Instrument Panel Warning for Steptronic
04-09-2009, 10:21 AM
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My Ride: 2004 545i Sport, ti silver/gray, CWP, Logic 7, PDC, Nav, elec shade, lumbar, FDRS
2000 Honda CBR 929
1999 Lexus GS400, Nakamichi
The car is a 2004 545i with less than 19k mi. I'm getting a transmission warning on the instrument panel (triangle with gear symbol). It goes on for a few seconds and then goes off. There is no corresponding trouble message on the I-drive screen. I suspect slightly low transmission fluid, but believe there is no filler tube for adding transmission fluid.
To be on the safe side, I've parked the car until Monday when I have an appointment at the dealership. I have extended maintenance until March 2010, but the warranty has expired.
Is anyone familiar with this type of problem? What is the likely cause? What is my best approach?
To be on the safe side, I've parked the car until Monday when I have an appointment at the dealership. I have extended maintenance until March 2010, but the warranty has expired.
Is anyone familiar with this type of problem? What is the likely cause? What is my best approach?
04-09-2009, 10:36 AM
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My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by goodman' post='841993' date='Apr 9 2009, 01:21 PM
The car is a 2004 545i with less than 19k mi. I'm getting a transmission warning on the instrument panel (triangle with gear symbol). It goes on for a few seconds and then goes off. There is no corresponding trouble message on the I-drive screen. I suspect slightly low transmission fluid, but believe there is no filler tube for adding transmission fluid.
To be on the safe side, I've parked the car until Monday when I have an appointment at the dealership. I have extended maintenance until March 2010, but the warranty has expired.
Is anyone familiar with this type of problem? What is the likely cause? What is my best approach?
To be on the safe side, I've parked the car until Monday when I have an appointment at the dealership. I have extended maintenance until March 2010, but the warranty has expired.
Is anyone familiar with this type of problem? What is the likely cause? What is my best approach?
04-09-2009, 10:47 AM
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My Ride: 2004 545i Sport, ti silver/gray, CWP, Logic 7, PDC, Nav, elec shade, lumbar, FDRS
2000 Honda CBR 929
1999 Lexus GS400, Nakamichi
Originally Posted by CWS530' post='842004' date='Apr 9 2009, 02:36 PM
I think what you are experiencing is the "snowflake" warning. It comes on when the temp is about 37F. It's designed to warn you of potentially frozen roads.
04-09-2009, 11:05 AM
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My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by goodman' post='842015' date='Apr 9 2009, 01:47 PM
So that little symbol is a snowflake and not a gear? It's warmer today. I'm gonna take the car out in a little while and see if I get the warning again. Thank you.
04-09-2009, 11:57 AM
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Well you should get a message with the snowflake telling you it is 37 degrees outside. There is a gear symbol as well for the tranny, but again you should get a message that something is wrong. Check your "check control messages" and see if anything is stored. You can get false error messages if you have a weakening battery or faulty electrical system.
04-09-2009, 05:12 PM
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My Ride: 2004 545i Sport, ti silver/gray, CWP, Logic 7, PDC, Nav, elec shade, lumbar, FDRS
2000 Honda CBR 929
1999 Lexus GS400, Nakamichi
Y ou guys have me nearly convinced, except my manual does not show a snowflake as the ice warning. The manual (c. 2003), at page 65, shows an exclamation point inside a triangle as the ice warning. OTOH, my I-Drive software is less than two years old, and the warning symbol may have changed with the more recent software. The warning I saw looked more like the transmission malfunction warning on page 56, except that the gear was inside a triangle. I drove the car today in more moderate temperatures, with no problem. I am going to try the check control button, page 69, to see if there are any stored messages.
04-09-2009, 06:20 PM
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My Ride: 2004 545i Sport, ti silver/gray, CWP, Logic 7, PDC, Nav, elec shade, lumbar, FDRS
2000 Honda CBR 929
1999 Lexus GS400, Nakamichi
I checked for messages on the control display and it read "check ok". I checked for messages on the I-drive and all it said was "fasten seat belt". I'm pretty sure that what I saw was the transmission warning for a few seconds, but I'm afraid that when I go in for diagnostics they won't find anything, so $105 plus tax will be wasted. What would you do if you were me?
04-09-2009, 06:36 PM
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My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Originally Posted by goodman' post='842435' date='Apr 9 2009, 09:20 PM
I checked for messages on the control display and it read "check ok". I checked for messages on the I-drive and all it said was "fasten seat belt". I'm pretty sure that what I saw was the transmission warning for a few seconds, but I'm afraid that when I go in for diagnostics they won't find anything, so $105 plus tax will be wasted. What would you do if you were me?
04-09-2009, 09:26 PM
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My Ride: 2004 545i Sport, ti silver/gray, CWP, Logic 7, PDC, Nav, elec shade, lumbar, FDRS
2000 Honda CBR 929
1999 Lexus GS400, Nakamichi
Originally Posted by cobradav' post='842077' date='Apr 9 2009, 03:57 PM
Well you should get a message with the snowflake telling you it is 37 degrees outside. There is a gear symbol as well for the tranny, but again you should get a message that something is wrong. Check your "check control messages" and see if anything is stored. You can get false error messages if you have a weakening battery or faulty electrical system.
Thank you to all of you who have helped me out.