trouble removing Transmission Selector Switch!

[nanotech9]

So, i took everyone advise from a few weeks ago and decided to remove the trans selector switch from the bottom driver side of the trans in my '99 528i.

I've done this job before on my 98 Jeep Cherokee, and cleaned / repositioned it to fix its problems, so i figured this job couldn't be too much harder.

but, i'm having problems.

I've removed the arm from the output shaft on the trans that goes through the selector switch. Easy. Next up are the two Torx head bolts holding the switch to the trans. This is where my luck turns bad.

Theres very little room between the head of the bolt and the floor board of the car, so i only have room for a little tiny T25 torx driver, that uses a 1/4" box-end ratcheting wrench to drive it.

So far, I've manage to twist the ends of 2 T25 torx drivers. The bolt hasn't budged. I also feel that i'm on the verge of slipping and stripping out the heads on the bolts. Even if i get a better torx driver, i feel like its going to strip the bolt head.

I figure its been installed with thread locker. Usually a lot of heat would fix this, but the switch body is plastic.

Not enough room to tap on the heads with a hammer to loosen them...

Any other ideas?



ALSO, whats the trick to disconnecting the round connector a few inches away to let it drop down? The top half rotates freely, the second part looks like it should be rotated, but doesn't budge. Is there a locking lever i need to press somewhere?

Today is my only warm day to work on the car! Please help ASAP!- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad

[bilbmw]

...same problem. My indie hopefully will have mine replaced on Monday. Is there a way you can spray some CRC or other lube on the bolts (saturate the hell out of them and give the lube sometime to work)?

'00 M5
-Carbon Black
-Blk/Blu Sport interior
-Mk III Nav. upgrade (16:9 wide screen)
-Rogue Engineering short shift kit
-Dice iPod integration kit

'97 528i
-'99 Double VANOS motor and ECU
-Jet Black
-Sand Beige interior
-Black Dashboard (upper/lower, and center console)
-Black, all leather shift handle
-Debadged
-Mr. MPL mesh lower grille
-Shadowline (diy) ext. trim
-Frenched high beams
-Clear front turn signal and side marker lenses
-Red/clear taillights
-E38 Interior map light w/ wood trim
-Amber fr. fog lamps
-Rear fog lamps
-In-dash CD player (CD53 Business)
-Dice iPod integration kit
-CMT5000VR cell phone (old tech.)
-Bav. Autosport mats w/ B/A icon (blue)
-Burlwood e-brake handle
-///M dead pedal
-Rear view mirror w/ compass
-Chrome instr. rings
-...and a rebuilt GM 4L30E transmission!!

'86 528e

'87 Chrysler Conquest TSi w/5spd.

'89 Merc. Grand Marquis

BMWCCA member since 1998

[nanotech9]

slapped a tungsten ball-end cutter bit in the dremel and made short work of the bolt heads.. popped them off.

The reason they're so hard to get off is they're made to not back off... and i doubt BMW wanted you removing them.

The heads have ridges in them to lock into the aluminum spacer behind them that is part of the plastic housing on the switch. The heads bite into the aluminum and lock down.

Once the heads popped off and the switch was out of the way i remove the remaining studs with my fingers.

make sure and wear some good googles for the grinding. My face was less than 8" from the bolt head. I wore MX googles that seal up nicely, covered my face with a rag.



SO.... YOU GUYS LIED!!!!! lol. This is a NON SERVICEABLE PART. Its sealed. no way to get it apart w/o using a dremel or other cutter tool.


Now what?- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad

[nanotech9]

the GM number is on the part, but it only pulls up two google results


the other part number:

24-30-1-423-331-M9

is what Pelican parts lists, but still pulls up nothing worthwhile on google.

Pelican Parts wants $343 for it!!!! WTF?!?!!?!?

- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad

[Bmw540san]

These guys are the best for stuff like that.



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

[nanotech9]

(thanks for finding it cheaper though!)

Its a GM transmission right? Was is used in anything else other than these BMW's? Did those transmissions not need the same type of switch on them?

GM is probably selling the same part under the GM brand for $49.95 somewhere...


