Oh God, I have to hurry up then!
This morning the car started in 2 gear and no way to start in 1st, so I exited from the garage in 2nd, left it turned on for 10-15minutes while I was loading luggages and ski. Then the R was ok, but I cannot wait 10-15 minutes every time.
So actuator + sensor, ok. Hope it will work till 7 Jan.

 

I had a problem where I intermittantly ouldn't get back into neutral after parking the car and the car won't start in gear so I was stuck. Also they wouldn't tow my car in gear so I was really stuck. They replaced the tcu, hydraulics and then the entire transmission.

 

Never had an issue with mine. Works fine in WI winter.

Sounds like your Service Agent didn't feel like dealing with it or something. I think I'd take it back or go to a different dealership. Should work without issues.

Once in a great while it will give me a little blip. Put it into gear and says neutral. I put it back in netural and then back into gear and its fine. Might happen once every couple months at the most. I think it has more to do with I'm in a hurry and I catch the computer in a certain spot that it doesn't catch me shifting into gear.

 

Can they create me trouble if I have M5 front bumper, M5 rear bumper, Quad exhaust, M5 mirrors, Dension Gateway, M5 brakes etc? :-D

BMW Italy told me the warranty, for example, falls for steering and brakes and something else for installing M5 brakes.
But the gearbox.. No mod linked to it.. Except the final drive ratio but it is in the differential.

 

I won't think you'd run into any issues. Your mods aren't effecting anything to do with the drivetrain.

 

Update: now, depending of the external T (-10? or +5? C) I need to leave the car turned on (idle) for 10-30 minutes, till the engine oil reaches 60-70?.
Before those 10-30 minutes (sometimes I'm late, I keep it at 2500 rpm and it took 'just' 10 min), the car shows N for reverse and 2nd for D. It starts in second gear, but after a few metres it stops and no way to move it (even if it shows 2nd).

In early December it works in 1st and it goes (in D), now the car need to warm before moving.

I have the appointment on Monday.


Fortunately I have already paid service (and warranty extended) till 2011, otherwise it could have been an economic tragedy.
I will push to replace the whole transmission.

 

Update: now, depending of the external T (-10? or +5? C) I need to leave the car turned on (idle) for 10-30 minutes, till the engine oil reaches 60-70?.
Before those 10-30 minutes (sometimes I'm late, I keep it at 2500 rpm and it took 'just' 10 min), the car shows N for reverse and 2nd for D. It starts in second gear, but after a few metres it stops and no way to move it (even if it shows 2nd).

In early December it works in 1st and it goes (in D), now the car need to warm before moving.

I have the appointment on Monday.


Fortunately I have already paid service (and warranty extended) till 2011, otherwise it could have been an economic tragedy.
I will push to replace the whole transmission.

 

Good luck keep us updated.

I doubt you'll need a whole new tranny. I'm not up on the inner working of the SMG but what your explaining doesn't seem to be a direct issue with the actual tranny.

 

Occasionally mine doesn't switch into R from N but its usually when I try to do the change very quick from N to R. I find stepping on the brake and then doing the switch helps it to be a smoother change.

 

Ok, the dealer reported they will replace the entire gearbox. Thank to God it broke now, because from sept2009 I would have paid it by myself

How many days will it take?
Parts will have to come from Germany, I'm sure, so 4-5 days just for parts.

But the question is: how many euros will they get from BMW? I'm curious!!

Thank you guys, you saved my wallet!