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Car Forum / BMW Cars / April 2007E39 (530d) Problems with automatic transmission?
Hello, i was owning a 2001 530dA and had a lot of trouble with the automatic transmission. Because someone killed my car will buy a different one with about the same age. So my question is, if that is a general problem or it was just bad luck with my car. Regarding this informations i will decide to buy a auto or manual transmission. Thanx a lot for your help best regards and greetings from good old germany Marko Grossmann > i was owning a 2001 530dA and had a lot of trouble with the automatic > transmission. Because someone killed my car will buy a different one with > about the same age. What were the problems? > So my question is, if that is a general problem or it was just bad luck > with my car. > Regarding this informations i will decide to buy a auto or manual > transmission. It's a ZF, and the same basic box is used on many models. The one on my 528 has been fine - and it's an excellent performer.  Signature*Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. > > i was owning a 2001 530dA and had a lot of trouble with the automatic > > transmission. Because someone killed my car will buy a different one with [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > It's a ZF, and the same basic box is used on many models. The one on my > 528 has been fine - and it's an excellent performer. Dave, sorry to be picky but it's NOT a ZF box on the 530d, it's the same box as the 330d, an A5S 390R in BMW speak or a GM5L40E-GM5 in GM speak. It's made in Europe by General Motors and bought in by BMW since 09/2000. Prior to this date both the 3 and 5 with the 3.0d engine used the A5S 360R or GM5L40E, depending whether you quote GM or BMW numbers. You are perfectly right however in as much as your 528 might have a ZF box, BMW designation A4S 310R, or the GM box, A5S 360R (both 5 speed, I wonder if the "A4S" is a misprint?) depending on it's age, changeover being quoted as 09/1999. Hope this info is of some use to you. Badger. > > It's a ZF, and the same basic box is used on many models. The one on > > my 528 has been fine - and it's an excellent performer. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > wonder if the "A4S" is a misprint?) depending on it's age, changeover > being quoted as 09/1999. Hope this info is of some use to you. Right. I was under the impression only the US got the GM boxes. Signature*A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory * Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. > i was owning a 2001 530dA and had a lot of trouble with the automatic > transmission. Because someone killed my car will buy a different one with > about the same age. > So my question is, if that is a general problem or it was just bad luck > with my car. According to the "Tech Talk" section of the Oct 2004 issue of "Roundel" magazine (ie, the BMW Car Club of America magazine), the BMW automatic xmissions in general are short-lived. A few quotes from the column: "The ration of automatic-transmission to manual-gearbox problems I hear about in my work is about 100:1, which is why I always recommend manual transmissions. It isn't even 8:00am, and yours is the second letter today on automatic-transmission problems." ... "When they don't leak, we tend to seen an automatic transission service life between 80,000 and 120,000 miles." -Ted > "When they don't leak, we tend to seen an automatic transission > service life between 80,000 and 120,000 miles." > >-Ted I see a lot of people repeating these "doom and gloom" stories on the BMW auto trannys, but very few of them actually have any first hand knowledge of this happening. Just curious, Ted, how many BMW auto trannys have you owned that went bad? How many friends with BMW auto trannys have you had complain of them going bad? The major problem with BMW trannys going bad is that many owners fail to realize that they need to periodically change the fluid and filter. One of the primary reasons that this is so, is because many auto tranny techs tell BMW owners that their transmission is sealed and/or has lifetime fluid, and the owners take that to mean they never have to maintain them. In fact, I have heard it often said, by auto tranny techs, that the fluid never needs to be changed and that is a crock, even for the mis-labeled "lifetime" fluid. It is amazing to me that so *few* BMW auto trannys fail in spite of this lack of maintanance. It is very frustrating to me when I read this sort of overstated comment in periodicals that are devoted to BMW's. I have written pointed letters to the editors of these rags whenever I have seen such stuff written, and always get a polite response that mostly agrees with me that the BMW auto trannys are actually robust, in comparison to other auto trannys. They usually say something like, all auto trannys are suspect and subject to premature failure, not just BMW's, but since their focus is on BMW's they only report on that marquee. They agree that the premature failure rate is not all that alarming or unusual, but feel that prospective owners of these older cars need