Hi Club,

I have Magna ES II 2005, with 220.000km on the clock. Not much to complain so far: in 7 years of my ownership, I've replaced radiator, starter, timing belt at 200K, some other small bits and pieces... Now fixing oil leaks for another $400.

I'm thinking, how long it will last before major problems with gearbox, engine etc? Maybe it's time to sell it now, while I still may get $4000-$4500 if I lucky?

What do you think?

You won't get $4000 for it.
You'll be hard-pressed getting $3000-3500 for it privately, even less as a trade on anything less than a new car.

If there are no significant issues and there is no pressing need to sell it (needing more seats, can't afford to run it, etc) then hold onto it until it becomes uneconomical to repair, because you won't see any significant money for it if you sell it or trade it in. Oil leaks are not a significant issue unless they are from cam/crank/rear main seals, and are for the most part relatively cheap to fix especially if you do them yourself.

If you keep up the maintenance, and flush out the transmission fluid every 50,000km, theres no real reason you can't get at least 300,000km out of it. These engines are solid if maintained.
Being a TW you will also likely have the revised wave spring, which historically, increases the longevity of these gearboxes somewhat as long as you keep up the transmission flushes.

You won't get $4000 for it.
You'll be hard-pressed getting $3000-3500 for it privately, even less as a trade on anything less than a new car.

If there are no significant issues and there is no pressing need to sell it (needing more seats, can't afford to run it, etc) then hold onto it until it becomes uneconomical to repair, because you won't see any significant money for it if you sell it or trade it in. Oil leaks are not a significant issue unless they are from cam/crank/rear main seals, and are for the most part relatively cheap to fix especially if you do them yourself.

If you keep up the maintenance, and flush out the transmission fluid every 50,000km, theres no real reason you can't get at least 300,000km out of it. These engines are solid if maintained.
Being a TW you will also likely have the revised wave spring, which historically, increases the longevity of these gearboxes somewhat as long as you keep up the transmission flushes.

I think theres a lot more then the transmission flushes, has more to do with how you drive, my KH had very dirty ATF when I bought it 4 years ago so i flushed and it only needs to be done every 100k, if you flog the shit out of your car I'm sure thats going to f#@k the tranny faster then dirty ATF will.

I think theres a lot more then the transmission flushes, has more to do with how you drive, my KH had very dirty ATF when I bought it 4 years ago so i flushed and it only needs to be done every 100k, if you flog the shit out of your car I'm sure thats going to f#@k the tranny faster then dirty ATF will.

I think 100k is too long between flushes, I've stuck to 45-50k transmission services from my days of owning a Hyundai and working for a Hyundai dealership.
Isn't is strange that Hyundai suggest 45k services for their transmissions in their late 90s-mid 2000s models when they were using the same SP-III fluid... yet the failure rate is far less.

I do agree, however, that it is based equally as much on user treatment as the components - perhaps moreso - but that is kind of stating the obvious... if you mistreat or abuse any transmission over a extended period of time, chances are its going to leave you stranded. I'll also add that its not just the wavespring one needs to worry about.. theres a whole heap of stuff crammed into a small metal box.. planetary gear, torque converter and oil pump failures are not unheard of.

But, that said, if you're going to lose sleep about how your automatic transmission is a ticking timebomb.. buy a manual transmission car, a bicycle or walk, you'll soon find ways to lose sleep about those methods as well.

I think 100k is too long between flushes, I've stuck to 45-50k transmission services from my days of owning a Hyundai.
Isn't is strange that Hyundai suggest 45k services for their transmissions and use the same SP-III fluid... yet the failure rate is far less.

Mitsubishi recommends every 100k but sooner wouldn't hurt, I don't know anything about Hyundai transmissions, do they use Mitsubishi ones? I don't know about the failure rate being less then Mitsubishi's, I have only had one bad experience with a Magna transmission and that was the dreaded TM, had the tranny in my old KR play up but it had done 280k so I couldn't complain, the TM was bad it use to like lock up at 60 k's an hour and nearly send you through the windscreen.

Mitsubishi recommends every 100k but sooner wouldn't hurt, I don't know anything about Hyundai transmissions, do they use Mitsubishi ones? I don't know about the failure rate being less then Mitsubishi's, I have only had one bad experience with a Magna transmission and that was the dreaded TM, had the tranny in my old KR play up but it had done 280k so I couldn't complain, the TM was bad it use to like lock up at 60 k's an hour and nearly send you through the windscreen.

