I have a '99 BMW 740iL with a ZF 5-Speed auto transmission. Shifts beautifully 99% of the time but 3 times in recent months I have had an "odd occurence". I'll drive the car a short distance, park, and then a few minutes later hop back in the car and drive off. Again, this has only happened 3 times over about 2 - 3 months, but it's like the car won't upshift out of 1st. I have an excellent local transmission shop and I talked to them and they said that it's likely just the shifter linkage...if it happens again to "bump" the shifter with my hand. Well, it did it again today and sure enough I pushed the shift lever and found that it moved ever so slightly but immediately the revs dropped and the transmission shifted fine. It seems that it wasn't positively in drive. This never used to happen, and I know it seems minor, but now that it's happening periodically I want to fix it. Is this likely a simple issue with adjusting a linkage or is it possibly an issue with the transmission or transmission software? Thanks.
Shift issue with BMW 740 tranny....
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Solenoids in the auto trans in all BMW's are unbelievably expensive. You can spend and easy several thousands of dollars just on the solenoids.
Speak to several transmission experts.
Even TPS spikes can effect shifting.
Speak to several transmission experts.
Even TPS spikes can effect shifting.
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Originally Posted By: The Critic
If you decide to fix it, it's cheaper to get a remanufactured unit than to have the old one disassembled to replace just a few parts. You can get one here for $1900 delivered to your door. Add another $1000 for labor and you'll be done for about $3k.
How many miles on the unit?
I'm struggling with the idea that a new (remanufactured) transmission may be required. Existing ZF transmission has 80,000 miles on it, and it shifts beautifully...very smooth upshifts and downshifts. The specific problem I have has happened three times over the past couple of months: I shut the car off to run into a store,and when I get back in the car and drive off it's like it's stuck in first gear. The first two times this happened I shifted the lever from Drive to "sport mode" and back into Drive and it was fine. The last time it happened I gave the shift lever a little nudge forward and immediately the revs dropped and it shifted fine...it was like I hadn't put it all the way into Drive. That's what makes me think it may be a simple mechanical linkage issues that could be fixed with an adjustment but I'm wondering why this only happens under specific circumstances.
If you decide to fix it, it's cheaper to get a remanufactured unit than to have the old one disassembled to replace just a few parts. You can get one here for $1900 delivered to your door. Add another $1000 for labor and you'll be done for about $3k.
How many miles on the unit?
I'm struggling with the idea that a new (remanufactured) transmission may be required. Existing ZF transmission has 80,000 miles on it, and it shifts beautifully...very smooth upshifts and downshifts. The specific problem I have has happened three times over the past couple of months: I shut the car off to run into a store,and when I get back in the car and drive off it's like it's stuck in first gear. The first two times this happened I shifted the lever from Drive to "sport mode" and back into Drive and it was fine. The last time it happened I gave the shift lever a little nudge forward and immediately the revs dropped and it shifted fine...it was like I hadn't put it all the way into Drive. That's what makes me think it may be a simple mechanical linkage issues that could be fixed with an adjustment but I'm wondering why this only happens under specific circumstances.
remanufactured transmissions will have mystery used solenoids with unknown mileage.
Tell a reputable transmission guy the exact situation and he can isolate the solenoid that is in question. Or as mentioned possible TPS problem. However TPS would be more in all gears.
Electrical problems in BMW are never ever a simple fix. They are plagued with over complicated engineering.
Its probably in the valvebody of the transmission $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Tell a reputable transmission guy the exact situation and he can isolate the solenoid that is in question. Or as mentioned possible TPS problem. However TPS would be more in all gears.
Electrical problems in BMW are never ever a simple fix. They are plagued with over complicated engineering.
Its probably in the valvebody of the transmission $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
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