E39 Auto hold Gears in Normal Drive Mode

Hi All,

I am new so take it easy with me,

I have a 1996 E39 528 and when i drive and excelerate hard the car will hold that gear until either i redline it or go steptronic and change maually.

I dont think it is the box but hope that someone can shed some light.

[d3ity]

Well...bmw's have a switch below the throttle called a kickdown, when you have the car floored, the BMW's ECU tells the car that you are floored and want all the power it can give, so therefore, it shifts at the redline.

If you dont want that shift, then dont accelerate so hard!

Thanks,

I know all about kickdown, apologies for not explaining correctly, the issue is that i excelerate and then back off or i only have half throttle exceleration and the car holds that gear, it should like it does most of the time change at around 3- 4 grand rpm, but for some reason it does'nt.

I have asked about the box fluid and BMW told me that it is good for life.

Gash

[deported]

Sounds like your software is confused into thinking it's in steptronic mode. Did you try disconnecting the battery yet?

[96e39]

To Deported ,

Thanks for the advice , for some reason i can not get back onto the site so had to reregister.

The reboot seemed to make it alot better, i am driving to essex from Bham on tuesday so we will see if it made a difference, sorry for the delay i have been on holiday.

Thanks again

[CosmosBlack]

I've had some problems with the auto downshift before. Just before I come to a stop, when slowing down, the gear downshifts abruptly and you can feel a jerk. It's like a delayed downshift. It happens only once in a while, and when it does, it goes on for the entire drive until I switch off the engine. On the next startup, the problem would be gone until it decides to come back again some other time.

At first I thought it was the first signs of a transmission problem...big $$$.
Then I thought...if it doesn't happen all the time, and especially after restarting the engine the problem's gone, it may be something to do with a software glitch.

I checked with BMW on software updates and service bulletins...nothing for my year and model. Then I got some advice from some people about taking time to let the computer system loadup when starting up the engine, and letting it shutdown when cutting off the engine...just like you would your PC.

When you insert the key into the ignition switch...wait and listen to the sound of the system loading...maybe 10 secs...then turn the key to start.
When you turn the key to cut off the engine...wait and listen to the sound of the system shutting down...then remove the key.

I don't know how far this is true, but it makes sense.
Most of all...miraculously, I have not had the problem eversince!
Now, no matter how much in a hurry I am, I would go thru' the start and shutdown ritual. It could be a pain sometimes though...