Hi all,

Just tried my reverse again and its slightly working. If I put it into R it moves back but if I touch the acceleratror it vibrates and then nothing. Any one had this problem before??

What a way to start the weekend...

I have had the Auto specialist look at it and he has never seen this before, and recons its a box out job €€€€€€€€€€'s

I let you know how I get on.

Thanks

Mick

Come on Andrew wheres the "I told you so"

Mick

Mick

Sorry to hear your news.

If you have bought from BMW and it is still under warranty take it straight back there.  It is their problem and they will have to fix it at their cost and give you a replacement car.

This is the only time one should take a car to BMW to get the autobox fixed.

BMW will not fix it but they will send it to a specialist for repair but you only deal with BMW.

It could simply be a selector linkage problem. No, I read this post again from your last one on t'other thread and no it is probably an internal fault.

Box out sounds about right as it will be extremely difficult to tell what the fault is without taking it out and then taking it apart.

Could be solenoid fault , i.e. not making the hydraulic circuits 'live' to power all the valves that operate the brake bands and clutches.  It could also be mechanical failure, say a clutch, brake band or gear.

What exactly vibrates?

I'm not telling 'I told you so' as I know you were in the process of getting your tranny serviced, but you will now know why I tell all new owners of second hand automatic BMW's to take it to an Automatic Transmission Specialist for a service straight away.

Best of luck

Andrew

Mick523I wrote:   Come on Andrew wheres the "I told you so" Mick

You posted this one while I was thinking about my last post!

As I said above, I'm not going to tell you 'I told you so'! 

T'is not your fault!  You have done nothing wrong!

Andrew

Andrew,

Just got a call back from the Garage (not a BMW dealer but sells alot of them) and he has aggreed without fuss to repair or replace the box. I have told him thats fine as logn as its done right.

Ill let you know.

And a message to all GET YOUR BOX SERVICED!!!

Mick

Andrew Rolland wrote: Mick523I wrote:   Come on Andrew wheres the "I told you so" Mick You posted this one while I was thinking about my last post! As I said above, I'm not going to tell you 'I told you so'!  T'is not your fault!  You have done nothing wrong! Andrew

I did run down the Motorway at 110 mph about an hour before it broke, but if you cant drive it whats the point...

Mick

Mick523I wrote: And a message to all GET YOUR BOX SERVICED!!!

I'll second that!

Keep us all posted.

Andrew

Loz535 wrote :-    I might go for this. If the boxes are rubbish it might be a good damage limitation exersise. Think I'll be getting my lexus asap. No such worries there...

After reading the pages on this forum, and noticing how many people had problems with their cars and how much these repairs was costing i was thinking of selling my Beemer, and getting something else, but i have just looked out the window and seen my car shining, and shivering with cold from the snow, and thought no way am i getting rid of her, as she aint let me down yet and the saying is if it aint broke dont fix it.

judging by the number of problems that have cropped up over the past few weeks i think its a safe bet to suggest that people avoid slush boxed bee-ems

its a pretty poor showing really, you'd never expect to have to shift gears yourself in some cars - a roller or a big jag with a manual gearstick seems like sacrilege, unfortunately with the 5-ser it seems like the preferred option to stave off mechanical gremlins

the quaint saying "starts off automatic and ends up autobuggery" never sounded so true!

i wonder if the 7-series is similarly afflicted?

My BM has 168000 on the clock and is still silky smooth. This is my first auto and love it! Will get it serviced anyway. Checked the transmission fluid and still nice red colour

Paul

Hi again guys, Its getting worse. I am dropping the car to the garage on monday morning but today it has started "sliping" in drive now so I wont be driving it again till monday morn. Mine has a full BMWSH and only 57k on the clock   I will let you know what they find after it is stripped.

Cheers for now Mick.

PS I still love her 

Mine was 6 years old with 48,000 miles on the clock with FBMWSH when I had spend £700 fixing it.

It does make automatic Beamers look poor.

Remember that this forum is only frequented by folk who are internet aware.

What about all the other Beamer drivers that don't frequent this forum who have no problems with their autoboxes?

