Cal26Stang

Hey all, my name is Nick, I am a huge fan of the forums, I am mostly on mustang forums if my name wasn't a dead give away. Anyways, I joined this forum because I am a huge bmw fan, my dad has a 2006 530i with a couple subtle mods, and my brother has a 2004? 325xi with some cool stuff done to it.

Here's the situation with my dad's 06 530i that is concerning us. He bought it new, it currently has around 70k miles, and already the transmission began to shift really hard and downshift really hard. He took it to Baron BMW, which is our only dealer in KC, and they diagnosed it by saying the transmission needed to be replaced completely. It's out of warranty but the dealer offered to make him pay $3,500 for the whole thing. I know that a new trans for his car retails for about 6k and the work is about $800, but it doesn't seem fair. My dad has the car serviced on a regular basis and babies that car like you wouldn't believe, not as bad as me with my mustang, but still...

Anyways, I thought it was just a fluid problem, and they should just change it, but the mechanic told my dad that it was overfilled with fluid. Would that have caused part of this problem? I thought bmw made the ultimate driving machine, and up until now we loved the reliability of the car and especially the looks, but at transmission at 70k miles? Come on, really?

I look forward to being a member on your site and I hope you guys can give me some insight into this problem. Thanks!!

pcy

Was the transmission serviced? If the trans wasn't serviced, how is it possible the trans was overfilled? Did the SA at the dealership explain how it was overfilled?

Cal26Stang

The car is always serviced as needed, when they checked the fluid they told my dad it was overfilled, I have no idea how a bmw dealer could possibly do that.

rctmthouse

If possible get a second opinion at an indy shop or another BMW shop. I too would like to know how the tranny was overfilled if it was not serviced.

Last resort would be changing the fluid yourself and See if it makes any difference first before shelling out that much cash. Dealer shop have the tendency to replace everything so the can make more of parts and labor hours.

GL

tpaxadpom

Take it to transmission repair shop for the second opinion. I was told transmission fluid last a lifetime in these cars. Also the service rep I spoke to from dealership told me that during 2 years she worked there she only seen a few cars with broken trannies.

Cal26Stang

I think the second opinion is the best idea, but like I said, he's done all the normal and schedueled maintainece, I can't beleive its a bad tranny at 70k