Transmission issue?
 

I searched the threads and see many different types of problems but think mine is different, at least for now.

2008 535 sport, I drove about six miles this morning then got the engine malfunction, driving possible, reduced power, go to service cent etc...message and below it said transmission malfunction. I was turning into the gas station when it happened. I put my foot gently on the gas only to look down and see the shifter had moved to neutral.

I put it in drive, drove up to the pump with everything seeming normal, got it filled and then started it up, no errors, messages etc and I even looked at the service messages and all was gone. Since I was making a 180mi each way trip, I drove home and got my other car for the trip.

The car drove perfect on the drive back home and never gave any other indicators. I had to drive in zones from 25-50 mph and it was perfect as if nothing had happened.

Unlike most others, I have experienced no noises, high rev shifts, clunks or rough shifts...all has been perfect except the malfunction indicator itself and the car being in neutral.

What I do not know is if the move to neutral was part of the problem or if part of the warning is the car shifts to neutral on its own...this would seem unlikely as it could present a real safety issue on the road.

Any ideas or other experience before I take it to the dealer to have them say my trans is shot...which does not sound like the case, but I just have read some horror stories on this one.

You need to have someone with the correct software read the BMW error codes and report your findings back here.

'08 535i - is that going to have a physical link between the shifter and the gearbox or is that an electronic shift car? I can't remember exactly when BMW switched to the 'shift by wire' setup.

If it's the 'shift by wire' type, check to see if you wiring harness at the shifter isn't frayed - not uncommon.

If it's the older type with a mechanical linkage between the shifter and selecter arm at the transmission, make sure your bowden cable doesn't need adjustment at the selector arm on the transmission.

Thanks for both replies
 

Thanks for the replies guys, it is the steptronic electronic shift.

I am hesitant to go to the dealer because if it is not showing the messages right now, and it is likely a major/expensive repair, I will just go trade it in.....if i go have it scanned, it will report to CARFAX and the trade in dealer will see it :(

I should add that I am willing to take it and if I have to spend up to $2000 or so, then so be it....but 7 or 8K? no way am I doing that! I just want someone with experience to tell me the likelihood that this is something other than the transmission being shot...it would seem like there are many other possibilities, but every thread I read on this says that eventually they were told the transmission needed to be replaced. It also seems like that when the dealer says this, many of you out there have found that there are parts that can be replaced for a fraction that fix it vs. replacement.

I know cars fairly well so I completely understand the codes are what will give the answer....but I like to have some perspective from other peoples experience before I go in and start swiping the debit card.

All it will say on a CARFAX report is 'transmission checked'. That's pretty innocuous to someone taking the car in on trade. Don't let that dissuade you from repairing the car. If your that concerned about it though, get an oil change and have the dealer change your wiper blades. Then it will say 'Oil and filter replaced, wiper blades replaced, transmission checked'. If I'm a trade in dealer and I see that, I'm thinking this car was serviced properly and nothing more.

I doubt it's going to cost you anywhere near $2000, unless of course you take it to the dealer. So basically, DON'T take it to a dealer. Find a good BMW independent in your area. If you saw 'transmission fault' on iDrive, that means there is a stored fault code in EGS that anyone can retrieve, even if the fault isn't happening when you bring the car in.

good luck.

Thanks again for the input. I am going to let it sit until bonus check time in late February and then take it in so maybe it will not be so painful after a nice bank account deposit. I really hope I am not facing a major issue...since it seems to drive and shift normally I have my fingers crossed. I have found a local independent mechanic shop here, though not a BMW/German car specific shop, a co-worker highly recommended it and they did work on his BMW...plus their Google andmyelp reviews are near 5 stars.

It most likely is nothing to do with the transmission and more to do with the "shift by wire" controls. It isn't a hard, or really expensive repair.

Hmmm, seeing the new post today, I am wondering about the SMG Pump? I emailed a local shop (non dealer) a few minutes ago. They are not a BMW or German car specialist, but they did work on my friends BMW and he was very pleased and they have a 5 star rating with plenty of reviews on Google and Yelp.....I am eager to get it solved but am scared to know the $$$

Which type of transmission do you have in the car, SMG or automatic? The two are not one in the same.

It's at the Shop - Here is the deal
 

So I took it in today, again drove fine to the shop. They pulled codes and called me to say there were three codes

1) A misfire in cylinder 5
2) A crankshaft sensor error
3) do not recall, but was caused by one of the other two.

First told me that #1 was the source of my issue and the misfire was causing the computer to send bad information to transmission. Said I needed spark plugs and coils replaced. I had not had them done, and I could not confirm if they were ever done so I said do it. He said he was not 100% certain that was the primary cause, but would have to be the starting point.

$900

Called me an hour later, upon going to pull the car in the shop, it did exactly what I experienced with the transmission malfunction (I know! how often does the problem get replicated at the shop!!!, my lucky day...I guess?)

They pulled codes again and this time only the crankshaft sensor code showed up. I have read here and in other forums that this seems to be a common culprit for my symptoms.

Another $300.

The car will not be done until Monday but they seem fairly certain now they have found the culprit and I am getting my plugs and coils changed that I guess were needed also...I never noticed the misfire but he said all three came within a few hundred miles of each other.

The really good news is he said they took it out and drove it before they pulled it in the first time and he said "your transmission is flawless, there is definitely no problem with the internal mechanics there"

So hopefully I am back up and running perfect on Monday and out the door for $1200, $900 of which is really routine maintenance that was just over due.

Hopefully this helps others with a similar transmission issue, the crankcase sensor is a much easier fix than $7K for a new trans!!!

IMHO, $900 is too much for replacing spark plugs and ignition coils. Parts are $200 and takes 2 to 3 hours to replace them.

$1100 that is way too much. You can do both in 2 hrs yourself. Spend $450 on the parts yourself and do it. It is not hard you will just get muscle failure changing the crankshaft sensor.

Picked it up today, runs and drives better than when I bought it 2.5 years ago! Yeah, I know a lot of you would not pay $1100 for diagnosis, plugs, coils and the crankshaft sensor but I quit working on cars when I made enough money to pay someone to do it. I won't even do an oil change anymore...better things to do with my time than tear apart and fix cars. Fact is, it is fixed, my transmission is fine and I am happy with the outcome. Thanks for the input from all