This happened on my 1991 525i and the problem was
some tranny sensor. Scott's question about the car going into limp mode is important, as my car never did when the Trans Program message appeared. It still operated normally. The warning, with the annoying "bong" would come and go with increasing frequency until I had the sensor replaced. I bought the car with this problem 6 years ago, and it was my first BMW, so I really didn't know anything about these cars. I took it to a dealership (this was when I didn't know any better) and they replaced some sensor in the transmission that solved the error. The sensor was several hundred dollars, and I don't know the exact name of the part.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott C
First question... Does this go into Limp mode? (only one fwd gear and reverse)
Second question... Is your battery up to snuff? Cold weather effects batteries which if weak, MAY cause this although there are lots of other reasons. (
http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/TransProgram.asp)
I currently have my signal disconnected due to ..... long story ;)
Scott
Scott, that certainly sounds like the correct term, but
I was reluctant to say that as I really can't remember. I will look for the repair order from then and see what it says.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott C
Dick?
On your transmission fix, was it the speed sensor that was replaced?
Thanks,
Scott
I found the service order, I'm not quite as disorganized
as I thought!
The problem was initially diagnosed at Baron BMW in Kansas City as I happened to be there and took the car over to get it checked out. This was only a couple of weeks after I bought the car, and they discovered a couple of minor recall things that hadn't been done on the car and took care of them.
They also diagnosed the Trans Program issue for me. Their comment was that the "Check Control Module is bad causing the display to come on". They said that the cost to replace would be in the $425 range, and gave me the part number of 61 35 1 388 614. What they did to diagnose was to swap the module out with one from another 525 they had and the problem went away. They didn't have the part in stock so I couldn't get it fixed then.
I live closer to Wichita than KC, so I had the repair done there at a later date, since the problem was only annoying and the transmission worked perfectly. I am unable to locate the repair order for the actual work (perhaps I still am as disorganized as I thought!), but the cost was in the $400 range, as I recall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott C
Dick?
On your transmission fix, was it the speed sensor that was replaced?
Thanks,
Scott