Tranny Issues.

[Dan-ny-m398]

I'm having some issues with my 1989 535I. The transmission started slipping today, It goes up to 4k rpm before it engages and is doing the same thing basically in all gears if I hit the gas hard , the tranny slips. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with me getting stuck in the snow this weekend , and I just kept switching gears from reverse to Drive to get it unstuck, Is there anything I could do to fix this issue or should I just start looking for a new tranny.

[Bmbuddy]

fix it first, and see if you can still do something about your transmission.

[angrypancake]

^ wth? he posted cause he doesn't know what the problem is to fix it!

Danny- I was in the snow too, and had the same problem for maybe an hour or two. Turned the car off, let it sit, checked the ATF and topped it off, turned the car on a couple hours later let it warm up for about 10min and it was working alright. Don't know if that will help, but hey it's a starting point. If it keeps happening take it to your indy and tell him to check it out.

[DanDombrowski]

Can someone ban this guy? Every one of his posts is a link to his parts website. SPAM!

[Dan-ny-m398]

Ok I checked the tranny fluid last night and it was a low, so I added 2 quarts of ATF and drove around for about 5 miles and noticed no improvements, but today on my way to work the tranny just died on me, I was lucky enough to pull into a gas station, the only gear that works is reverse, I cheked the tranny fluid again and noticed that I put too much ATF (stupid me). I went to a Bmw specialist near my House and I told him about what happened, He said that my tranny is gone (without seing the car) anyways it's just weird to me that the tranny would stop working like that with no warnings of any kind, anyways does it sould like I should just start looking for a new tranny or do I have any other options?

[dacoyote]

Ok I checked the tranny fluid last night and it was a low, so I added 2 quarts of ATF and drove around for about 5 miles and noticed no improvements, but today on my way to work the tranny just died on me, I was lucky enough to pull into a gas station, the only gear that works is reverse, I cheked the tranny fluid again and noticed that I put too much ATF (stupid me). I went to a Bmw specialist near my House and I told him about what happened, He said that my tranny is gone (without seing the car) anyways it's just weird to me that the tranny would stop working like that with no warnings of any kind, anyways does it sould like I should just start looking for a new tranny or do I have any other options?

Did you get an ID10T light or anything....

How do you know it's over filled? did you check it right?

[Elekta]

Please do yourself a favor and take it to a reputable indy that is very familiar with your transmission.

My 5hp18 was exibiting bad symptoms as posted in an earlier thread as the result of me letting another shop do a drain and refill maintenance. They did not refill it properly, and I got worried and took it to AAMCO. Granted their evaluation was free, but they said I have internal issues and the only fix was a total rebuild.

I took it to my reputable indy that I have over $6k in work in and they were very diligent about the refill, noticed that it was underfilled, and they did another drain and refill.

What they have told me is that my tranny shifts fine with a lead foot from dead stop (which means my torque converter is ok), but that in decel-glide-accel situation it exhibits a valve body issue. Add to that they discovered my flex disk was worn and my tranny mounts and dogbones need replacing (which would describe the clunk).

So, I am relieved of not having to spend $3k for piece of mind with my tranny, and am now looking for Kurt Koeller's number for a valve body exchange.

? Is he my best option? Anyone done one with him for the 5speed touring tranny (3.0 V8) ? What does that all entail.

Get your car to the right mechanic...preferably one who is well versed in E34's

best,

geoff

[Dan-ny-m398]

Did you get an ID10T light or anything....

How do you know it's over filled? did you check it right?

I started the car , pulled the dipstick out and is waaay over the mark that shows where the ATF is supposed to be at, and I didn't get any lights, even now the check engine light is not on.

[Kalevera]

Please do yourself a favor and take it to a reputable indy that is very familiar with your transmission.

My 5hp18 was exibiting bad symptoms as posted in an earlier thread as the result of me letting another shop do a drain and refill maintenance. They did not refill it properly, and I got worried and took it to AAMCO. Granted their evaluation was free, but they said I have internal issues and the only fix was a total rebuild.

I took it to my reputable indy that I have over $6k in work in and they were very diligent about the refill, noticed that it was underfilled, and they did another drain and refill.

What they have told me is that my tranny shifts fine with a lead foot from dead stop (which means my torque converter is ok), but that in decel-glide-accel situation it exhibits a valve body issue. Add to that they discovered my flex disk was worn and my tranny mounts and dogbones need replacing (which would describe the clunk).

So, I am relieved of not having to spend $3k for piece of mind with my tranny, and am now looking for Kurt Koeller's number for a valve body exchange.

? Is he my best option? Anyone done one with him for the 5speed touring tranny (3.0 V8) ? What does that all entail.

Get your car to the right mechanic...preferably one who is well versed in E34's

best,

geoff

That's because you took it to Sayther, not the gas station around the corner that claims to know something about euro cars.


http://www.iaibmvsp.org/MemberShops.htm

Checking the fluid level on the 4hp22 requires that the car be warm and running in park on a flat surface. If the fluid smells or looks burnt, there's not much to do. You could try emptying the pan and changing the filter, but I'd suspect that the frictions are worn and that rocking the car between reverse and drive multiple times didn't help anything.

And I've got two trannies for sale, one an OEM ZF reman that was pulled from my own 535 and has an excellent warranty on it, if you decide to replace it.

best, whit