545 transmission problems
09-09-2011, 12:33 PM
#11
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My Ride: ///M5 BEAST
Model Year: 2006
sounds like a pack of LIES! lol!
+1 on asking for the specifics of this additive. also, consider taking a test drive w/ the tech or SA when you go to pick it up. use your phone and document the poor shift behaviors...send that to BMW along with your complaint. mention the fact that all this is being documented among the largest collection of 5 series enthusiasts on the planet....tell em we are all watching and anticipating that they resolve this the RIGHT way....rather than secret potions and empty promises.
best of luck man..
+1 on asking for the specifics of this additive. also, consider taking a test drive w/ the tech or SA when you go to pick it up. use your phone and document the poor shift behaviors...send that to BMW along with your complaint. mention the fact that all this is being documented among the largest collection of 5 series enthusiasts on the planet....tell em we are all watching and anticipating that they resolve this the RIGHT way....rather than secret potions and empty promises.
best of luck man..
09-09-2011, 03:29 PM
#12
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Houston, we have a problem. I'll see if the paperwork says anything about the snake oil, all they told me on the phone was that BMw sent them a special additive. My guess is that they went to auto zone and bought some of that tranny in a can shit. Wife picked it up and said it felt ok to her but told the service advisor that she was not signing off on it until I drove it. They told her to have me drive it and if it was back at the dealership Monday they wouldn't ask any questions (not sure what that means). Needless to say, within 5 miles I got the lovely idrive screen of transmission death, which the wife questioned as they put 150 miles on the car and claim it was perfect. I knew as soon as I took off that it wasn't right and sure enough (pay attention here fellow 545 guys) in M4, full throttle, shifted to M5 at about 5K and the engine bounces off the rev limiter, tranny makes an interesting noise, and finally slams into 6th with a shift kil like bang. Learned a few things though. It will slip every time I do this, but the display will not come on nor will it go into limp mode until the 3rd time per drive cycle it has happened. Funniest part is that they asked my wife why I drive it in sport or manual mode. I told her to tell them for the same reason that I use my lungs........ Because they are there and meant to be used. Some sort of update to come I'm sure.
09-09-2011, 04:35 PM
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09-09-2011, 05:02 PM
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09-09-2011, 05:15 PM
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My Ride: 2006 550i, 1984 Mercedes Gelandewagen
Hard shifts, surging in 5th, and idrive warning if driven hard. Took it back and they said the tranny was bad and needed to be replaced. Replaced with yet another used tranny, did the whole magic reflash thing again and called my wife this morning to come get it and that it was fixed. She picked it up and immediately noticed that it still surges, she went back and took their tech for a ride and he felt the surge as well so they put us back in a loaner. They called her this afternoon and claimed that they called a "specialist" in Michigan who says surging is completely normal and told her to come get the car. She argued that the 3 different loaners we had didn't surge, her X5 does not surge, nor have the last 3 BMWs we've owned. They again said it's normal and to take the car.
The pulsing is *not* normal though.
I wonder if the fluid is just worn out or have the o-rings really given out.
09-09-2011, 08:06 PM
#18
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My Ride: 545i
One thing to note... I was having the same pulsing problem in 5th gear, took it to my mechanic, he checked for leaks and discovered sweating around the transmission pan, so he replaced the gasket and get this, my transmission was missing 3 liters of fluid, so he topped it off, reset the adaptation and not it's smooth as silk.
We'll see how it goes in about a month. Needless to say, your transmission may also be low on fluid, you just need to check it out, before doing any major work on it.
I will keep you all posted.
We'll see how it goes in about a month. Needless to say, your transmission may also be low on fluid, you just need to check it out, before doing any major work on it.
I will keep you all posted.
09-10-2011, 05:57 PM
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Below is the letter sent to the owner of the dealership today. Just trying to document everything.
I would like to start by saying that at this point, I find no fault nor am I placing any blame on your wonderful service department. Mark and Chris have been great to us over the past few years and we would like to think that after buying 4 BMWs off of you that we have a pretty decent relationship with them. However, the fact that you have had my car since the last week of June, which at first was annoying, then progressed to ridiculous, and has now reached the point of embarrassing, is completely uncalled for. We have been loyal, repeat customers, who not only have bought 4 cars from you but have also spent our hard earned money on non warranty service issues, so we are not just whiners looking for a handout. I don't know the ins and outs of whatever half assed warranty company you are contracted with, but when does the customer become an important part of that equation? You have put 2 used transmissions in my car, tried BMW "approved" reflash of the mechatronics unit, and recently tried an "additive" sent by BMW. All of these remedies have failed and here we are nearly 3 months later and I am still making payments on a car that I cannot drive with any sense of safety because every time I think about passing someone I live in fear that the transmission will once again lock itself in 4th gear (which happened again yesterday). The car is coming back to you Monday and I would really like to know what the plan is to rectify this situation? The transmission issues with the 545 have been fairly well documented on the Internet with BMW actually somewhat acknowledging the problem by releasing updated parts! Enough is enough. I'm seriously starting to wonder if my next car will come from you or not.
Sent from my iPad
I would like to start by saying that at this point, I find no fault nor am I placing any blame on your wonderful service department. Mark and Chris have been great to us over the past few years and we would like to think that after buying 4 BMWs off of you that we have a pretty decent relationship with them. However, the fact that you have had my car since the last week of June, which at first was annoying, then progressed to ridiculous, and has now reached the point of embarrassing, is completely uncalled for. We have been loyal, repeat customers, who not only have bought 4 cars from you but have also spent our hard earned money on non warranty service issues, so we are not just whiners looking for a handout. I don't know the ins and outs of whatever half assed warranty company you are contracted with, but when does the customer become an important part of that equation? You have put 2 used transmissions in my car, tried BMW "approved" reflash of the mechatronics unit, and recently tried an "additive" sent by BMW. All of these remedies have failed and here we are nearly 3 months later and I am still making payments on a car that I cannot drive with any sense of safety because every time I think about passing someone I live in fear that the transmission will once again lock itself in 4th gear (which happened again yesterday). The car is coming back to you Monday and I would really like to know what the plan is to rectify this situation? The transmission issues with the 545 have been fairly well documented on the Internet with BMW actually somewhat acknowledging the problem by releasing updated parts! Enough is enough. I'm seriously starting to wonder if my next car will come from you or not.
Sent from my iPad