1986 735i autotransmission not shifting into low gears

[MeticulousGuy]

Hey,

I'm new to the forum. I just signed up in hopes to get my 86 735i running for the summer again.

I took the 735i off the road before winter and it has been sitting under a tarp through-out the winter.

The problem I am having is that the transmission will only shift into 3rd when I have the auto shifter in D.

When I selece 1st, 2nd, it does not down shift. But the gears are displaying on the dash as 1, 2, 3, D, N, R when I select them with the auto shifter.

I have checked the wiring, it is ok.

I have manually hooked up the VIO (Violet) wire to + and tested the sylenoids, they all click. Seems like they're working.

I have changed out the T.C.U. (Transmission Control Unit) and it has not changed anything.

I have also changed the shifter switch and shift mode switch.

I am strugging with this and hoping it is nothing severe such as the Transmission needing a rebuild. But if it comes down to it, I may replace it if the Transmission is the problem.

If anyone has any info about this problem, I would greatly appreciate it very much as I have worked for several days scratching my head and have not found the problem.

PM, or E Mail please!

Thank you!

[beamers4life]

i would check fluid and filter if not already done i have an 87 735i that did the same thing when i first started it up and drove off in the morning and the tranny would very roughly shift the first couple of times until it got semi warmed up might be a stopped up filter

[MeticulousGuy]

Hey. Thanks for the reply but I think your problem was hard shifting.

My problem is no shifting from high gear. It does not down shift when first driving. The car stays in 3rd.

[trblcumn]

After about 30 mi. small drip of oil and park slow to engage then it got noisy, did I burn it up?

[witeshark]

Originally Posted by trblcumn

After about 30 mi. small drip of oil and park slow to engage then it got noisy, did I burn it up?

It clearly will need service

[trblcumn]

is there a vacum modulator on these

[taze]

Meticulous Guy - I have the same problem. What did you have to do to fix this?

[trblcumn]

I rebuilt the valve body flushed the trans twice,for the engine i used soapy still no improvement talked to some trans. rebuilders and said all seals are gooey so i found a `95 tranny on ebay put it in and it shows trans fault I missed matching my model by 4 months so do your research fist! some of this german engineering is clearly thought up in the bathroom, I wanted a stick shift anyway