transmition acting up...181K

[bikan]

181K 528iA GM 4 gear transmition, original oil...
up to now never seen anything like this: when I left my work today car was stiwthing from: "s" in 2nd gear and then "d"...it was skiping gear 3. I pulled on the side of the road, disconnected the battery for 2-3 minutes. Drove to home 15miles...it did once more, I mean it went from D to S in 2nd gear...with rpm going high (a bit dramiatic)...again after that drove 15miles...no problem. In the garage I disconnected battery again,i'm going to leave it over night...I'll go to mechanic tomorrow.
Did anyone had a similar problem?

Thank you
Bikan, Chicagobikan '97 528i
chicago

[bikan]

I apologize for bad spelling in my previous post...don't use the tablet, the laptop is still the best.

Anyway, the problem appears to be an electric nature; however, from a few posts that were posted in the past, I found: changing the oil is the fix for this problem. Did anyone replaced the transmission oil only and solved this issue?

Thank you
Bikan 528iA 181K...bikan '97 528i
chicago

[Bmw540san]

plain Dexron III.



1998 BMW 540i 6 speed
Arctic silver, M sport suspension (euro delivery), prod. date 05/98, non VANOS
Staggered 18" style 32 OEM wheels
3.15 open differential
Remus exhaust
AFE CAI with improved heat shield
Z3 shifter
VDO oil pressure and temperature gauges in place of headlight/fog switches
Powder coated valve covers-satin black
CDV delete
Debadged
AEA DRL module (aftermarket daytime running lights)

1997 BMW 528iA
Alpine white, premium package, prod. date 04/97, single VANOS
Staggered 17" style 32 OEM wheels
Debadged
AEA DRL module
Custom made sun blinds for rear seating area

2000 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner, AKA "The Work Horse"

Garage aids:
Direct Lift Pro Park 8
Campbell Hausfeld 28 gallon oil lubricated air compressor
Newair ACP-1400H portable air conditioner and heater
Auto Enginuity scan tool with BMW enhanced option
Actron 9135 scan tool-for quick readouts

[fritracer]

changing the fluid. No codes, proper level. Only does it after a lot of stop and go traffic when hot ambient temps. Let car sit for 10 minutes and it is fine. Fritracer
Cincinnati, OH
2000 540ia Sport Package 9/99 Silver/ Black

[lezonebay]

located on the side of the transmission.

The switch wires might be bad or the inside is really dirty. The switch is very simple inside and I think for the 4spd its not expensive.
Try and clean the inside 1st and check the wires. if all fails get a new or a good used one.

The 5spd auto is more expensive, the one fits the 96-97 840Ci is 1200usd new. I rebuilt mine from 25usd and no trouble for 2+ years




1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
1999 BMW 528iT (Hauler mobile)
2002 Astro Van AWD
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Package
1987 BMW 535i with 5spd manual (for sale)
1992 BMW 735iL (needs head and interior)
1977 BMW 320i (project racecar)
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD (Wife mobile)
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (SOLD)

[lezonebay]

has many different names. I hate that w/o paying I can not edit a post....

1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
1999 BMW 528iT (Hauler mobile)
2002 Astro Van AWD
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Package
1987 BMW 535i with 5spd manual (for sale)
1992 BMW 735iL (needs head and interior)
1977 BMW 320i (project racecar)
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD (Wife mobile)
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (SOLD)

[bikan]

My mechanic thinks that the problem is internal: solenoid that controls the torque convereter...at least that what the codes tell him.

I guess I'll need to take it to transsmision specialist or dealer...
If someone asked me 48h ago: "how do you like your car?"...I would've say: Great, 181K no major probles, still running as new car...

Anyway, if someone knows the good transsmition place in Chicago area, I would like to take my car for 2nd opinion...I would love to fix it. I can't say good buy yet.

Thank you and Merry Christmas
Bikan, Chicagobikan '97 528i
chicago

[nanotech9]

i didn't think it was quite the same, but it is.

Trans shows "S" and has problems shifting out of 3rd i think. The G/F said the motor would revv up, but the car wasnt moving until she manually shifted it down through the gears.

i.e. it sounds like it was "between" gears, let the RPM's run up.
I had a Ford that did this shifting to OD one time - it would shift from 4th to OD, but never go into OD, revv up, then slam back down into 4th.

problem with the Ford was a part of a c-clip broke and fell down into the valve body blocking a channel. Doubt its that on the BMW.


I still think its something electronic.... but no error codes.- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad

[Whorse]

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 (project for life)
00 540is 6spd (daily driver)

[lezonebay]

power ! My tool and all the tools/testers we put on told me the same. Solenoid this and that. Do not listen to that.

here is my take - buy a cheap used shift selector switch. 50usd top. try it. also check wires and connectors. if all good and it did not solve the issue you are out of 50usd. Less then half hour of testing and if you put it on ebay you can sell it for 40 in a month.