Hyundais used their own variations of the F4A and F5A transmissions.. XG Grandeurs and SM Santa Fe models used variations of the F5A51 and F4A51 similar to the 3rd Magnas; while some Elantras, Sonatas, Tucsons and Tiburons used variations of the F4A42.

I believe the service manual state 45,000km ATF change intervals, and it was agreed amongst aussiemagna that even this is too long between flushes?
Though I think ATF flush is a neglected part of servicing and a lot of these cars never had it done until they reached our ownership.

I believe the service manual state 45,000km ATF change intervals, and it was agreed amongst aussiemagna that even this is too long between flushes?

Normal driving conditions is 90,000km intervals, severe driving conditions is 45,000km intervals, according to my maintenance handbook.
I'm happy with 45k changes on mine.

I believe the service manual state 45,000km ATF change intervals, and it was agreed amongst aussiemagna that even this is too long between flushes?
Though I think ATF flush is a neglected part of servicing and a lot of these cars never had it done until they reached our ownership.

The first time in my Mitsubishi service warranty book where it says to change the ATF is at 105k its not like engine oil, 45k is for 4wd like Pajero's not FWD Magna's, I changed mine 75k k's ago and its still clean, its was very dark when I bought the car @203k so don't think it had ever been changed since the car was new.

If you keep up the maintenance, and flush out the transmission fluid every 50,000km, theres no real reason you can't get at least 300,000km out of it. These engines are solid if maintained.
Being a TW you will also likely have the revised wave spring, which historically, increases the longevity of these gearboxes somewhat as long as you keep up the transmission flushes.

Thanks a lot! I was sort of hoping to hear that.
I will check when I've changed trans fluid last time.

What about cooling fluid and air/fuel filters? My mechanic asking to change them often and I refuse :-) Is that important?

What about cooling fluid and air/fuel filters? My mechanic asking to change them often and I refuse :-) Is that important?

Well, yes. Part of keeping repairs to a minimum on any car is replacing items - especially service items - that need to be replaced, when they need replacing.

What about cooling fluid and air/fuel filters? My mechanic asking to change them often and I refuse :-) Is that important?

You need to have a read of the service manual to see what is required.

What about cooling fluid and air/fuel filters? My mechanic asking to change them often and I refuse :-) Is that important?

Coolant and brake fluid is often overlooked. The book says to change both every 2 years regardless of distance traveled. I have done this with mine and never had any trouble with the brakes or cooling system. Mine is a 2002 with just over 200k. Still on the original radiator and hoses. Problem with coolant is it becomes acidic over time and starts eating away the cooling system, while brake fluid absorbes moisture and causes corrosion inside the system.

Coolant and brake fluid is often overlooked.
Problem with coolant is it becomes acidic over time and starts eating away the cooling system, while brake fluid absorbes moisture and causes corrosion inside the system.

yes: every used car I've bought, I immediately replace coolant and brake fluid. I've bought cars 3-4 yrs old and always if you look back thru the book, there's no mention of changes of coolant and brake fluid. Keeping that stuff fresh makes a big difference.

When u guys are stating atf changes is a DIY change OK or do I need to get a at specialist to perform a flush? Would prefer DIY, last quote I had was something like $400 :(

I've noticed recently when starting the car, when going from park to reverse its starting to make a mechanical whine before engaging gear.. (This is when I have a cold start high idle) the fluid looks pretty clean)

$400 would be with the fluid I would expect. I paid $150 for labour and supplied the OEM Mitsubishi fluid (another $140 for 15L)

I got a quote off a couple of dealers last week for a flush, they ranged between $280 and $330. I clarified with them that it was a flush rather than a drain and fill.

yes $400 with the fluid, kinda waste of $ to some extent when our cars are worth $2-3K :(

The most important filters to change is the air and oil filter. I change my oil filter at every oil change- 10,000 klms and blow out the air cleaner with compressed air or tap it on concrete when I do the oil change and replace every second oil change. I use Nulon coolant for the radiator, supposed to be good for 5 years. I use 4 litres of coolant on refill after a good flush of the radiator and system. I replaced my brake fluid and auto transmission, power steering , rear diff and transfer case on my awd a few months ago. Brake fluid made a big difference, pedal felt nice and no brake fade. Give yourself a time frame to get through it all and you will not notice a big hole in your wallet.