Transmission issues/double speed/LCM (3.0i)

[terribleperson]

Hello guys,

First of all, I'd like to thank anyone that answers all those questions around this forum, I've been reading on it for couple of months now and resolved tons of issues myself.

So, it's a 2000th x5 3.0i 231hp with GM transmission. When I initially bought it, the clutch was slipping, but the car in general had an engine failure so I bought 2nd hand replacement for both, engine + clutch (I could not find a new one with under 3 weeks of delivery where I live) (https://prnt.sc/uqdw8h). Changed both. Then replaced the whole front with the facelift (don't know if this is important) + put 22" wheels + removed the air suspension to put a normal suspension (reason was mainly because it was beyond repairable). After tons of issues with everything and countless DTCs that I went through I am "this" close to make it run fine again. But I am left with 3 issues for which I can not find information nor I have any more ideas of what could cause it.


1. Double speed on speedometer: This one is odd, because it's completly stable, the arrow does NOT jump around nor anything else, but driving 40km/h (gps speed~) it shows about 75-80km/h on speedometer. Used every calculator for tires and wheels I could find, at worst it should be -1.3km/h with the tires I run, but for me it shows double instead. Had a faulty ABS wheel speed sensor, replaced, no difference. Not a single DTC that could point with a problem related to this.

2. Transmission won't engage : Whenever I have fully stopped or I switch gears I always have to give it a little throttle to about 1200-300 rpm for the gears to "lock" so it starts moving. When it's in D/R without pushing any throttle its barely moving if it moves at all. (I am soon to take it to a transmission mechanic, but I'd love to hear ideas what could be wrong)

3. LCM / relay issue (High beams permanently ON) : I had this problem since I bought the car. The high beams will just go crazy at some point and they do NOT turn ON only when the switch is either to OFF position or to first on to the right. Was told to replace steering column, which I did, it fixed the issue for about 2 weeks or so and then there it is again. (Steering column example: https://prnt.sc/uqe5ec)

The car became a restoration project pretty much, despite it being just 20 years old. I apologize if I explained something wrong or not using the proper terms.

Thanks in advance to everyone who read this!

[80stech]

The transmission issue is not good. You might have damaged the front pump when installing the new torque converter or it could be a problem with the oil pick up on the filter but either way you had a problem before so maybe looking at some serious trans work.
The double speed thing is interesting, it could be a problem with both rise AND fall of the signal being counted instead of just rise OR fall.
The headlights are different for facelift and will require a different LCM or at least different programming so that might explain the headlights.
I didn't know the 3.0L even was available with air suspension?

[terribleperson]

Originally Posted by 80stech

The transmission issue is not good. You might have damaged the front pump when installing the new torque converter or it could be a problem with the oil pick up on the filter but either way you had a problem before so maybe looking at some serious trans work.
The double speed thing is interesting, it could be a problem with both rise AND fall of the signal being counted instead of just rise OR fall.
The headlights are different for facelift and will require a different LCM or at least different programming so that might explain the headlights.
I didn't know the 3.0L even was available with air suspension?

Air suspension was only on the rear end. Could you elaborate a little bit more about the double speed signal?

About the headlights I know they have a sensor on the axle which is also present, originally it used to have xenon lights with automatic adjustment (according to VIN), but I am not sure if there is a difference between the LCM modules on pre/facelift. Also it did not start doing it right away.. Like for a while they were working just fine.

[80stech]

I would find out exactly where the speed signal comes from, monitor it and try disconnecting it to see what happens. What does the digital readout show?

What you are calling high beams might be the daytime running lights. If you have Xenon lights then high and low beams are the same light. Your description of what the lights are doing isn't really clear.

By 2000th do you mean the year?

[terribleperson]

Originally Posted by 80stech

I would find out exactly where the speed signal comes from, monitor it and try disconnecting it to see what happens. What does the digital readout show?

What you are calling high beams might be the daytime running lights. If you have Xenon lights then high and low beams are the same light. Your description of what the lights are doing isn't really clear.

By 2000th do you mean the year?

https://www.mdecoder.com/decode/lm24560 >> VIN for year and all that

Let me try to explain it with pictures:

This light https://prnt.sc/uqphvv will go ON whenever the switch is in these https://prnt.sc/uqpiwo positions. Moving back and forth the blinker lever does nothing. I did replace recently this whole thing https://prnt.sc/uqe5ec and had no problems for a while, which is why I am not really sure if this could be the LCM module or I got "lucky" and have the same issue with the steering column again?


I will give a shot to the digital speedometer tomorrow, haven't thought about it.

[c-bass]

The transmission is acting like it might be low on fluid. Have you checked the level?

[tmat1977]

have your lcm rebuilt a lot easier theres copany in jacksonville fl called module experts like 150 bucks dont waster your time trying to figure out your lights .. just get it rebuilt or buy refurbished one for around 250 withlife time warranty

i spent months trying to get it fixed .. also get the bmw scanner pa soft for 60 bucks on ebay so you can code it if you have to buy any aftermarket non vin matching modules plus it will tell you pretty much anything

[terribleperson]

Originally Posted by c-bass

The transmission is acting like it might be low on fluid. Have you checked the level?

Yep, it was refilled just recently, was missing about 1.5L, no difference.

Originally Posted by tmat1977

have your lcm rebuilt a lot easier theres copany in jacksonville fl called module experts like 150 bucks dont waster your time trying to figure out your lights .. just get it rebuilt or buy refurbished one for around 250 withlife time warranty

i spent months trying to get it fixed .. also get the bmw scanner pa soft for 60 bucks on ebay so you can code it if you have to buy any aftermarket non vin matching modules plus it will tell you pretty much anything

I am not from this country, but thanks for the offer. I think I found one to buy as a replacement, I am just not aware if software versions and all that numbers on it should match the replacement.



Edit: Tried the digital speedometer, there's slight difference between it's reading and the actual speedometer like 1-3%, which from what I read is normal. But yet again both display double the current speed, I made few tests using GPS/Google Maps and the difference is between 95-105% roughly. It is steady, arrows do not jump around nor anything like that. Also hitting 250km/h (which real speed is about 120-130km/h) it will hit something like a speedlimiter and put my throttle back. It is not possible to go over 120-130km/h at this point.

Headlights, next step is getting a new LCM module, checked everything else I could think of.

Considering I am running facelift headlights, should I be looking for facelift LCM or they are different and it will require rewiring?

Thanks in advance

[Purplefade]

For the speedo issue you may run it to the dealer and see if its set to kph when it sounds like it should be set to mph - strange that it engages the max speed limiter though.. That said, I may still have it checked for piece of mind. Fingers crossed its not reading both rise and fall of the signal, that will be ore involved...

[terribleperson]

Originally Posted by Purplefade

For the speedo issue you may run it to the dealer and see if its set to kph when it sounds like it should be set to mph - strange that it engages the max speed limiter though.. That said, I may still have it checked for piece of mind. Fingers crossed its not reading both rise and fall of the signal, that will be ore involved...

It should be setted.It started doing it out of the blue. Used to be working absolutely fine. Plus km/h to mph is like x1.6, no? Just for the sake of it where could this be checked?