Oh noes, e39 no reverse gear!

Pinter75

Pinter75

Pinter75

Associate
Joined
23 Oct 2004
Posts
2,441
Location
Brighton
Howdy.

So I was out and about earlier in the 540i.

Now when reversing I always wait for the autobox to "spoolup" before accelerating. Today I waited for the slight nudge it gives you before reversing, but it did a little launch backwards. Fine I thought, it has done that before.

Got back to the car, put it in reverse, and nothing! Put it in park, then back to reverse, nada. So I put it in drive and crept forward, then reverse worked. Reverse gear has worked fine since then, but is this impending doom for the steptronic box?

It has done starship milage at 187,00 but I think the gearbox has been replaced somewhere along the line.

I am hoping that it is a silly problem like a software glitch, or low fluid levels. I am going to take it to an independant BMW dealer to see if they can shed any light on it.

Anyone got any ideas?

Its an e39 540i Steptronic.
 
It's likely that the 'box is on it's way out. Fluid levels shouldn't go down as the fluid is a lifetime type. Notice the lack of a trans-fluid dip-stick.
 
Lifetime gearbox fluid is the biggest load of cobblers I have ever heard. (what's a lifetime?)

You could check your car for fault codes.
 
It is going to the dealers tomorrow to see if I can get some fault codes. No TRANS.FAILSAFE on the OBDC, I am hoping that it is a switch or something.

The fact that it failed in revese, but worked in drive, then worked in reverse makes me think the control module didnt get the command that I wanted. This could be a simple glitch in the software, or a fail in the gear selector switch.

The car acted as if it were in neutral.

As for lifetime oils, I think at 187,000 miles I should get it flushed and replaced.

One last DIY thing to try is the total car reset back to factory defaults. This should clear any gremlins from the auto learn feature on the steptronic box.

Heres hoping.
 
Last edited:
Or Unplug the battery, wait for about 10 seconds, then put the + and - together for 30 seconds to remove any residual power in the modules.

I should have got out of the car and checked to see if the reverse lights were on. Than I would know if the car knew I wanted reverse.

I think I will get any codes stored before I reset stuff.
 
I hope it turns out to be something simple. No doubt a new box for your car will be ££££.

Keep us informed dude. Fingers crossed...
 
I know in Omegas this can be caused by low gearbox oil despite Vauxhall claiming it should never need replacing/topping up too.

Fingers crossed for you :).
 
Adz said:
I know in Omegas this can be caused by low gearbox oil despite Vauxhall claiming it should never need replacing/topping up too.

Fingers crossed for you :).
Click to expand...

in the 90's bmw did purhase GM autoboxes afaik? (i think lots of e36's had them)
 
I had an E32 740i gearbox that very occasionally decided to only use 3rd gear, and displayed some message Trans Prog? or something like that, on the dash, but it only seemed to pop up like max 1 every 30k miles, and all you did was park up, turn the engine off, and it would reset. Never even bothered to fix it, the car went on at least another 100k before it got sold.
 
Howdy,

I just got back from the Dealer, and they say that if you switch between gears too quickly, the car will switch to neutral as a safety precaution.

I on the other hand feel like a bit of a tit. I think I actually put the car in neutral. So the cars computer is not at fault it is mine! It did't register that I could have been in neutral.

Heres how the gears are layed out (I think)

P
N
R
D

N and R are next to each other, so I think thats what I did!

DOH!
 
Pinter75 said:
Howdy,

I just got back from the Dealer, and they say that if you switch between gears too quickly, the car will switch to neutral as a safety precaution.

I on the other hand feel like a bit of a tit. I think I actually put the car in neutral. So the cars computer is not at fault it is mine! It did't register that I could have been in neutral.

Heres how the gears are layed out (I think)

P
N
R
D

N and R are next to each other, so I think thats what I did!

DOH!
Click to expand...

:D Relief
 
Ta. I am 31 but the 5 makes me listen to Radio 4 a lot.

Coming back from the BMW dealer, I popped into the SMART dealers. I think I want one of those Roadsters...

Anyone want a 540i with a perfect gearbox cheap? :-)
 
Pinter75 said:
Ta. I am 31 but the 5 makes me listen to Radio 4 a lot.

Coming back from the BMW dealer, I popped into the SMART dealers. I think I want one of those Roadsters...

Anyone want a 540i with a perfect gearbox cheap? :-)
Click to expand...

i'll give what you paid, £2k cash :p
 
Pinter75 said:
Howdy,

I just got back from the Dealer, and they say that if you switch between gears too quickly, the car will switch to neutral as a safety precaution.

I on the other hand feel like a bit of a tit. I think I actually put the car in neutral. So the cars computer is not at fault it is mine! It did't register that I could have been in neutral.

Heres how the gears are layed out (I think)

P
N
R
D

N and R are next to each other, so I think thats what I did!

DOH!
Click to expand...
isnt it PRND?
 
TBH I don't know the orders of the gears by memory. But I think you are right with PRND

I paid:

£2,500 for the car
£700 for new alloys and tyres.
£300 for the Sport bumper.
£350 for the updated headlights.
£100 for the Bluetooth car kit.

It also comes with a big sub and amp in the boot.

Anyone want it?
 
I updated all the lights on mine etc and it doesnt add zip to the value when reselling according to our bmw garages :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom