I have a 2004 BMW 525 I with 120000 miles on it. I just had the transmission fluid changed. It has been shifting fine BUT in cold weather it shifts at a much higher rpm and stays in each gear much longer before shifting. When the trans warms up, shifting returns to normal! Is trans wearing out?
BMW and trans shifting problem
- Thread starter yankees1
- Start date
- Status
Was it always doing this or did it just start now?
I think that in some cars this is normal - the program does it on purpose in order to help the car warm up faster. Whether it's normal for your BMW, I'm not sure. Hopefully others will chime in. Mine's a manual.
I think that in some cars this is normal - the program does it on purpose in order to help the car warm up faster. Whether it's normal for your BMW, I'm not sure. Hopefully others will chime in. Mine's a manual.
JHZR2
Staff member
How long have you had it? First winter? Sometimes the ECU keeps a lower gear to warm up faster.
Agree with JHZR2. All late model auto BMW's have a high rpm on cold days (shifts don't occur till you hit +3k) to help warm up the transmission faster. This is even after your car warms up and drops to idle speed. After about 5 mins of drivetime, shifts should return as usual.
Same issue with my 96 318i.
Two or three of warm up (when parked in garage overnight) make a BIG difference and that is in PARK.
I cannot stand to force the shifts while driving it cold... I usually just back off the gas once or twice and by then it is almost warm enough.
It has to do with trans. temp, nothing else. Setting cannot be re-programmed or changed. Big difference also if car is outside vs. inside in terms of how long to warm up for shifting to be smooth right out of the driveway.
Two or three of warm up (when parked in garage overnight) make a BIG difference and that is in PARK.
I cannot stand to force the shifts while driving it cold... I usually just back off the gas once or twice and by then it is almost warm enough.
It has to do with trans. temp, nothing else. Setting cannot be re-programmed or changed. Big difference also if car is outside vs. inside in terms of how long to warm up for shifting to be smooth right out of the driveway.
Just started in cold weather! Temp in 20's!
Most modern transmission programming will not lock up the torque converter until the fluid reaches a given temperature. This also results in the engine running faster than usual in top gears.
My Grand Prix is the same way. It takes a few miles for the trans. to warm up and then it shifts and locks the torque convertor up normally. I think the main thing is the torque convertor won't lock up and that can be quite noticable. When it gets around freezing or colder it is more obvious in my car. Above 40 deg F it seems to warm up fairly quickly.
- Status
Similar threads