BMW autoboxes are made by ZF who supply Audi and Merc.  ZF also make autoboxes for loads of construction plant.  If they were no good they wouldn't still be in business.

I wouldn't go driving it at all Mick, as you may only make the problem far worse and more expensive!

Has it gone into limp mode, i.e. the tell tale light on the dash?

Fingers and toes crossed.

Andrew

Morning Andrew,

No it hasnt gone into limp mode. I still have full power and no lights on the dash. I dont however have full speed. I will have to drive it 5 miles this morning to the dealer. Fingers crossed.

I must also stand up for BMW autos. My sister is on her 3rd 5 and she only checks oil and stuff when the lights on the dash tell her to. She treats the oil low light the same as the petrol warning light.

She has never had any mechanicl problems, nothing, not one.

Her only problem ever encountered was to lock her keys in the boot.

Ill let you know what the dealer says thismorning about my box.

Mick

I might even drive the 26 year old 318 today..   Heater dosent work though. (-1)

Mick

My father-in-law's E39 530 sport had exactly the same problem a couple of months ago.  It cost him £2k to replace the box and that included a substantial discount from the dealer.  The original quote was nearer £4k 

The drum had shattered and BMW didn't want to know because the car was nearly 6 years old with 85k miles.

Chas C wrote: My father-in-law's E39 530 sport had exactly the same problem a couple of months ago.  It cost him £2k to replace the box and that included a substantial discount from the dealer.  The original quote was nearer £4k  The drum had shattered and BMW didn't want to know because the car was nearly 6 years old with 85k miles.

That wouldn't have been Matt E would it?

That sounds like what happened to Matt, or is this just adding more ammunition to the original statement that BMW auto's are a big pile of poo!

Andrew

Hi,

The news is mixed. They are going to fix the box under warranty, first indications are that the clutch has failed in the box. The dealer tells me that it will cost him 2K to fix. Im not sure he even knows what he is talking about.

But even if they do get it sorted how reliable will it be???? I dont want it just to see out the warranty period.

Any way the bad news is the fecker gave me a Saxo  for the week to drive. Posibly the worst car I have ever driven.

Cheers

Mick

Andrew Rolland wrote: That wouldn't have been Matt E would it? That sounds like what happened to Matt, or is this just adding more ammunition to the original statement that BMW auto's are a big pile of poo!

Nope, my F-i-L wouldn't know one end of an internet forum from another. 

BMW denied any knowledge of a known gearbox fault despite me telling them of several forum members having the same issue.

Mick523I wrote: The news is mixed. They are going to fix the box under warranty, first indications are that the clutch has failed in the box. The dealer tells me that it will cost him 2K to fix. Im not sure he even knows what he is talking about.

Oh well at least I got part of the diagnose correct.  There is more than one clutch in an automatic gearbox.  Make sure you get them all replaced. Looking http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=DD42&mospid=47539&hg=24&fg=15 - here there are 4 clutches. 

T'is a gearbox out job say 2 hours, say 4 hours to strip the clutch out and refit all the new clutch then 2 hours to get the box back in, 1 hour to fill the box with oil and road test.  £70 for decent tranny fluid.  4 clutches at say £100 each.

That little lot is a days labour at £50/hour = £450 + £400 parts + £70 oil, hmm still not quite £2k but the thick end of £1k anyway.

Mick523I wrote: But even if they do get it sorted how reliable will it be???? I don't want it just to see out the warranty period.

Get him to give you a warranty on his repair.  A decent garage will offer one as a mater of course.

Mick523I wrote: Any way the bad news is the fecker gave me a Saxo  for the week to drive. Posibly the worst car I have ever driven.

All I can say on that one isI hate all crappy French cars with a real passion! 

Wear a balaclava over your head so none of your mates/family/work colleagues see you and take the wee wee out of you!

Andrew

All fingers and toes crossed. I should have it back on Thursday. At least driving the saxo will make me appricate the BM when I get her back.

This weekend is the Rally of Ireland so I will be trashing the a*se off it following stages all weekend. That shoud prove the gearbox fit or not.

Ill let you know.

Mick

Well Thursday has come and almost gone and still my BM is not ready. Im not bleeden impressed.

