E61 LCI selector lever fault

[alistair267]

For a while my 2009 LCI 530i Touring has sometimes taken two or three goes to get into Park. I thought nothing of it.

Then, a fortnight or so ago the bong of doom would sound, a picture of the gear selector would come up and would all go away again a couple of seconds later. Odd.

It has now thrown all its toys out of the pram and I have a selector lever fault shown in the iDrive and my wife just reported struggling to get it out of Park.

It is booked into my local specialist tomorrow but has anyone experienced this? A quick Google would suggest a problem with a sensor or microswitch in the gear shifter but having just had to replace the high pressure fuel pump I don't fancy another big bill particularly.

Exhibit A:

[alistair267]

I meant to add: has anyone else experienced this, and if so, what was the issue?

[alistair267]

In case anyone ever searches for this, I thought I would set out what my local Indy has diagnosed: namely faulty parking and unlock buttons in the gear lever. New gear lever required which then needs coding to car. All in all £440 inc labour and VAT so not as bad as I was expecting.

I have enjoyed my online conversation with myself!

[helix402]

I read it! Hope the lever fixes it. A friend had the same problem after a main dealer timing chain replacement on a 520d. Two gearbox rebuilds later it was sorted! +new cylinder head and turbo but that's another story.

[bimjim]

Does it definitely need coding to the car?

I replaced one on my old E70 X5, that was a straight swap with one purchased on eBay for £80.

[alistair267]

bimjim said:

Does it definitely need coding to the car?

Apparently, although not entirely sure myself. That's what I was told.

Fault codes were A82A parking button faulty and A82B unlocking button faulty. New gear lever assembly installed, faults cleared and code to vehicle.

Car now fixed apparently, and being delivered home which saves me a detour on the way home from work.

[helix402]

Sometimes on BMWs the new part should be "coded" to the car but works perfectly well without.

[mon the fish]

Definitely didn't need coding on the pre-LCI, I appreciate the lever is different though.

I hate it when they code all sorts of things to the car, pain in the backside