Hello All,

Firstly, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm from Southern California (San Diego Area), and I drive a 2006 550i.

Now, onto the fun part:
I've been having all kinds of stupid problems with my Transmission, which was recently replaced (along with the clutch) in March of this year.
I took the car to BMW, they replaced the shift path sensor and the hydraulic pump, which really did nothing. They now want to drop the transmission and look at the clutch, and they want to charge me $1200 in labor.
Not so sure I'm down for that.

Here's what happens:

I'll be driving, and randomly, during up or down shifting, regardless of gear, the transmission kind of surges.
This isn't the problem. That's something I would be able to overlook. The becomes one of two scenarios:
1) I lose even numbered gears, which means I have Gears 1,3, and 5. If I try to shift into an even gear, it seems to attempt to shift, but doesn't actually actuate. It will then upshift or downshift to the next odd numbered gear (dependent on speed.) Even this scenario is bearable, as I can still get places, as long as I double-tap the paddles or the shift knob when changing gears, to skip the pausing issue.

2) I lose odd numbered gears. This is where poo hits the proverbial fan. If I'm driving on the freeway, it's not an issue unless traffic comes to a screaming halt. But, given my luck the last few times, I've been on surface streets. As soon as the car comes to a stop, an epic battle for "being the active gear" takes place, and the transmission plays tug of war between gears 1 and 2, which is futile. Gear 1 doesn't appear to exist, but the car feels the need to downshift to it, as the car is stopped. When this happens, 3 out of 4 times, the car had to be towed.

Has anything like this happened to anyone else?
Any advice?

Thanks!

 

Well it's seems to me it's your one of the spring broke their. Use M3forum (http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=231113) here a lot info for SMG tranny. From my expereince it's spring broken (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...87&hg=23&fg=15)

 

Let's hope you're right! Although, reading from the other issues, I may need to replace that Salmon colored relay, too.
Thanks for the info!

 

it's easy one and cheap too. I can try. Those spring are for different gears, so I know for sure spring #9 is for first gear,if it's broken none gear will work at all.

 

this is your tranny, it's a little different, but same idea. so if you have access start removing access bolts and see if springs are in good condition. But be careful make sure nothing fell off from there.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...68&hg=23&fg=15

 

Any Idea where this Relay for the SMG is located on the E60 chassis? I checked up by the ECU and in the two fuse compartments (glove box, trunk) and I can't seem to find it...

 

Okay, so months and thousands of dollars later, here's what it's NOT:
- shift path sensor
- transmission hydraulic pump
- SMG transmission
- SMG relay
- clutch

Here's what it is:
- transmission control module

Really had to take the course of "process of elimination" for this, but now that it's working again, I'm happy.

 

Had the same problem and it was definitely the SMG control module. Since that glitch, the car has been butter

 

How much is a new Transmission Control Module for the SMG tranny? Would you happen to have the part number?

 

I would always start cheapest to most expensive. Normally i start with the logical portion first and not the physical. I don't remember the exact symptom but I recently had to flash an SMG tranny for a friend (M3) and it turned out that there was a simple software glitch. He was very generous about it after testing it for over a month and no issues.