I hope its good for tomorrow. Any tests that I can do to make sure the box is working ok when I get her back???

Mick

Mick523I wrote: Any tests that I can do to make sure the box is working ok when I get her back???

Basically, drive her hard!

Toodle along in third gear at say 20-30 then give it some beans, the revs should rise steadily and the gearbox should deliver the power smoothly, with no jerks, slips or hesitations.  If the engine revs uncharacteristically then your box is slipping (either a faulty clutch or dodgy torque converter) and you should take it back.

Take up nice overtaking road in search of some prey (old git with a flat cap doing 50 mph in a Nissan will be sufficient) sit behind him then at the overtaking opportunity push it over into S then plant the right foot, mind and ease off when the red line comes up on the tacho!

If all goes well your confidence should return.  I have confidence in my autobox after getting it sorted and parting with £700!

Andrew 

Why ease off at the red line? Isnt that what the limiter is for

Mick.

Ok, I am f..king mad now. I went to the garage that does the warranty repair for the dealer who sold the car. I arrived to find 3 mechanics stairing at a laptop under the bonnett. I just need to reset the ecu on the box and you will be away he said. Thats grand I thought. 30 mins later he reports the he cant read the ECU. I am going to bring the car over to the Auto shop and see if they can read it. Ok I said and I went along for the ride. He tries to do a Uturn out side the garage and CRUNCH my new f..king wheel of the kerb. Its ok he says. (I know he has wrecked it but Ill say nothing yet).

We get to the auto shop and I get out to see the damage to the wheel, but my attention is drawn to 2 large deep scratches accross both dors on the passaenger side. WTF.  I point it out and he says are you sure it was'nt like that.(hold me back im going to kill him).

Next the Auto shop guy also cant read the ecu and declairs that the box ecu must be blown. (I am now blowing steam)

I walk around the back of the car and I notice a crack in the rear bumper. (thats it I give up)

I ring the Dealer and he is so appolijetic but I am now F**king going mentel.

So to sume up the car needs another trip to BMW for diags and a trip to the body shop and a new front wheel.

I only have the car 3 months and I am very close to demanding my money back (Am I being unreasonable?)

And I still have the bleedn SAXO.

Sorry for going on but I had to vent some where before I go Mad.

Cheers

Mick

Mick

Get everything that has happened written down so you can argue for a reasonable discount from anything that you are paying that isn't covered by warranty.

Andrew

Hi all,

Still no car back yet. It has now gone to BMW as the specilist cant figure out whats going on with the gearbox. The body work is sorted so lets hope BMW get my Box in order soon. If not I am going to burn the Saxo as a protest. Due back on Thursday now. Fingers crossed.

#Mick

Thrash the Saxo within an inch of its life!

Front wheel drive, transverse mounted, French piece of , it deserves to be thrashed, it will make you feel much better.

Try and get a full description of what the fault is from BMW, just out of interest.

Keep us posted.

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote: Thrash the Saxo within an inch of its life! Front wheel drive, transverse mounted, French piece of , it deserves to be thrashed, it will make you feel much better.   Try and get a full description of what the fault is from BMW, just out of interest. Keep us posted. Andrew

I have let my wife have the Saxo,, Im good like that.

I have requsted a full report on the box work. I need to know exactly what was done. I am thinking of trading up to a 528 when I get it back. I dont think ill feel the same about the car knowing what has gone on.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow as its paddys weekend so no work on Friday and I was planning a car polishing session followed by some pic's on here.

Thanks

Mick

Mick wrote :- its paddys weekend so no work on Friday

S*d the polishing get down your local and get some black stuff down your neck, i think you deserve a few for what youve been through

dirtybeemer wrote: Mick wrote :- its paddys weekend so no work on Friday S*d the polishing get down your local and get some black stuff down your neck, i think you deserve a few for what youve been through

I dont drink but I may start soon

What!!!!

I read this bit

Doive wrote: As for the saxo, well nothing a gallon of Optimax

Doive wrote: and matches wouldn't solve.

More akin to Asda's own brand of unleaded don't you think! 