to be aware of the potential for an expensive repair. Well, yeah, the engine could also fail anywhere between 80,000 and 120,000 miles if they don't get an oil change! :-) I own 2, 1991 525i's with auto trannys, both of which work perfectly, and have 160,000 and 140,000 miles on them. Everybody I know or have talked to, and that is quite a few, that own E34's (my focus) with auto tranny's have also had similar longevity with no problems. I wish somebody would start some rumors about the premature failure of the M5 engines - perhaps then I could afford to buy one. :-) Dick Schneiders > The major problem with BMW trannys going bad is that many owners fail to > realize that they need to periodically change the fluid and filter. One of the > primary reasons that this is so, is because many auto tranny techs tell BMW > owners that their transmission is sealed and/or has lifetime fluid, and the > owners take that to mean they never have to maintain them. I, too, am reluctant to change the trans fluid with that big "lifetime fluid" sticker on it. Even if I wanted to, the lack of a dipstick makes it awkward at best to change it. Even the shop manual cautions that it is a tedious procedure involving monitoring of temperatures to determine the fluid level. I would estimate that BMW dealers would expect a huge outlay of cash to be bothered with the procedure. Anyone have any experience with changing the lifetime fluid? Matthew 00 528 Steptronic > Even the shop manual cautions > that it is a tedious procedure involving monitoring of temperatures to > determine the fluid level. I would estimate that BMW dealers would > expect a huge outlay of cash to be bothered with the procedure. Wonder how the factory fills a new transmission? If you knew the capacity of the TC, you could simply deduct this from the total and add a measured amount. It can't be *that* critical. Signature*No radio - Already stolen. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. >> Even the shop manual cautions >> that it is a tedious procedure involving monitoring of temperatures to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > of the TC, you could simply deduct this from the total and add a measured > amount. It can't be *that* critical. It would be easy enough to fill a dry transmission with a measured amount of fluid, but not so simple with one that's been in use. The torque converter traps some of the fluid, s a "book value" wouldn't be of much use. However, it seems to me that one should be able to measure the amount drained and replace a like amount (assuming no leaks) and be pretty much correct. SignatureThe instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed RedHat. >However, it seems to me that one should be able to measure the amount >drained and replace a like amount (assuming no leaks) and be pretty much >correct. This should work fine. The only concern I would have is if the system was already a bit low on fluid. I would first check the level of the fluid to make certain it had the proper level (or at least close). This is not all that simple when the car does not have a dipstick/fill tube. Drive the car a few miles to get the tranny fluid warmed up. Then pull the fill plug (not the drain plug) and if the level is correct the fluid should just drip out a tiny bit. The problem is that the car needs to be level, so you can't simply put the front end up on ramps to do this. You probably could get under the car without raising it, but it will be a close fit. If the fluid is a bit low, add some to bring it up to the proper level. Then when you drain and refill with a like amount, the resulting fluid level should be ok. Also, be certain that you use the correct fluid. If your car does indeed have the expensive, so-called lifetime fluid, you need to use that fluid and not Dexron. Dick Schneiders Hi Marko, > i was owning a 2001 530dA and had a lot of trouble with the automatic > transmission. Because someone killed my car will buy a different one with > about the same age. > So my question is, if that is a general problem or it was just bad luck with > my car. I have a 2002 530dA Touring - and no problems at all with the transmission. The car has driven 135.000 kilometers. > best regards and greetings from good old germany Denmark here! :-) ** Lars > I have a 2002 530dA Touring - and no problems at all with the > transmission. The car has driven 135.000 kilometers. Crikey. When do you sleep? ;-) Signature*24 hours in a day ... 24 beers in a case ... coincidence? * Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. Hi Dave, > > I have a 2002 530dA Touring - and no problems at all with the > > transmission. The car has driven 135.000 kilometers. > Crikey. When do you sleep? ;-) Sleep? What is that? ;o) ** Lars I have just bought a 1997 523i automatic and am also wondering about getting the transmission oil changed. If it is not too difficult I would have a go at it myself. I live in Belfast Ireland and don't know if there is enough expertize about, since manual transmission is the norm here. >Hi Dave, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >** Lars |
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