I do have this connector that is just below the starter and its wires run straight up.

Attachment 57862

http://static.estore-central.com/_re...ages/49580.jpg

This connector doesn't look as though it is plugged in all the way. Are you sure you have it plugged in correctly? Is there a locking ring that must be turn in order to seat the connector? Where does the wires for this connector go to?

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...369.135512.jpg

I don't thnk this will work in this particular situation and besides, it has not been tested, but -

in the NCS Expert programming, one of the lines allows you to start the engine in ANY gear, regardless of the position of the gear selector. Now, I am aware that there is a physical interlock present in the US models, so I don't know if the thing will even work in theory or not...

just thought i'd drop it into the hat, for info only...

I thought I would give an update.

Starting in 2006 with the ZF 6 speed transmission the transmission control module is located inside the transmission. Thats why I couldn't ever find it :) I knew I wasn't totally crazy.

It turns out I was facing two problems with my X5 not starting.

The first was that when I removed/reinstalled the mechatronic I did not have the gear select lined up correctly which was the reason the car thought it was in gear and not Park or Neutral. The second was that the plug that goes in the sealing sleeve was faulty. The female sleeves in the plug were getting pushed further into the plug when I would go to install the plug instead of allowing the male ends to seat properly. This caused EGS errors the first time I turned the car on. I was pretty much doomed from that point on. The only way the car was going to be able to start was if the codes were cleared by BMW's computer. The Actron code reader I have couldn't pull those codes or clear them. There is a BMW internal TSB for this problem (see attachment). The annoying part is that this problem is really hard to find since the sleeves return to their normal position when you disconnect the plug! So unless you knew to check for that problem you would never find it.

So I had to have it towed to BMW. They fixed the transmission plug, cleared the egs codes, realigned the gear selector on the mechatronic and she was good to go. I am still quite pleased with the outcome though since I managed to complete most of the repairs on the list in my garage instead of paying someone to do them. Saved a ton of money and now the car runs and drives great.

Thanks for the help everyone!

I can't access this website; it needs a username & password. Any idea how to get these?

I believe it's a BMW internal use only site. My parts guy at my local BMW (bmw encinitas if anyone is looking for a new dealer to work with) is awesome and sent it to me as a screen shot.

BMW TIS EPA

This is the gateway. Subscribe, pay your money, and you are in. They have one day access rates for those who just want to try it.

Anyone wanna go in 250th's shares with me? :bustingup

Take on I-5 AND WARM HER UP. You have great freeways around You, many people would die for the all the open roads in SD.
In Ocean Beach there is Bimmer/Mersades, told to Steve ,he has a great shop, get a estimate first.And he will take care of Your X5.

Thanks for posting the solution to your problem. A lot of these threads on this forum are worthless because the original posters never post the solutions to their problems. Glad to hear that you got the X running again.

Edit:

Here's a pdf file on servicing the BMW 6 Speed Mechatronic Replacement

http://www.zftranspart.com/images/custom/mecha.pdf