Thanks for your comment Dave,

I didn't know that was a feature, it does make sense though... it
certainly behaves as you described, it is stuck in 2nd gear (or maybe
3rd), revs stay at around 3000 when you are expecting the automatic to
shift to 4th... It's then trying to warm up the catalyst as quick as
possible.

That was the behaviour during the last couple of days, but today I
wanted to check if it was jumping a gear or what was going on so I
switched to sport +/-(manual mode), I tried to go to fourth gear
manually and didn't allow me, or maybe it did and just stopped (can't
remember exactly), the engine was idling, but not pulling forward, the
gearbox was not engaged at all... and suddenly I got the gearbox
warning light and started running in the "emergency-run program".

Is that behaviour expected or might it be the indication of some
problem with the automatic transmission?

I have also noticed that the antifreezer is at minimum level and the
car is four years and a few months old so tomorrow is getting
changed...

Regards,

U. Hernandez

Staying in second on a cold day from a cold start is a design feature - to
warm up the catalyst as quickly as possible. Since I live in town, I don't
know what happens if you have a cold start and go straight onto the
highway where you could exceed 30 mph. IIRC, the gearbox won't use 5th
gear either until the engine is up to temperature.

Hello guys,

I have got a 330d (January 2002), automatic.

I decided to take my car on a business trip to Scotland (what a nutter! I
know). I have been in Scotland for 3 days and it is cold. When I start up
the car in the morning, no problem, temperature gauge is low, 1st gear all
right, 2nd gear.... takes a while to shift, it goes up to 3000rpm, 3rd gear
same story. (it might even go from 1st to 3rd jumping 2nd, not sure). The
first 2 days behaved like that.

Today, the 3rd day, the car died and I got the safety-gear only alarm, damn!
I drove the car for 5 mins in safe gear mode. I stopped, put the car in
Neutral gear for 5 mins, the temperature went to its normal position.
Stopped the engine, start up again and the alarm went off. I drove with it
30 miles with no problem, as usual.

It has only happenned in the morning when it's cold, the car has always been
looked after in Spain, good weather conditions, never problem with anti
freezer or temperature or anything.

Could it be the antifreezer that I've got is not suitable for UK, colder
than Spain...? I hope nothing more sinister is going on...

Any help appreciatted, thanks in advance.