Help, Transmission Problems, Help, Help Dealer Is Trying To Take My Mone

[pvalenti99]

Maybe someone can help me here I have a 1997 bmw 528i with about 148 thousand miles, on three occasions within the past 7 months while driving my car on the drive position. The transmission would automatically change gears from d to s1 and sometimes s2. and when the car is on park, it would show that it’s on s2. I would have this problems for a couple days, and on day 3 the car would go back to normal. And 3 months later I would have the same problems, this usually happens when it snows or rain. So the other when my car was doing that problem, I went to have it put on the computer to find out whats wrong. They told me I would need a turok converter (I am not sure if spelling Is correct) but for some reason I don’t really thing that’s the problem, because it’s strange like I said it happens like every 3 or 4 months. My brother told me I should just change the transmission oil and see what happen, witch to me make a lot more sense what do you guys think?

[Teh Prof]

If the tranny oil has never been changed, it could very well be dead soon. Those GM transmissions have a rather bad record after 100K miles. Torque converters do also sometimes go bad--mine went bad on my E36 M3.

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

could be the computer...... sounds like a bad connection.... or like when it rains or snows.... water gets into it or something... check the computer see is it is wet or has water / looks like it had water in it....

[pvalenti99]

how do i check the computer

[winters97E39]

It could be a wheel speed sensor issue. Is your check engine light on, ABS light? I had the same issue, where it was doing this, and the ABS speed sensor was screwed up. those should only cost you about $100 and you can replace them yourself. Just pull a wheel off, and you should see it right there. Have them check for any codes and if there is a speed sensor code, have it replaced. There is one on each wheel. I replaced both my front ones at about 140,000 miles. Since then (I have 162K on it now) i have had zero problems. The issues you described sound alot like what was happening to me. The issue of the display saying you are in S3 when you are in park, or it showing reverse, etc. All of these went away when I put in the new wheel speed sensor. If you havent had one of these replaced yet, its a good starting point of troubleshooting and the least cost. Always, always, always try the easy and cheap stuff first.

Changing the tranny oil is probably a good idea, but make sure you have it done at a shop that knows what they are doing and use the correct transmission fluid. Have the filter replaced as well. I did mine at about 150,000 miles. Although they say its a "lifetime" fluid, I don't really subscribe to that line of thinking.