Auto gearbox problem .Urgent help requid please - BMW Forum

ratty · 09-16-2008, 10:41 AM

Hi All , Im new to this.
Im called ratty. And own a bmw 523i auto petrol 1996.
My problem is ive had a 3rd autogearbox installed recently.
Each gearbox goes exacly the same way. They start to kick, then slowly engage in to gear and then the transmission fail safe program kicks in. Turn engine off for a few minuits then its fine again. But as the week have gone on it gets worse. The last gearbox went the same way and burnt out on a long journey. Now i dont want this one to do the same thing so ive parked it up for a bit a few weeks ago. Ive connected the diagnostic scanner up and got 3 codes
P0457, P0524, U0121. Im not really sure what they mean.
I have in the last couple of days checked the oil level . Ok.
Ive then started it up again to try the car and the only gear i have is reverse.
It will not engage in drive at all. Just engine revs and nothing happens.
PLEASE CAN SOME ONE HELP. Its very difficult here in france to try and comunicate with the garages or bmw they just want to replace with brand new every thing.
Thanks to all.

marti5 · 09-16-2008, 11:07 AM

If you can get there they will sort it, and a chap called Carl speaks english, I have been there and my box is like new:

My visit at ZF Dortmund for Gearbox maintenance.(very, very long!) HUGH RESULT!!

This is not me by the way, I went after reading it.

They make the boxes for BMW.

ratty · 09-16-2008, 01:09 PM

Cheers for that , looks fantastic. But i wouldnt be able to get the car there.
But what i carnt understand is how 3 boxes have hall gone in the same way in a matter of weeks of putting each of them in , the previous one only lasted 5 weeks.
Thanks

marti5 · 09-16-2008, 04:11 PM

Were they all 2nd hand by any chance? if they were why do you think you were sold them?? also are you putting the correct box in for the year and model? No good (example) putting 520 box in to a 523 etc., as all the ratios are incorret, so 520 in a 530 you will blow the box.

AlpineSixAndSeven · 09-16-2008, 06:22 PM

Might Be The TCM (Transmission Control Module) basically the brain on the tranny....

marti5 · 09-16-2008, 06:26 PM

Diagnostics would show up an EGS error

chinonca · 09-16-2008, 06:28 PM

+1^^^^^

marti5 · 09-16-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinonca

+1^^^^^

Nah!, plug in Carsoft 6.5 and it would show an error in the EGS, give part no. also error code.

AlpineSixAndSeven · 09-16-2008, 06:51 PM

P0457 Fuel cap Loose/off
P0524 Engine Oil Pressue to low
U0121 Lost communication with ABS Control Module

And sometimes It wont throw a code if The TCM is malfunctioning\]
Codes Arnt 100%

chinonca · 09-16-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marti5

Nah!, plug in Carsoft 6.5 and it would show an error in the EGS, give part no. also error code.

Just bcause there is no fault code does not mean that the ecm is good! Hard to believe that all those transmissions have the same problem!

ratty · 09-17-2008, 03:48 AM

Hi all,
yes the gearboxes were secondhand The first admitedly came from a scrap yard in the uk. And the second a reconditiond from Fabdirect.com With gaurentee.
Both companys were given my vin no. So i could have the correct one delivered to me.
I also pluged in a carsoft from a friend , But that showed egs Unknown.
I also took it to bmw here in france , but they couldnt find a fault with the gearbox at the time. They said it could be the Ecu unit not compatible with the gearbox , so i got another from fabdirect apparently compatible with the gearbox they sent me. But hasnt made any differance. This is now costing me a fortune.

Is there any way of checking to see if the tcm module is not communicating.
Some one else told me it could be the vss. My other problem is that the garages around here dont have a clue about bmw . And there is only a bmw garage 80miles away. Which i carnt get the car there and it would probably cost more than the cars worth to get it fixed.
Thanks to all for all your help. More

required please