louder.

The bearings have all been replaced 1.9 m-jet 120

An astra 1.3 cdti on 50 000 miles at work has just had its replaced, same symptoms.

mines been changed twice in 6 months(warranty) first at 36k, whining in 2nd 5th and 6th. then six months later at 39k , jumping out of gear, loud whine when you floored it in 2nd.

the first time they changed it, they put a recon one in, 2nd time, warranty company kicked off that it hadnt lasted long, so they put a new one in, tbh this gearbox feels better than the one it came with brand new.not notchy at all, smooth as anything. silent.