what will happen next .... massive transmission problem
 

Hi guys, trouble ahead here.

it started this evening. Swiching to "D" the X doesn't move for some seconds. Also in "R" a delay. After driving some minutes "GETRIEBENOTPROGRAMM" in the display. This means something like "transmission emergency program". Since I need to drive tomorrow my question:

What will happen next? Will the X simply stop moving? What is the transmission doing in that mode? A power off/on has resetted the whole problem - but for some minutes only :dunno:.

Thanks in advance

Helmuth

any other lights, messages?

ABS module?

Nothing else - only that message. But I had the last months that "RRRRRRR" at ~70 - 80 km/h so that I had to switch into sport mode at that speed. And I had the feeling the last some weeks that the tranny is not giving constant power, somehow it felt like there were some small pushes when going up a mountain.

???

Rent a car for tomorrow. You don't want to any more damage to the trans by driving it. Have a Tech find out what's the problem. You received a DTC so go from there.

This differs from case to case. I drove mine with "TRANS FAILSAFE PROGRAM" message for 400 km. The torque become reduced so it accelerates slowly. Other than that nothing noted. Later, I replaced my transmission with a used one. Now it's very fine.

You have to find out what the associated codes are. It could be a sensor, torque converter, lockup solenoid, valve body, or failed components inside. a good indy will be able to diagnose or send you to a specialist.

You got the roar at 70mph, switching to sport switches you torque converter setting. So you may have some damage there. I too would rent or borrow a car if possible. You will cause a lot more damage if the torque converter grenades.

Just to close that thread:

The roar since ~2 years at ~70 - 80 km/h - went away when switching to sport mode.
Yesterday the TRANS FAILSAFE (first time ever)
Today after 5 kilometers - over. The X doesn't move any more.

Somehow a sad story but she will be back on the road soon.

Have a great weekend all.

Helmuth

PS: had the transmission oil changed at ~130k and 140k (km). Now I am at 155k.

I might start a fight by saying this, but the transmission fluid change could have contributed to the failure. You don't hear of too many torque converters giving out at under 100k miles.

New status: refurbished transmission from BMW is mounted. Costed nearly an arm and a leg from a financial standpoint

BUT: she is on the road again.

Did my last business trip in a VW Passat while she was in the garage - what a pain :-)

How much was it helmuth

USD 5.643,- including all work. The transmission itself was USD 4.386,-

I bet you did it in BMW dealership.

Yes. The only place where you get a 2 year full warranty and BMW might jump in for another 2 years.

It's not that easy - normally they take over only the cost for the repair according to the current value, exept you have a very good friend at dealership. No one will give you a 2 years warranty without any restrictions - I can ruin any new 5hp24 gearbox within a couple of days on X5.

that's not that bad, a new one cost $6 just for the trans..........................

And you say people wouldn't buy your swap. The cost of the trans alone is worth it.

It's a very huge difference between just saying "wow, it's cool" and a person, really interested in such conversion - 1,5 years ago I would pray God, to find such finished solution.

People seem to love auto tranny's and the E53 are getting so cheap, that everyone would suggest to get a newer car instead of keeping throw money into E53.

It is that easy. It is called "consumer protection law" in Europe. About all you buy from a professional dealer/company has a full warranty for 2 years. Also spare parts. The point is not that you can ruin a transmission in some days - you could do that also on a brand new car.

Unfortunately you are not around here. If so we would of course have talked about a 6-speed transmission.

Additional I have never heard that this is possible.......

Have a great weekend.

I'm in Munich right now and I also love Tirol - and if you want we can communicate in german or even bavarian.:)

So, I was talking about german dealerships, which strugle to maintain the 100% warranty on parts installed on used cars - there's alot of people disapointed in BMW because they got their new engines from BMW for huge amount of money and never got 100% cover from dealership, if the engine was broken - I'm a member of german m-forum and there's a couple of such stories in cases of M5 E39 and M3 E46.

Guys,

digging this old thread out because the story is still not over. The "new" gearbox is again broken and was replaced by the dealer. I will have to pay the oil and some "holding rubbers" (sorry for that unprofessional wording). Mileage is now 177200km and I have the 3rd gearbox .......

Good luck everybody .......... I still keep her.

Helmuth

Very unfortunate. Are they putting in a used transmission or rebuilt one?

They have again put in a refurbished one. Don't know why the first one was good for over ten years and the second only 1 1/2 years.........

Now the gear lever is harder to shift. Is that something that is normal or may I expect problems with it in the future?

BR, Helmuth

What was the mileage when you replaced each of the two transmissions?

Hopefully whoever did the repair remembered to flush the old ATF from the lines, torque converter, and cooler. Maybe that is why the second trans grenaded because of all the little bits of metal from the previous trans

@bcredliner:

1st gearbox replaced at: 153.700 km
2nd gearbox replaced at: 177.200 km

@upallnight: the gearboxes were both refurbished and I believe (hope) that somebody has removed all oil and dirt before changing the parts inside.

Any words about the gear lever which is now harder to move?

BR, Helmuth

Something not align right when they installed the third gearbox. I would bring it back to them and complain.

I'm talking about the Torque converter (not unless they installed a new or rebuilt Torque converter) lines from the radiator and trans cooler. These item usually contain a lot of ATF especialloy the Torque converter.

Sorry to hear this Helmuth,

As to your question about the gear lever being harder to move.

This could be caused by the connecting linkage between the shifter and the transmission being out of alignment when they put it back together.

I recently preformed some serious engine rebuilding on my E53 and we had to make some adjustments to this area after reconnecting the transmission to make it move smoothly.

Bring it back to the dealer and bring this to their attention. If it is the linkage they will have it sorted out in a few hours.

Good luck