General Bravo gearboxes

[hitherematey]

I'm interested in buying a Bravo 1.4 T-jet sport but I'm being put off with the M32 gearbox horror stories. My question is are they really that bad? Also I understand they revised the design at some point, are these any better? Apart from the whining are there any other symptoms I should look for or should I just avoid them completely?

Thanks in advance

 

[will0407]

I have an m32 in my t-jet 150. 2008 plate, 77,000 and counting. No issues touch wood! You get good ones and bad ones, just like any other car. The % of bad ones may be higher compared to other gearboxes, but it's probably down a bit of luck and how the car has been driven although I'm no mechanic so it may have nothing to do with how it's driven! I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[aross95]

I have the m32 in my tjet 120 ; 57 plate ,75000 milrs no issues so far abd i drive like a dick lol

 

[hitherematey]

Thanks for the replies. It's nice to know that at least some of the gearboxes out there are up to the job. Any more experiences or advice please?

 

[lyubohar]

https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo/347377-m32-gearbox-t-jet-150-a-6.html
Read this and countless of other threads around. No one will be able to summarize it for you - not that we don't want, but it's just too many opinions and too many experiences.

Personally I tend to believe in the theory that the M32 gearbox is not really meant to have a 6th gear. So actually highway driving when you floor it on 5th and 6th is worse for the gearbox than driving in city with constant gear changes between 1st and 5th. Looks like most of the problems come from 5th and 6th, but that's just from reading posts and stuff, could be totally wrong.

Otherwise I try to fully press the clutch every time I change gear and dropped my habit of driving economically (changing gears around and below 2000 rpm). I now change gears around 3k rpm for about 1l/100km increase in fuel use.

 

[hitherematey]

Thanks Lyubohar. That's quite worrying as 90% of my miles will be done on dual carriageways with lots of steep hills. Anyone know what gearbox is fitted to the 1.6 and 2.0 diesel?

 

[LSP]

I drive a 2008 Sport 1,4 T-jet with (chipped) 180BHP. It now have 135.000Km's and no problems so far. Even with the much higher BHP's and torque, no problems.
I drive a lot of carriageways and accelerate a lot in 5th and 6th.

 

[lyubohar]

I don't say this is true, it's just seems like one of the likely reasons.
You don't have to accelerate hard on high gear anyway - don't be lazy, downshift when you need power

 

[Insomnia]

Well I've had my tjet150 since beginning of May and have covered about 2.5k miles.

I've changed the gearbox oil just as a matter of precaution and have to admit I've not noticed any issues. Very early days with little mileage to be able to answer but I'm just mindful not to accelerate hard in 6th too often. No great shakes, realistically if you need to pick up speed quick, you should change down a gear regardless.

Touch wood, all ok so far!

 

[LSP]

I don't say this is true, it's just seems like one of the likely reasons.
You don't have to accelerate hard on high gear anyway - don't be lazy, downshift when you need power

Enough power in 6th from 50MPH

 

[RobBravo]

Here's your answer!

Get the 165 2.0 Sport.

It comes with the VASTLY superior F40 gearbox. People run huge torque powers through these on the Vectra/ Signum forums and they stand up to the job very well!

Otherwise, take a flyer - I have and so far the M32 has been fine. Change the oil to Fuchs like I have is also recommended!

 

[GrandeGuy]

I have had both boxes,
Both change sluggish from cold from day one,
My M32 made a noise, it got way worse after I traded it in (diff I think)
For my Bravo F40 box I changed the oil for Castrol Syntrans and all changing problems solved.
I only use 6th after 60mph on flat or down hill, any incline or over taking its down to 5th,
If your getting below 1500rpm your in the wrong gear and will destroy any box,
Try riding a bike in high gear constantly, far too much torque and stress something's gonna give! or driving in too high a gear and you are pushing the box oil gear too "shear point" metals gonna start touching metal at some point.