Bad things are happening to my '94 BMW 540.
This time the auto transmission is acting like it doesn't wanna go when I put it into drive. If I push on the gas hard enough, it'll inch forward until it catches and drives full bore ahead. Not such a bad thing while pulling out of the garage, but really unfortunate in traffic.
The local tranny shop says I might have a welded reverse clutch, and they're recommending rebuild or a re-man. Either way sounds like it's gonna cost from at least 3 grand to maybe $5000. More if I go with a new tranny from the dealer.
Ok, so who's got kind words for me? Got a dependable ZF 5 speed laying in the back yard that you can let go for a good guy?
Thanks for any help.

Wil & BABY MER

Bad things are happening to my '94 BMW 540.
This time the auto transmission is acting like it doesn't wanna go when I put it into drive. If I push on the gas hard enough, it'll inch forward until it catches and drives full bore ahead. Not such a bad thing while pulling out of the garage, but really unfortunate in traffic.
The local tranny shop says I might have a welded reverse clutch, and they're recommending rebuild or a re-man. Either way sounds like it's gonna cost from at least 3 grand to maybe $5000. More if I go with a new tranny from the dealer.
Wil & BABY MER

Hi Wil.
The good news is that you can probably drive it the way it is for a very long time without it getting a lot worse providing you do not push it. My boss drove a Mercedes for more than a year with similar problems and I drove my 94 530 with a similar problem for more than a year before putting it in the shop where it is now.
Additional info: I do not know where you live so prices frequently reflect where you live. I live in the Los Angeles area and my mechanic is charging me about $2k to completely rebuild my tranny and that is what he charged my boss for doing her Mercedes. Another independent BMW mechanic said that he likes to replace the tranny with a BMW certified rebuilt unit that runs $3k plus his labor. Obvioulsy, I chose the easy, less expensive way out and besides I can visit my tranny on the operating table and see the burned clutches while ungoing surgery. I assume that I live in a more expensive area than you so check around before you commit to an expensive mechanic or tranny "specialists". Try to find a mechanic that has done a lot of BMW trannys and even ask for several references. Make sure the mechanic checks your rear main on the engine for leakage because this is the time to replace the rear main if it is leaking.

By the way, this is kind of a common problem for BMW auto transmissions, actually all transmissions. The BMW owner's manual states that they are sealed and do not require maintenance. Bull!!! In a previous posting on this forum I made contact with another BMW owner that had his tranny go out after 70k miles and he took the local dealer and BMW USA to court and won the replacement of his transmission. The side of a can of transmission fluid say replace fluid after various periods depending on stress, adverse weather conditions (especially heat and dust), pulling or carrying heavy loads, and "racing". Recommended servicing can be between 60 and 100K miles. My mechanic says servicing my tranny is about $300 because of the very expensive synthetic fluid that is used but $300 is less than $2k the last time I check my wallet. By the way, I just bought a 97 540 with 92k miles on it and the first thing I'm going to do is have the transmission serviced even though there are no transmissions symptions because I want to spend $300... to save $1700.

Good luck.

You definitely need to call Kirt Koeler at Auto Sports Unlimited!! Don't wait! He's an authorized ZF distributor and is extremely knowledgeable. (http://www.autosportsunlimited.com) I had the same problem w/ my 540... The check balls in the valve body wear down and become lodged in the valve body.... He sells valve body rebuild kits for $100 or you can send him your valve body to have him do it... I think for $250.
You also need to get the proper Shell fluid... TransStar (sp??) sells it. I think I paid about $20/ liter. You'll need 10 liters.

Good Luck!!

Bryan

94 BMW 540
97 BMW 740iL
99 Land Rover Disco2
90 Olds 88