The gearbox is reliable and durable, but it sits behind particularly powerful engines, and that shows on the shift mechanism: between 100,000 and 150,000 km it often wears out, which makes shifting stiff, and that is most obvious in winter.
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Above 200,000 km the bearings can drone and the dual-mass flywheel can knock. The oil level is worth watching, because leaks are common and the gearbox tolerates a dropping level badly.
between 100,000 and 150,000 km
What to check
- Set off from cold: every gear must engage without snagging
- Stop and select reverse: it must not grate or need force
- At a steady speed, listen for noise: a worn bearing drones