I would put a 100usd on this that no internal failure but the shift switch or its wire/connector is out and causing a short.

been there done that and learned it in a hard way.


just an another note... my Astro Can lost its 1st and 4th gear one day. GM dealer computer and all obd-ii testers etc. showed transmission solenoid failure.
I got the solenoid and then I remembered my BMW. Changed the shift switch, all good in 10 minutes. I paid a total of 25usd for the used switch and 30 for the solenoid (which of course was returned)

2 years later the same happens, I buy a new/used switch but it does not solves the issue. same solenoid errors all over. Search online and quickly revealed a ignition switch trouble. Dropped a new ign switch in, all is good. The solenoids gets the signal from the ignition switch and that was getting a short thanks to GM's ingenious design - which I later found out was not a recall but a bulletin info. Had I been the original owner, I would got a switch for free and I would need to pay for labor only.


my point is anybody who's been in this business or had a same issue, will tell you when the testers tell you solenoid its the power source to them is the trouble.



1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
1999 BMW 528iT (Hauler mobile)
2002 Astro Van AWD
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Package
1987 BMW 535i with 5spd manual (for sale)
1992 BMW 735iL (needs head and interior)
1977 BMW 320i (project racecar)
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD (Wife mobile)
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (SOLD)

[bikan]

Laszlo thank you man,
I'll try it. I'm planning to move to Bay area next month so I'm really motivated to keep my car for at least 2 more months...and buy a new one in California. bikan '97 528i
chicago

[bikan]

I found one on e-bay:
1998 BMW 528i Transmission RMFD Control Unit EGS

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-BMW-528i-Transmission-RMFD-Control-Unit-EGS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45f56da844QQitemZ30047 0347844QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

BKbikan '97 528i
chicago

[bikan]

Just quick update:
The replacing the Transmission RMFD Control Unit EGS didn’t fix the problem.
I had to re-build the transmission…$2000. It was done at King Transmissions in Elmhurst,IL. It looks like they know what they are doing.

Thank you all for you help and all your suggestions.

[lezonebay]

the shift control switch is on the side of the transmission.

When tehy rebuilt it they probably put one on it and fixed it. I think the rebuild was unnecessary.

What you pointed to on ebay was a control unit. That has nothing to do with your problems. The shift switch is on the transmission. Thats the switch you actually control with the gear lever.

But its water under the bridge now...


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
1999 BMW 528iT (Hauler mobile)
2002 Astro Van AWD
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Package
1987 BMW 535i with 5spd manual (for sale)
1992 BMW 735iL (needs head and interior)
1977 BMW 320i (project racecar)
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD (Wife mobile)
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (SOLD)

[Unregistered]

Hey Lezonebay,
i saw your forum conversation & i am having very similar problem on 1998-528i: It shifts fine until it gets to 2nd then i need to shift down to S3 then go back up to D so it gets into 3rd gear, then for 4th gear again do the same thing & like you, i think its not an internal problem since it shifts fine if I do the shifting manually, which tells me something is not telling it when to shift, Ive had somewhat of a similar problem with older American cars & the fix was something similar to what you stated, plus going thru a couple forums I am seeing that obviously its an occurring/common problem with this BMW series & either no one is finding the "fix" or no-one knows what the fix is, i myself am a technician but in telecommunication but that's what i do, i trouble-shoot, so after everything Ive read & since no mechanic has been able to give me a good diagnostic, this leads me to believe that there has got to be a more specific or pin-pointed correction, so i am leaning more towards your fix, looks like you've done the testing & research for all those experts out there, as opposed to just rebuilding a transmission, which obviously will fix problem but at a cost..btw Ive had my car scanned & it shows no sensor or whatever errors, so they just assume its a solenoid or sensor but again "which-one" if this is a common problem right, in my profession I'd already have found the problem & "fix" any future problems just like it & maybe even offer my services to companies as a consultant on this problem.. but anyway after all this my question to you is: Do you remember what the name of that switch is called/part# or know where i can get a picture or diagram to get the exact location to replace mine before i go do a rebuild myself..? thanks reply [email protected]

[BigRickMc50]

"Unregistered"

If you could provide specific info about your car, the site in the attached link can show you the part number for the selector switch you are seeking. I used a 528i of a random year to generate this part diagram. I think the part you are searching for is part #5 in the attached.

There are numerous threads in the archives regarding this problem. If you do an advanced search using the "Search Single Content Type" tab, and specifiy the e39 forum you limit the responses to your particular car.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...07&hg=24&fg=15