e39 auto gearbox stuck in park

[silver500chimp]

Hi, wondered if anyone can help
I recently bought an e39 5 series 1999
for some reason today the autobox selector stuck in park
I removed the gearstick gaitor and manually overrode the box to allow me to select drive and move the car but it still sticks in park when returned to park mode - i also cannot get the key out of the ignition - its as though it still thinks a gear other than park is selected

the only thing i have done before this happened that i can think is
1) park on a steep hill , although it started fine first time after moving from the hill
2) adjust the steering column down and pulled the wheel closer to my seat - it was right after this the problem started

any ideas appreciated - fuses seem to be ok but need to recheck these when light tomorow

[eliot]

Do your brake lights work?
When you put your foot on the brake a solenoid releases and allows it move out of park. If you put your hand on the lever with the ignition on you should be able to feel the solenoid moving when pressing and releasing the brake.

[silver500chimp]

yes the brake lights work and yes i can feel the solenoid moving when i press the brake pedal

[TheEnd]

some had a key interlock that ran from a bowden cable by the ignition

[silver500chimp]

sorry but what is a bowden cable, is it something i can see and fix?

[TheEnd]

a bowden cable is the sort that bike brakes have, a steel wire in a sleeve.
It was more of a US thing, so i'm not sure if you have one, but the idea was to make sure you can't take the key out without it being in park, and it needs the key in to move it.

if there is one fitted, it links the 2 problems you have

[silver500chimp]

thanks i'll check tomorrow
i did adjust the streering column so perhaps this cable if there is one has disconnected

[silver500chimp]

right i have located the cable and disconnected it- when i stick a screwdriver into the back of the ignition lock where the cable attaches, if i press, the key will release, the cable was very tight behind the sterring cloumn so it must have caused a problem when i extended the steering column - perhaps the cable has stretched

when i lift the manual overide in the gearbox, and move the leaver from park to drive and back, i can see inside the cable that it moves freely and a pin sticks out which would obviously release the key in the ignition - perhaps it is not moving quite far enough - what i can't see is if there is any adjustment to allow for say a stretched cable like in the bicycle brakes

wating for local bmw garage to call me to see if they suggest it needs to be a new cable or if it can be adjusted

thanks

[silver500chimp]

wiggled it, jiggled it and woohoo it works!!

so satisfying everytime i fix something myslef to save dealer charges

[Motobu]

Hi there,

I have recently suffered from this problem for my E39. Stuck in park with the light on which can be released by lever under the console but the key is still stuck in the ignition.

My friend decided to pull out the steering wheel which is when the problem occurred. Having checked the cable as per this post it has indeed been overstretched.

So... can anyone advise further info on how to remove it, on the screwdriver trick to get the key out, and possibly any pics to assist?

Really appreciate if anyone can help and afford the time to post a response.

Thanks

[dtiom]

I had exactly the same problem a couple of years ago on my E39. I adjusted the steering column and the car refused to come out of park. This was 5 minutes before getting on a ferry!

To fix it I pulled a fuse, not sure which one but it must have been a fuse for the transmission the car then pulled out of park and engaged "a gear" not sure which gear but it wasn't 1st gear, limp mode perhaps?. Four hour ferry crossing later, fuse plugged back in and the transmission returned to normal.

My theory was that moving the column done something to the interlock cable from the column to the selector, confused the transmission and refused to work correctly. Pulling the fuse might have reset something. It didn't do it again and the new owner hasn't reported the same problem.

Sorry to be so vague but I hope the above helps.