Has anyone fixed an Audi gearbox at home or is it a bad idea?

[tobinlane]

Last month I watched a guy online open up a gearbox pan on his driveway and it looked so simple that I started thinking I could do the same on my old Audi A4. Then I felt a bit foolish, because I have only ever changed my own oil and wiper blades. My car has a slight delay when it shifts from first to second, and the workshop near me quoted a price that made my stomach drop. So I thought maybe I can save money and learn something. I did some reading that night and found a Step by step Audi gearbox repair guide on Audi Transmission Repair, which showed me that even the first checks have a proper order, like scanning for codes, checking the fluid level and colour, and only then thinking about bigger work. I did not expect that, I thought you just open it and see. It also made me realise how many small parts are inside and how one mistake could turn a small problem into a big one. Now I am torn. Part of me wants to try the easy things myself, like checking the fluid and reading the codes with a cheap scanner. Another part says leave it to a pro before I damage something. Has anyone here tried even a small gearbox job at home? What tools did you need, and how long did it take you? Also, is there a point where you should stop and hand it over to a mechanic? I do not mind spending a weekend on it, but I do not want to end up with a car that will not move. Honest stories, good or bad, would really help me decide.