E60/E61 Auto Gearbox Fault
Discussion
My Dad's LCI '57 E61 525i auto box has started playing up. Just fishing around for potential causes and best way for him to handle it.
Sorry for the vague details, it's all secondhand to me.
Started about 50 miles into a longish journey. Got itself stuck in second or third and threw up a transmission error message and a 'proceed with caution' type warning. He'd noticed that the changes seemed a bit rough for the few miles prior to the error happening.
Next time he used the car, it was fine from cold again. Then again, 50 miles or so in, same error, this time stuck in a higher gear, maybe 5th.
Obviously he needs to get the codes read before anything else but just to pre-empt things, could this be as simple as a fluid issue? It has never been changed in 140,000 miles. To me, the fact that it's fine from cold seems to suggest something isn't fundamentally broken, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic.
Any other common failure modes? Big concern for him is just how economical any repair is likely to be given the value of the car.
Sorry for the vague details, it's all secondhand to me.
Started about 50 miles into a longish journey. Got itself stuck in second or third and threw up a transmission error message and a 'proceed with caution' type warning. He'd noticed that the changes seemed a bit rough for the few miles prior to the error happening.
Next time he used the car, it was fine from cold again. Then again, 50 miles or so in, same error, this time stuck in a higher gear, maybe 5th.
Obviously he needs to get the codes read before anything else but just to pre-empt things, could this be as simple as a fluid issue? It has never been changed in 140,000 miles. To me, the fact that it's fine from cold seems to suggest something isn't fundamentally broken, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic.
Any other common failure modes? Big concern for him is just how economical any repair is likely to be given the value of the car.
Gad-Westy said:
My Dad's LCI '57 E61 525i auto box has started playing up. Just fishing around for potential causes and best way for him to handle it.
Sorry for the vague details, it's all secondhand to me.
Started about 50 miles into a longish journey. Got itself stuck in second or third and threw up a transmission error message and a 'proceed with caution' type warning. He'd noticed that the changes seemed a bit rough for the few miles prior to the error happening.
Next time he used the car, it was fine from cold again. Then again, 50 miles or so in, same error, this time stuck in a higher gear, maybe 5th.
Obviously he needs to get the codes read before anything else but just to pre-empt things, could this be as simple as a fluid issue? It has never been changed in 140,000 miles. To me, the fact that it's fine from cold seems to suggest something isn't fundamentally broken, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic.
Any other common failure modes? Big concern for him is just how economical any repair is likely to be given the value of the car.
As you’ve said, get the codes read.Sorry for the vague details, it's all secondhand to me.
Started about 50 miles into a longish journey. Got itself stuck in second or third and threw up a transmission error message and a 'proceed with caution' type warning. He'd noticed that the changes seemed a bit rough for the few miles prior to the error happening.
Next time he used the car, it was fine from cold again. Then again, 50 miles or so in, same error, this time stuck in a higher gear, maybe 5th.
Obviously he needs to get the codes read before anything else but just to pre-empt things, could this be as simple as a fluid issue? It has never been changed in 140,000 miles. To me, the fact that it's fine from cold seems to suggest something isn't fundamentally broken, but maybe I'm being overly optimistic.
Any other common failure modes? Big concern for him is just how economical any repair is likely to be given the value of the car.
No point in guessing at this stage. Could be a sensor, could be as simple as low oil, but hen if it’s low, why etc?
Where are you in the country. I know of 2 excellent box specialists, one in Dartford and the other local to me here in Preston
Iddz said:
Most likely will need the transmission rebuilding, burnt out clutch packs and possibly torque converter, has happened to my E60 before and cost me 1200 to get it repaired by a specialist in Preston
Yikes, we'll see. Seems weird that works perfectly normally when cold though. The mention of low fluid also a possibility these trans had a problem with the plastic pans leaking with old age and the mecha-tronic sleeve leaking (O Ring) over a very long period of oil loss most dont even notice 
that is until the box starts to malfunction or worse fail altogether due to tired over worked fluid , less oil works harder and will fade faster 
that is until the box starts to malfunction or worse fail altogether due to tired over worked fluid , less oil works harder and will fade faster Well, the garages my Dad generally uses haven't been much help so far and none have scanned codes. So since I was in the area today, rightly or wrongly I picked up a 'streetwize' OBD II scanner from Toolstation for him. It connects okay (read chassis number etc) but says there are no stored codes. Is that because there are no stored codes or is it more likely that I've bought the wrong tool for the job?
