Read the codes on the E70 with ISTA and for the shifter it says one switch is sticky, one is stuck. There are rather a lot of posts on Bimmerfest with the same issue as mine. [Here is one case https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/x...shift.557720/] This failure more seems to cause odd clicking noises from the shifter unit and I have to double shift to D from R.

Not seen any definitive diagnosis, but dealers reportedly quote $1500 of which I guess $900 is the GWS unit. One person claimed the interlock button was damaged, and stuck pressed in, and he fixed it with a paperclip. I suspect this maybe my problem as well.

If anyone has had this and fixed it, please let met know what you did. I will take a look tomorrow but not yet ready to rip the unit out of the car.




BELOW IS THE POST ABOUT THE INTERLOCK SWITCH

[https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/2...noise.928767/]

#16 • Aug 2, 2018
Just a thought based on a problem my wife's X5 had with the shifter...the symptoms weren't exactly the same, but...

Couple years ago, sitting in the car, I noticed a periodic clicking sound. Tracked the sound to the console and then to the shifter area. Looked at it in more depth the next day. As it turns out, the reverse interlock button on the side of the shifter was cockeyed. It looked pushed in on the top or bottom and looked normal on the other side. If I gently pried out the reverse interlock button, the clicking noises went away. Pushed the reverse interlock button a few more times and it again got jammed in on the same side as before. Looked at the price of a replacement gearshift. Decided I'd take the shifter apart before I paid for a new one. Didn't take the sifter out of the car. I gently pried off the chrome plated plastic piece that covers most of the shifter - this piece is fragile. As I recall, the reverse interlock button is a small sub-assembly that comes off with a couple small screws or maybe there are tabs or something removable. The reverse interlock button has some tiny hinge pins molded into the plastic of the button itself. One side of the hinge pins was broken. That allowed the jamming of the reverse interlock button, which permanently depressed the reverse interlock microswitch. With the reverse interlock microswitch activated, the gearshift mechanism was activating a solenoid that would allow you to move the lever to the R position. But, it was permanently depressed, so the clicking was happening frequently.

I got a very small size drill bit. The drill bit was essentially the same diameter as the wire of a small size paper clip. Probably not available at Home Depot, but a hobby store. Using a pin-vise and the small drill bit, I drilled a hole though the remnants of the broken off hinge. Did the same on the good side. Put some holes in the mating piece. Threaded a paper clip though them to create a new hinge pin. Been working now for a couple years.

So, what I'm saying is something could be broken and jammed in the gearshift. Look at it very carefully before you jump to replacement.

__________________
2003 4.4i black ext./black int./black headliner (kid's runabout)
2014 535d X-drive, M package, silver/black interior

Sold but not forgotten:
2009 E70 35d, black ext./black int./black headliner (sold 2021)
2006 4.8iS Le Mans blue/cream int./black headliner, SOLD in 2012 sadly...

Other hardware:
2015 Cayenne S (wife's new DD and definitely wroooommmmm)
2016 Tundra 1794 edition crew cab, luxo hauler
2005 Tundra crew cab, weekend hauler. Sold after 150k very happy miles.