Andrew

Hi Folks,

Car promised back at 4pm today. Fingers crossed

Mick

Hi all,

Sorry for not posting last night.

The news for 00 D 78238 is bad. The body repairs are not up to scratch. The gearbox is not working yet.

So I have washed my hands of the car. Took all of my stuff out of it and said good bye. To be honest at this stage Im glad.

How ever not wanting to dwell on that I am going to get a Silver 520I MTec this morning 02 D car with more kit than mine. The dealer is giving me my 20k back against it. So I got 3 months driving for nothing.

So maybe I am too nice but the worst garage ever is still there even though I should have burt the kip down.

Thanks all for your inserest and look in later for pics of my new 5. Well on a weekend test drive before parting with any more wonga first.

Cheers all

Mick

Ok Shes back and in mint condition, 3 weeks later and shes made a ful recovery. Have a look...

-------------
Cheers
Mick

BMW E21 318 1980
BMW E39 525i 2002 MTech
VW Golf Gti 2003

Mick523I wrote: Ok Shes back and in mint condition, 3 weeks later and shes made a ful recovery. Have a look...   javascript ;" target=_blank onclick="MM_openBrWindow'displayimage.php?pid=1499&fullsize=1','1524268715442454b20ea72','scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,status=yes,resizable=yes,width=1296,height=976' - javascript ;" target=_blank onclick="MM_openBrWindow'displayimage.php?pid=1502&fullsize=1','235141112442456d850920','scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,status=yes,resizable=yes,width=1296,height=976' - javascript ;" target=_blank onclick="MM_openBrWindow'displayimage.php?pid=1501&fullsize=1','1405392007442456e35f380','scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,status=yes,resizable=yes,width=1296,height=976' -   javascript ;" target=_blank onclick="MM_openBrWindow'displayimage.php?pid=1500&fullsize=1','28183105442456f01117f','scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,status=yes,resizable=yes,width=1296,height=976'">

Good to hear it but please don't tell me you are one of those **** that drive around with their front fogs on when it isn't foggy?

So what was the final outcome with the gearbox.  Is it new, reconditioned or fixed?  What was the fault with it?

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Sorry for not replying I am mad busy this week. But atleast I have my car to get from site to site in.

I like to call them "driving lights"...... Always on day and night...

On the box first they removed the box and diagnosed a faulty hydrolic valve??? this was replaced/repaired and the new oil and filters put in the box. When the box was been refitted the ECU some how became dead..... not sure of the cause but the clock and radio still had their settings when the car came back.... (battery left connected?)

They then had to buy a new Box ECU from BMW and now she changes beautifully.

I went for a good drive over the hills last night in the lashing rain and gave her a good trashing, no problems. All is well..

Thanks

Mick

Hydraulic valve.  They are little pistons http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DD42&mospid=47539&btnr=24_0705&hg=24&fg=15 - (part #4) that move things like brake bands and clutches into position.  It would be a remove box and strip job right enough.

Can't see how the ecu would have been fried though.  Did they sort out your wheel and body work damage?

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote:   Did they sort out your wheel and body work damage? Andrew

Yea the car is perfect. Although its been raining here since I got it back so I will have a good luck when polishing this weekend weather permitting. I also intend changing the accelerator cable this weekend.

Mick

Does your car have a throttle cable?

Aren't the newer ones i.e. yours fully electronic throttle control?  In other words your throttle pedal is connected to a potentiometer then a wire connects this to a motor on the inlet manifold which opens the throttle valves?

If you remove the throttle pedal BMW say you must replace it as it gets damaged when you remove it.

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote: Does your car have a throttle cable? Aren't the newer ones i.e. yours fully electronic throttle control?  In other words your throttle pedal is connected to a potentiometer then a wire connects this to a motor on the inlet manifold which opens the throttle valves? If you remove the throttle pedal BMW say you must replace it as it gets damaged when you remove it. Andrew

The fly by wire came in towards the end of 2000. Mine is one of the last cabled cars.. I also read the replace peddle crap but I have had it off already and its fine. I have also ordered the bushes for the peddle.

I hope its not too difficult a job.. :)

Mick