Auto gearbox failure? Advice needed.

[porka]

I think checking everything else for a cure is just wishful thinking unfortunately.

My friend who owns a 2002 530d with the same gm box suffered the same simptoms as you and then it just refused to go anywhere.

Diagnosis at a gearbox specialist was worn friction plates at a cost of £1600 to recondition the whole thing. They also advised not to touch the fluid ! Another interesting thing was that he said they get at least two bmw's with the gm box every month !

You would have thought that these american boxes would be bullet proof what with all their experience with high torque v8s, but it seems like bmw chose too small and weak a box to handle the diesel's torque.

Topic of interest:

forum.bmw5.co.uk • View topic - 525d/530d autobox warning

[k22102]

I think that its going to be a replacement box that's needed. Checked the oil level tonight with engine running and oil was pouring out when i removed the plug, not sure if it's supposed to do that or if it has been overfilled

Oil that did come out was dirty too though didn't smell burnt?

Still no drive from car in any forward or reverse gears and a very faint rattle from box even when in 'Park' or 'Neutral' position?

Guess i'll just need to bite the bullet and get it mobile again though i think there will be some 'For Sale' signs being made up as soon as it moves under its own steam again

Thanks for the replies so far

[JCL]

Originally Posted by k22102

I think that its going to be a replacement box that's needed. Checked the oil level tonight with engine running and oil was pouring out when i removed the plug, not sure if it's supposed to do that or if it has been overfilled

Oil that did come out was dirty too though didn't smell burnt?

Still no drive from car in any forward or reverse gears and a very faint rattle from box even when in 'Park' or 'Neutral' position?

First you need a proper diagnosis. The fact that the fluid doesn't smell burnt suggests that it may not be the clutch plates. The colour of the fluid has no bearing on its condition. The problem is likely to be electrical (solenoid, wiring, or control unit) or an actuator in the transmission. Both require proper diagnosis, and repair can involve removing the transmission. You need someone familiar with these transmission to do such a repair, as BMW have been known to prevent their dealers from working on them, prefering to replace them with remanufactured units. That saves them training their dealer techs, and stocking all the GM and ZF parts, and it improves quality of the repaired transmissions. It doesn't help lower repair costs to owners outside of warranty, however.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by porka

You would have thought that these American boxes would be bullet proof what with all their experience with high torque v8s, but it seems like BMW chose too small and weak a box to handle the diesel's torque.

Topic of interest:

forum.bmw5.co.uk • View topic - 525d/530d autobox warning

Not sure if this will make you feel any better, but it isn't American, it is French.

The box is reputedly rated up to 340 NM / 250 ft/lbs torque. Seems like a 3.0d would be pushing it.