1999 BMW 530d Touring Transmission problem

Hello,

I have a 99 530d with a 5 speed automatic steptronic transmission. All the sudden I am getting a fail safe program message for the transmission. I have had it into BMW and they told me get a new transmission. After I had the code reset everything worked fine for a few days. I then had them reprogram the transmission and things were ok for a bit longer. Once I get up to around 3000 rpms the code trips. If I drive in manual mode and keep the rpms below 3000 I have no problem. Does anyone know if there is a module that controls the transmission and where is it? I am in Albania and the service here is very bad. I will most likely have to take the car to Germany for repair. I just don't want to get there and have to spend a fortune on guess work. I kinda wanna get an idea of what I am dealing with. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Sean Mays

Hi Sean. I also have a 530D (2000 model wagon) & have had massive transmission problems. I bought it used & shortly afterwards noticed no braking whilst descending hills. The dealer swapped the box with one he took from another similar car. Problem fixed. Not exactly. A few months later I had the same symptoms. BMW wanted to change the box (€5,000) but I declined & later had it re-built by a auto transmission specialist (€2000). All then worked perfectly for just over a year (coincidentally until the warranty had just expired!).

I put this situation up on several forums & had very few replies----none were actually helpful. A few did at least try though.

My view on this having now had the original box, a used box & my used box overhauled, is that few if anyone really know what to do with an automatic gear box problem. My "specialist" fixed the box & it worked fine as mentioned above BUT neither he nor the dealer fixed the CAUSE of the problem. Had I splashed out €5,000 with BMW I'd have had the 2 year warrantee which may have helped me limp along for a couple of years, but that's all. I can only suggest you check as much as you possibly can before spending out any cash at all. If the problem is caused by some electronic failure or the connection of some sensor etc. rather than the box itself, then based on my experience, you've got a long & expensive road ahead not to speak of the frustration.

The only thing I can suggest is that you at least have the transmission fluid checked (properly i.e. when it warm & running). If the colour is suspect (it should be a clear red colour) and/or the level is low, then have it flushed (using the original filter after cleaning it as much as possible) before filling to the correct level after fitting a new filter, gasket & bolts (a kit is available). I did mine recently & the fluid was black....black & filthy!! Doing that won't fix a problem (unless you're fluid is shot or low level) but it's a whole lot cheaper than trying out different specialists who'll "try" & fix your problem as long as you're paying the bills!! Good luck.