E39 AUTOBOX problems

[cars1993]

Hi all i own an e39 530d 193 auto

The problem im having is the auto box. when in 5th gear it seems like it sort of gets stuck unless I really floor it, if I pop it into sport then its fine

Also feels like its juddering back and forth too while being stuck in that gear between 55 & 75 mph

any ideas? its done 183k

[Motorrad]

Get over to BMW5 and ask.

I have a feeling though it's new box time as that sounds exactly like the problems they all start to develop sooner or later. A fluid change might help but I suspect you'd only be prolonging the inevitable and it could make things worse.

edit to add: camshaft position sensor maybe- thinking back my friends 540ia had a problem with that which caused gearbox issues. Maybe get it on INPA diagnostics and see what's what. You can get a cable and software on BMW5 for 20 quid or less on ebay.

Edited by Motorrad on Tuesday 10th March 15:34

[thatdude]

The following chaps might be able to help:

http://www.stephensengineering.co.uk/

[Matt UK]

If it's fine in Sport but not normal, suggest a coding issue rather than mechincal.

Maybe a software update flash would be the quickest / cheapest place to start before anyone attacks it with spanners?

[peterg1955]

I had an E34 auto many years ago that exhibited similar problems of not locking into 5th, I took it to a well respected BMW indy specialist who changed the gearbox oil and filter (I had only bought it a few months ago and it had around 60k miles on it, the oil was black and smelt burnt when it came out) 'we' continued to change the oil every other service and I finally traded the car in at 165k miles with the gearbox still running perfectly.

[rallycross]

Take it to a BMW specialist get a g/box oil and filter change and get them to re-adapt the g/box software and see how it goes from there before spending any more money on it

[cars1993]

Just to add the gearbox oil & filter was replaced 28,000 miles ago by bmw

I recently reset the gearbox and its only started to do it since then

[thecremeegg]

Leave it in sport you pansy

[Blue Oval84]

Are you sure it's not normal? They are meant to lock into 5th when in Drive at that sort of speed surely? I seem to remember mine did, and it needed a good booting if you wanted it to drop.

[Claudia Skies]

cars1993 said:

Just to add the gearbox oil & filter was replaced 28,000 miles ago by bmw

I recently reset the gearbox and its only started to do it since then

Then you should definitely get to a competent dealer or specialist who can run proper diagnosis and sort out any software glitches. They are very common and it could be an inexpensive fix for a tech who knows what he's doing.

The important words in all this are "knows what he's doing". Your local oily rag under the railway arches is almost certainly not the right place to go.

[Budleigh]

Change the crank position sensor. That worked for me.