Hello,
I have a 2008 528i with the zf transmission that i cannot get to shift our of park into drive or reverse. Car was shifting alright until I had to put it into neutral by using the lever under the shifter. I am also now getting the transmission fault warning when the car is started. I have pulled the codes and am getting:
4E20 Electronic pressure control valve 1
507B Parking-gear sensors implausible
E094 No message (display transmission data) from the electronic transmission control, receiver gear selector switch, transmitter electronic transmission
control / sequential manual gear box SMC / twin - clutch gearbox.

Any ideas as to why the transmission will not shift into drive or reverse? Thanks in advance for any advice..

 

Check that the release cable has fully returned to the standard position, even though it has been unlocked at the shifter it’s possible that the mechanism is stuck due to inactivity, there’s a good chance it’s never been used before.

 

Thanks for your reply. Right now I have the cable disconnected at the trans. One thing I forgot to mention is that the car is on jack stands and I can spin both rear wheels by hand but the driveshaft will not turn. Do you have any idea why the wheels will spin without turning the driveshaft. If the car is in park like the shifter is showing, why am I able to turn the wheels?

 

When you turn one wheel the other will turn in the opposite rotation, thats normal because of the differential in the rear axle.

 

I am having the exact same problem. I have 09 528I. Did you ever figure it out?

 

Consider checking all fuses related to transmission - both front and rear. I had some strange transmission codes and warnings at one time, and it was a fuse splitter that I had installed into one of the transmission fuses in the trunk - it had popped out - leaving the transmission fuse open. I replaced the fuse splitter, checked all the fuses, and everything worked again. Good luck.

 

Alan, did you find a solution?