SunBum posted a thread on this same problem...I mean the EXACT problem,but no takers on getting an answer.
I have a '95 540IA with a problem in my ZF 5H30 tranny. ...neutral is partially reverse...reverse works OK...forward gears don't...feel like brakes are on -it inches forward in forward gears....I got the car home by shifting-many times, till it just caught. Then it ran normqlly (??). At home..I shut it off for a few hours...tried it again, in the driveway and it worked as it should- as if nothing had happened! . I just tried it in the driveway, back and forth a little, but forward gears worked!....I quickly put it into park, but I know it will just fail again. Since it 'fixed' itself, it makes me think it could be an electrical contact in the shifter or ECU or a harness to the trans. Possibly a failur of the little balls in the valve body. Anyone else (besides SunBum had this problem?Any help would be greatly appreciated.