Does anyone know what other vehicles this transmission was used on?- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad

[bilbmw]

...Euro Depot. The price was $314.99 plus $9.00 for s & h (USPS). The part # at Real Oem is the same without the M9 designation and is listed as an 'A4S 270R/310R Selector Rod/Transmission Switch'. Euro Depot has it listed simply as a 'Park Neutral Safety Switch' (up to 09/99). That's alot of "grip" for a blasted switch; but better than a bill to r and r a trans! '00 M5
-Carbon Black
-Blk/Blu Sport interior
-Mk III Nav. upgrade (16:9 wide screen)
-Rogue Engineering short shift kit
-Dice iPod integration kit

'97 528i
-'99 Double VANOS motor and ECU
-Jet Black
-Sand Beige interior
-Black Dashboard (upper/lower, and center console)
-Black, all leather shift handle
-Debadged
-Mr. MPL mesh lower grille
-Shadowline (diy) ext. trim
-Frenched high beams
-Clear front turn signal and side marker lenses
-Red/clear taillights
-E38 Interior map light w/ wood trim
-Amber fr. fog lamps
-Rear fog lamps
-In-dash CD player (CD53 Business)
-Dice iPod integration kit
-CMT5000VR cell phone (old tech.)
-Bav. Autosport mats w/ B/A icon (blue)
-Burlwood e-brake handle
-///M dead pedal
-Rear view mirror w/ compass
-Chrome instr. rings
-...and a rebuilt GM 4L30E transmission!!

'86 528e

'87 Chrysler Conquest TSi w/5spd.

'89 Merc. Grand Marquis

BMWCCA member since 1998

[nanotech9]

realized the outer edge on the face of the unit was made of rubber poured in between the two halves of the shell... figured if i removed all the rubber, i could pry the halves apart...

well, i got all the rubber out, but it wont budge. Even snipped off the ledge on a little part to see how far down i needed to go... I THINK i can see the mating surfaces, but not sure... Also a little metal is out to the edge - afraid to cut into it too much and damage the internal parts.

have any of you actually pulled one of these completely apart?- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad

[bilbmw]

...let my indie know what you had to go through. If you had gone to the dealer, they probably would have told you that your trans was done and it needed to be replaced. Whatever happened to plain old cables or rods for moving the gears in an automatic?

'00 M5
-Carbon Black
-Blk/Blu Sport interior
-Mk III Nav. upgrade (16:9 wide screen)
-Rogue Engineering short shift kit
-Dice iPod integration kit

'97 528i
-'99 Double VANOS motor and ECU
-Jet Black
-Sand Beige interior
-Black Dashboard (upper/lower, and center console)
-Black, all leather shift handle
-Debadged
-Mr. MPL mesh lower grille
-Shadowline (diy) ext. trim
-Frenched high beams
-Clear front turn signal and side marker lenses
-Red/clear taillights
-E38 Interior map light w/ wood trim
-Amber fr. fog lamps
-Rear fog lamps
-In-dash CD player (CD53 Business)
-Dice iPod integration kit
-CMT5000VR cell phone (old tech.)
-Bav. Autosport mats w/ B/A icon (blue)
-Burlwood e-brake handle
-///M dead pedal
-Rear view mirror w/ compass
-Chrome instr. rings
-...and a rebuilt GM 4L30E transmission!!

'86 528e

'87 Chrysler Conquest TSi w/5spd.

'89 Merc. Grand Marquis

BMWCCA member since 1998

[nanotech9]

i knew when i first looked at those torx head bolts that i would end up dremeling them off. I just tried to postpone the inevitable by breaking my tools.

One of the other guys said he got them off with a good quality Dewalt T25 bit, but by the time i twisted two inferior bits and went to HomeDepot to pick up the dewalt kit, the heads were already a little stripped. Still, a real PITA place to put torx head bolts.

I replaced them with a couple of hex head bolts that will be easy to remove later if necessary.

Getting the originals out up on a stand might be a smidgen easier... but if they have to be cut off its no big loss.- Nano
'91 318is
'99 528i
'05 BMW R1200GS
'98 Jeep Cherokee lifted
'07 Titan SE 4x4 Offroad