E46 Auto Gearbox Issue

[David Flatman]

Hi all. Quite often on startup the gearbox warning light pops up where the gear (P or D) should be. The car will move with this light on but the gearbox doesn’t work, in that no gear changes occur. It seems to crawl along in....second maybe?

I’m having to turn the ignition off and on again (recently up to 10 times) until I see P for Park, at which point it’s all good. When running, it’s great, but I wonder if anyone knows what might be up?!

(Please don’t say ‘new gearbox chief’! Ha!)

Thanks.

David.

[David Flatman]

Big_Dog said:

Mine did this when it had stood for a while. Healed up when I changed the battery.

Yep, mine has done a fair bit of standing. Maybe I’ll have to change the battery and buy a trickle charger...

[David Flatman]

g3org3y said:

Has the gearbox ever been serviced?

Without going through the SH I couldn’t tell you...

I’m always inclined to book it in at a main dealer and have it given a proper going over - I wonder if I’d be wasting money...

[David Flatman]

Touring442 said:

Fault codes and oil level first. Could be a battery problem, alternator not charging correctly, a faulty cam sensor or the range switch on the side of the box. All cheap fixes.

Plenty of secondhand boxes about so forget £2000 rebuilds. Just make sure the garage replaces the converter oil seal before fitting as well as the filter/sump gasket. Depending on model, a used box will be £200-400, about the same to replace it. On a ramp it's about 3-4 hours work if it all comes apart OK.

You've not said which E46 it is.

2004 330ci Cab. It’s lovely!