E8000 motor replacement difficulty and process?

[Red Menace]

Is it simple to replace a dead E8000 motor with a new E8000 motor?

 

[Greg Watts]

Is it simple to replace a dead E8000 motor with a new E8000 motor?

Straightforward job, mechanically speaking - swapping like-for-like is far easier than jumping to EP8/EP801, because you're not fighting different form factors, wiring or BMS.

On your 2019 Jam2: the Shimano STEPS E8000 bolts out and a replacement E8000 bolts straight back in - same mounts, same connectors, same everything. As Frank put it on a similar thread: it's a "30 minute job to remove the E8000 motor from most frames" with just one special tool needed to pull the chainring off for reinstalling (@Rando_12345's post thread has pricing context too).

A couple of things worth checking before you buy:

• Region/speed settings - if the replacement motor comes from a different market (EU vs USA), it may arrive with different regional settings baked in, so you might need E-Tube or a tool like STUnlocker to sort that out afterwards.
  
• Warranty/goodwill - worth a call to Shimano or your dealer first. One member reported being told there was "a very good chance Shimano would just take care of the e8000 replacement for free" even a few years in, with maybe just a shop labour fee (@Rando_12345's post). Doesn't hurt to ask before you spend anything.
  
• Bearing wear is a common E8000 death - @ziscwg on the forum had one go after 7,200 miles and ended up sourcing a full replacement motor themselves (@ziscwg's post), so you're not alone in this.
  

Only gotcha to actively avoid: don't be tempted onto an EP8 or EP801 thinking it's a simple upgrade path - different form factor and wiring harness, more hassle than it's worth if all you want is your Jam2 running again. Stick with E8000-for-E8000 and you'll have it done on the kitchen table in half an hour.