E38 730i 1995 transmission

[arginite]

Recently bought a 1995 E38 730 automatic, currently there is no drive no matter what gear I put it in . No error message on the dash or anything and the shift level seems to change gear without issue.

So I'm assuming it's an a drum failure in the transmission and the transmission will require a rebuild. Could I be wrong?


Does the car use a ZF 5HP18 gearbox?
I have not been under it yet to check the plate that is attached to the gearbox but everything I have seen online seem to point to this transmission.

Can a 5HP18 from from an E34 530 or E38 728 be used as a replacement?

Thanks in advance.

[Huskyman]

Go to www.realoem.com and put your chassis number in and look at the parts for your car. You should be able to identify your transmission type

[naturalaspiration]

I guess it should - note it is a pre facelift 728i you need, also a pre facelift 528i should do - for some reason BMW has separate part numbers for each car.

Edited by naturalaspiration on Monday 13th May 19:53

[arginite]

Thanks guys

[Touring442]

The E38 730i autobox was a 5HP18 but it was unique to that car. E38's used Multiplex electronics and E34's didn't. An E34 530i V8 box will bolt on but will it work? I suspect not. Not correctly at least. The 728i box certainly won't fit as the bellhousing is too small. E39 stuff is no good as they were Steptronic and the E38 730i isn't (it's AGS).

4.0 V8 boxes are bigger again and are the 5HP21 or 22. They don't fit.

Easiest solution = remove the box and get it rebuilt. An E34 530i V8 box might work with the E38 valve block fitted, but even these units are are rare and most will be shagged out.

[arginite]

Thanks Touring442