Gad-Westy said:
Well, the garages my Dad generally uses haven't been much help so far and none have scanned codes. So since I was in the area today, rightly or wrongly I picked up a 'streetwize' OBD II scanner from Toolstation for him. It connects okay (read chassis number etc) but says there are no stored codes. Is that because there are no stored codes or is it more likely that I've bought the wrong tool for the job?
The tool you’ve got only reads engine codes.helix402 said:
Gad-Westy said:
Well, the garages my Dad generally uses haven't been much help so far and none have scanned codes. So since I was in the area today, rightly or wrongly I picked up a 'streetwize' OBD II scanner from Toolstation for him. It connects okay (read chassis number etc) but says there are no stored codes. Is that because there are no stored codes or is it more likely that I've bought the wrong tool for the job?
The tool you’ve got only reads engine codes.Is there one I should point him to? Seems to make more sense to buy a reader than pay someone £100 to do it for him.
helix402 said:
Gad-Westy said:
Oops. Thanks.
Is there one I should point him to? Seems to make more sense to buy a reader than pay someone £100 to do it for him.
The Creator C310 is good.Is there one I should point him to? Seems to make more sense to buy a reader than pay someone £100 to do it for him.
Assume this is what's needed?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creator-System-Engine-Rea...
And just because it doesn't specifically mention it on the link, I assume this one does read transmission codes?
Gad-Westy said:
Brill thanks.
Assume this is what's needed?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creator-System-Engine-Rea...
And just because it doesn't specifically mention it on the link, I assume this one does read transmission codes?
It’s done gearbox codes on all the cars I’ve used it on.Assume this is what's needed?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creator-System-Engine-Rea...
And just because it doesn't specifically mention it on the link, I assume this one does read transmission codes?
helix402 said:
Gad-Westy said:
Brill thanks.
Assume this is what's needed?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creator-System-Engine-Rea...
And just because it doesn't specifically mention it on the link, I assume this one does read transmission codes?
It’s done gearbox codes on all the cars I’ve used it on.Assume this is what's needed?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creator-System-Engine-Rea...
And just because it doesn't specifically mention it on the link, I assume this one does read transmission codes?
Gad-Westy said:
Codes read as:
4F85: Ratio monitoring clutch E
4EE8: Turbine speed sensor
50DD: Activation of two substitute functions of same priority
Google agrees!
https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/ZF-6HP-What-Cau...
Sounds like gearbox rebuild time (or spares ore repairs sale).
Doesn't sound cheap!
4F85: Ratio monitoring clutch E
4EE8: Turbine speed sensor
50DD: Activation of two substitute functions of same priority
Google agrees!
https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/ZF-6HP-What-Cau...
Sounds like gearbox rebuild time (or spares ore repairs sale).
Doesn't sound cheap!
If the ECU loses speed monitoring then that may explain the substitution function it's lost vital info after all , one failed component could cause three separate DTC,s quiet easily, but I'll admit I have not witnessed your codes before , could be worth clearing and starting from scratch and read real time data before panicking
Well to draw some sort of conclusion to this, it is the E-clutch that is the culprit. The car is currently with Austrin Engineering in Newcastle having the box rebuilt. Getting the mechatronics unit replaced at the same time and will come with a 2 year warranty on the box.
My dad decided to buy a new car during this saga so I'm forking out for the repair on this and I'l then run it as my family's barge for a year or two. The car is in such good condition, I couldn't bare to see it go to scrap.
Thanks for the all the help folks.
My dad decided to buy a new car during this saga so I'm forking out for the repair on this and I'l then run it as my family's barge for a year or two. The car is in such good condition, I couldn't bare to see it go to scrap.
Thanks for the all the help folks.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff