08 550i stuck in park
#12
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#13
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
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My Ride: 535i
Model Year: 2008
My '08 535i just had this problem today. Just my luck, I'm out of warranty by a few months. Anybody have any new insight on this problem? Anybody fix it themselves?
#14
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My Ride: 2008 535xi
I had this issue 6 months ago, got it towed to the dealer where it sat overnight. No problems detected in the morning and I picked it up. No issues since.
Moral: Leave the car alone for a little bit and see if it fixes itself. Esp if this is the first time.
Moral: Leave the car alone for a little bit and see if it fixes itself. Esp if this is the first time.
#16
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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My Ride: 2008 550I,Space Grey,Hud,Cold Weather,M - Sport, matched GP Thunder headlights and Fogs,,Smoked Badges, Night Vision, Heated Seats,Rear Sunshades, Aux Audio, SAT, NAV, Black Grills, Sprint Booster, Dinan Cold Air, Stage 2 Dinan Software.....More to come soon
Sounds like the send unit in the shifter is malfunctioning. Unfortunately the whole thing has to be replaced there are no reset or any tricks you can use. If you don't have warranty I have seen a couple on ebay for sale.
Let us know how it goes!!!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-BMW-E60-...item3a6a6821d8
Let us know how it goes!!!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-BMW-E60-...item3a6a6821d8
#17
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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My Ride: 2008 528i, Space Grey, Nav, PDC, Premium, Sports, Grey Leather, Xenon, Cornering...
I had this issue. They replaced my shifter with a new one and sent me on my way.
#18
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My Ride: E60 530d
Ihad this problem on another car. The gear lever lock relied on the signal sent by the brake light switch, the brake light switch conked out which meant the gear lever wouldn't move out of neutral, and naturally the brake lights didn't work.
Check if brake lights work?
Also, have a look at this attachment for manually unlocking the lever.
Check if brake lights work?
Also, have a look at this attachment for manually unlocking the lever.
#19
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
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My Ride: 535i
Model Year: 2008
That's a good tip. I didn't confirm the brake lights working but I did pump the brake a little and turn the steering wheel lock to lock. Thanks for the info on the selector lever override. I didn't know about that.
Syrousd, I did look at the cost of the new, revised part and it's priced about the same as that eBay seller, I think. My concern was whether the part could be swapped in easily or if it involved some reprogramming like many other repairs to this vehicle. So much to learn!
I'll hear back from the shop tomorrow. I am usually a DIYer but time and situation constraints dictated I just have a shop take care of it. I was cringing at the thought of a tow truck driver not knowing how to bypass the parking pawl and dragging the car out. The BMW was stuck in a driveway facing forward. Hopefully they put a dolly on the rear wheels or something.
Syrousd, I did look at the cost of the new, revised part and it's priced about the same as that eBay seller, I think. My concern was whether the part could be swapped in easily or if it involved some reprogramming like many other repairs to this vehicle. So much to learn!
I'll hear back from the shop tomorrow. I am usually a DIYer but time and situation constraints dictated I just have a shop take care of it. I was cringing at the thought of a tow truck driver not knowing how to bypass the parking pawl and dragging the car out. The BMW was stuck in a driveway facing forward. Hopefully they put a dolly on the rear wheels or something.
#20
Senior Members
If you are able to move the shift lever back and forth freely and the transmission still remains in park, the problem may be in the linkage to the transmission- it may simply need to be adjusted. This cable is attached to the drivers side of the transmission on the 545/550. Easy to get to as you can see by this photo: