Transmission Problem
02-07-2011, 08:53 PM
#31
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My Ride: 2004 545i Platinum Silver Metallic Gray Dakota Leather, Premium Pack, Premium Sound, Logic 7, Sport Pack, Navi, PDC, Sunshades, Cold Weather and HUD. 56k miles Feb. 2011
That's why I said don't ever have the dealer service your car unless it is still under warranty. Dealer charges $200.00 just to change the parking light, it is not hard to imagine how much profit margin they make on other service they perform.
02-07-2011, 09:01 PM
#32
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The thing about those mounts might be true. But I don't really believe it. You just can't "wear out" a ZF transmission under 150 000 miles if you're not on a race track every other day. Worn out mounts symptoms are typically vibrations and noise, NOT jerky or missed shifts.
Note that you should service your tranny every 65K miles.
1. Try to change the oil pan with new filter and gasket, have your transmission flushed completely including the torque converter and refilled with a new ZF LifeGuard 6 oil. About 9 liters but you need 7-8 more first to make a complete flush. About $600 total.
I just filled mine the standard way (no flush from the torque converter - about 6 liters only) and my tranny is now much smoother. No jerky 1/2nd gear finally.
2. If that won't help, find a ZF service in your area and give them a call. I would not let any "transmission specialists" touch it except for an authorized ZF service. Transmissions are very complicated.
In any case, mounts replacement should not be expensive at all. $400 with labor in a non-stealer service (can be done within 1 hour).
Note that you should service your tranny every 65K miles.
1. Try to change the oil pan with new filter and gasket, have your transmission flushed completely including the torque converter and refilled with a new ZF LifeGuard 6 oil. About 9 liters but you need 7-8 more first to make a complete flush. About $600 total.
I just filled mine the standard way (no flush from the torque converter - about 6 liters only) and my tranny is now much smoother. No jerky 1/2nd gear finally.
2. If that won't help, find a ZF service in your area and give them a call. I would not let any "transmission specialists" touch it except for an authorized ZF service. Transmissions are very complicated.
In any case, mounts replacement should not be expensive at all. $400 with labor in a non-stealer service (can be done within 1 hour).
02-07-2011, 09:03 PM
#33
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I just don't feel comfortable going to the BMW dealership in my area (Irvine BMW) because everytime I go there, they treat me like shit seeing that I'm only 21 and they try to charge me outrageous prices for everything. Im going to wait and see what they say about my transmission and then I'll talk to them about it. Until then... I'm carless. Even the service manager at the shop told me that its not normal to see a e60 with less than 100k miles having these problems.
Does anyone in the southern california area know of a independent shop that specializes in bmw/dealer that does a great job with services and gives good customer service?
Does anyone in the southern california area know of a independent shop that specializes in bmw/dealer that does a great job with services and gives good customer service?
Pretty sure about one thing mate: You need to dress the part to get shit done in life sometimes. Dress up, look very presentable, clean-cut, and go in there or another BMW dealership and see the difference. I don't know what you look like, but you have to remember we're in a very, very superficial world. People will treat you on how you appear to them first and foremost.
02-14-2011, 08:27 AM
#34
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My Ride: 2004 545i Platinum Silver Metallic Gray Dakota Leather, Premium Pack, Premium Sound, Logic 7, Sport Pack, Navi, PDC, Sunshades, Cold Weather and HUD. 56k miles Feb. 2011
My jerky transmission problem came back after just one week of repair which costed me more than $1,300.00. 
I noticed jerky transmission after lunch on Friday and saw the wed spot with clear liquid underneath the car in the parking lot at end of the day. Called the dealer and took the car in. Dealer will look at the car at no charge and gave me a loaner. To my surprise the SA called me Saturday evening and told me that the technician didn't find the transmission leaking. They will look further on Monday.
I noticed jerky transmission after lunch on Friday and saw the wed spot with clear liquid underneath the car in the parking lot at end of the day. Called the dealer and took the car in. Dealer will look at the car at no charge and gave me a loaner. To my surprise the SA called me Saturday evening and told me that the technician didn't find the transmission leaking. They will look further on Monday.
02-15-2011, 07:16 AM
#35
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My Ride: 2004 545i Platinum Silver Metallic Gray Dakota Leather, Premium Pack, Premium Sound, Logic 7, Sport Pack, Navi, PDC, Sunshades, Cold Weather and HUD. 56k miles Feb. 2011
Got the car back. Dealer didn't find any leaking in the transmission. The wed spot on the ground was caused by the leaking radiator and which will cause about $950.00 to get it replaced at the dealer. Will that be too much ? 
Since the transmission is not leaking, I don't have to worry about burning it up. However, I have to deal with the hard shift at low speed (less than 40-45mph ). It feels like driving a manual shift car. The SA told me to fix the problem I may have to replace the transmission valve ($2,500) or get a new transmission ($$$). 
Since the transmission is not leaking, I don't have to worry about burning it up. However, I have to deal with the hard shift at low speed (less than 40-45mph ). It feels like driving a manual shift car. The SA told me to fix the problem I may have to replace the transmission valve ($2,500) or get a new transmission ($$$).
03-06-2011, 07:48 AM
#37
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I have the same issue with my 2007 550i less then 30K miles.
At first, I took it to Crevier BMW in Santa Ana to fix the latest recall.
They kept to the for 2 days.
They said nothing was wrong and the jerk was normal.
Then I took the car to Irvine BMW.
They kept the car for a day and gave me Mazda6 as a loaner.
They came back and said nothing was wrong again.
I had even shown them the TSB (SI-B24-03-09).
They didn't even care to see it.
Then I took it to Sterling BMW in New Port Beach.
I had show them the TBS and requested for the software update.
They kept the car for 2 days and gave me a rental car as a loaner.
Then they called me and told me to drop off the rental to replace with a 328 loaner.
They said after the software had updated, the issue was not fixed.
So after talking to BMW (may be BMW NA), they decided to replace the transmission.
They did not mention about the Mechatronics unit, Sealing sleeve nor the oil level.
I don't have the details on how this decision was make. I will check on Monday.
The new/rebuilt transmission will be here on Monday...
At first, I took it to Crevier BMW in Santa Ana to fix the latest recall.
They kept to the for 2 days.
They said nothing was wrong and the jerk was normal.
Then I took the car to Irvine BMW.
They kept the car for a day and gave me Mazda6 as a loaner.
They came back and said nothing was wrong again.
I had even shown them the TSB (SI-B24-03-09).
They didn't even care to see it.
Then I took it to Sterling BMW in New Port Beach.
I had show them the TBS and requested for the software update.
They kept the car for 2 days and gave me a rental car as a loaner.
Then they called me and told me to drop off the rental to replace with a 328 loaner.
They said after the software had updated, the issue was not fixed.
So after talking to BMW (may be BMW NA), they decided to replace the transmission.
They did not mention about the Mechatronics unit, Sealing sleeve nor the oil level.
I don't have the details on how this decision was make. I will check on Monday.
The new/rebuilt transmission will be here on Monday...
03-07-2011, 10:56 AM
#38
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My Ride: 528i
Model Year: 2011
I had the same harsh 2-1 downshift when my car had about 60,000 miles on it. This was about three years ago. Since I had purchased the extended warranty I took it to the dealer expecting to get the software fix. After a day they called and told me that BMW NA had approved replacing the entire tranny with a BMW remenufactured unit. I think I paid the $50 deductable but my SA said the cost without the warranty would have been $9000. Warranty on the rebuilt unit was two years with unlimited mileage. I've never had the problem again and now have over 100,000 miles on the car.
This is a known problem with the auto transmission cars and I can't believe that it is effecting newer E60s. I took delivery of mine in May 2004 when the E60 was relatively new in production. BMW knew they had a problem within a few years as folks put miles on the cars. It should have been fixed on later production cars.
My advice is to get in touch with the dealer and/or BMW NA and ask why this defect in design has not been addressed. Good luck.
This is a known problem with the auto transmission cars and I can't believe that it is effecting newer E60s. I took delivery of mine in May 2004 when the E60 was relatively new in production. BMW knew they had a problem within a few years as folks put miles on the cars. It should have been fixed on later production cars.
My advice is to get in touch with the dealer and/or BMW NA and ask why this defect in design has not been addressed. Good luck.
03-07-2011, 06:21 PM
#39
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Honestly from some experience I've had with these ZF trans I would say you have low fluid OR incorrect fluid to cause this....could be a number of other things like a fuse, mechatronics, or the MAFS...all have been a culprit in this specific error.
03-07-2011, 06:30 PM
#40
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The SA has memtioned that they sent the transmission fluid to BMW for testing. Then BMW came backe with approval of replacing the transmission.