Range Rover Sport transmission slipping – dealer wants 30k, any alternatives?

[brandontaylor]

I'm honestly sick to my stomach right now. My 2017 Range Rover Sport just hit 145,000 kilometers and the transmission started flaring between third and fourth gear. No warning lights, no noises, just feels like it's slipping for a second before catching. Took it to the dealer in Dubai and after a "diagnostic" (which cost me 850 dirhams), they said the transmission needs to be replaced and quoted me 32,000 dirhams including labor. That's more than the car is worth at this point. I almost cried in the showroom. A friend who owns a garage in Ajman said I should look for a specialist who can rebuild these ZF 8 speeds instead of replacing them. I've been searching online and found a page with more information about a shop in Sharjah that apparently focuses on Range Rover transmissions specifically. Has anyone here actually had a ZF 8 speed rebuilt in the UAE instead of replaced? I'm trying to figure out if a proper rebuild is reliable or if I'm just delaying the inevitable. The car is otherwise in great shape and I'd rather spend 10-12k on a rebuild than 30k on a replacement or trade it in for peanuts. I'm not even sure who to trust because everyone claims they're a specialist. If you've had a good experience with a transmission shop in Sharjah or anywhere in the UAE for a Range Rover, please share. I need real advice here because I'm desperate. Thanks.