E32's

[MattTheHat325]

That worked! Cheers mate, looks like an informative site! Still no luck with any chairs though. Does anyone know if black or grey leather can be dyed cream?

I think my brake pressure accumulator bomb duberry wotsit has gone for a burton too. I love cars......

[e301988325i]

I've got a very nice 750 'sport' in granite with black sports leather. Its a decent car and I'll serve it with a fresh ticket for £1250

Pics? Would quite like a V12!

[MattTheHat325]

Thought i'd revive my thread instead of starting a new one. Haven't had as much time to work on this as i'd hoped so as it stands its ready for its test. The only major issue i'm having is with the transmission (shock horror).

Symptoms:
When i press the auto mode switch, the button in the middle of it that says 'e', the 'm' on the dash disappears, but as soon as i let the switch go it comes back, i.e it is stuck in manual and won't switch to economy mode.
This means that i can drive it in manual up to 3rd but i can't get to 4th, or if i select drive, its in 3rd all the time so doesn't want to pull away.

I've found countless posts on forums from around the world highlighting this exact problem and almost every instance it was cured by cleaning the switch out. Apparently 7er pilots drink a lot of coffee? So guess what? i cleaned my switch twice and still no joy.
So i've established that when the battery is making low voltage i.e dying all the time then being jumped every time i needed to move it to work on it etc, the gearbox is the first thing to throw its toys out of the pram. As far as i know i'm looking at dropping the pan off and removing/rebuilding the apparent culprits which are the solenoids in there?

Now this is my first ever auto, i know nothing about them as i've never had to, so would anyone be able to shed any light in my direction? Anyone done this before or have any tips on how i rebuild these solenoids? where i get new seal kits etc from?

Any help would be appreciated as i'm fumbling around in the dark here

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

It does not sound like major gearbox surgery required to me.

Like all vaguely modern BMWs, the E32s are very senstive to battery voltage. A dead or dying battery will throw up all sorts of phantom errors and symptoms. Get a new battery first, and note that a fully charged dead battery is still a dead battery.

The not engaging 4th symptoms does sound like the switch, does the S.E.M. LED display on the dash show "M" all the time? If you leave the switch unplugged, the car should default back to Economy when started, or failing that, the electric sunroof switch is exactly the same as the gearbox selector switch.

Martin.

[MattTheHat325]

Thanks for the reply mate, sounds like you know these barges! I have tried to start the car with the switch totally disconnected and it still came up with 'm' straight away. I'm almost certain there's nothing wrong with the switch. The battery that is on it has died and been jumped so many times, I'm convinced it must be at fault. The longest it has sat for and started first time is 45 minutes, which was after about 20 minutes running, including a 10 minute drive.
I would be ecstatic if it solves it as I'm not fancying pulling the box open.

On another note, would you have any useful tips on living with an auto? I'm sure I heard you're not meant to leave them ticking over in a certain gear mode?

[tomson]

If you just want a new gearbox I have an excellent one down the road

[jonb]

Hey look whos back.

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

The battery that is on it has died and been jumped so many times, I'm convinced it must be at fault. The longest it has sat for and started first time is 45 minutes, which was after about 20 minutes running, including a 10 minute drive.

Definately new battery first, I am pretty confident that is your problem. If that does not fix it, spend two minutes swapping in the sunroof switch and see if that lets you change the gearbox S.E.M mode.

M mode is doing exactly what it should, letting you manually select 1st, 2nd or 3rd and making 4th unavailable. It is to allow you engine braking control on downhill sections.

Definately electrical, or switch.

As for tips on driving an auto, you don't need to do anything special or unusual unless you are driving on ice and snow. Then use M mode and start off in 3rd to help traction and reduce transmission creep problems when you are stopping.

Martin.

[MattTheHat325]

Wow I dragged tomson out the woodwork go me!
Changing the box will be a last resort mate but I'll bear u in mind!

I think I'll try for a new battery and see where I go from there. Don't you have to trim some of the prongs off the sunroof switch to fit it as it's a different shape I think?

[tomson]

Always lurking in the background from time to time guys

[rob0r]

I had two great E32 735i last year and stupidly sold them both. Last weekend I swapped my E30 335i touring back for 735i manual I sold last year . Best thing is that the E32 comes with a Hartge H5 3.5 engine (needs refitting along with complete drivetrain) and 17" Hartge rims which are both new additions since I sold it. My swapped E30 335i is in the background

[nickso]

Nice Hartges on the 7

Your 335 touring wasn't H940H** was it?

[rob0r]

G891 LGT , there's a recentish build thread in the M30 engine section.

[nickso]

G891 LGT , there's a recentish build thread in the M30 engine section.

Ah, looked like my old one from a distance.

[MattTheHat325]

Very nice hartges, don't think I've seen them on an e32 before? They look wide!

[MattTheHat325]

Ok guys brand new battery aswell as trying another switch from an e34 and still the same. can't get it in 'e' at all

On the upside it did pass it's mot today so as soon as i get to the bottom of this pain in the ass she'll be fulfilling her winter smoker duties just in time for the cold snap

[MattTheHat325]

Anyone got any clues before I start butchering the box?

[rob0r]

I'm not sure on the problem, but I am sure on how rubbish E32s are in the snow! Couldn't get mine up the hill my house is on. Anything but snow and they are a great place to be.

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

Anyone got any clues before I start butchering the box?

I'd get diagnostics on it, to see if the gearbox ECU is throwing errors. I have Carsoft if you are anywhere near Wiltshire.

Only other things I can think of to check are g/box oil level, and any dodgy/corroded connections into the g/box ECU. I *think* the g/box ECU is in the plastic eBox under the bonnet, you may have three in there (Motronic engine ECU, g/box ECU, and EML electronic throttle ECU).

Edit to say I have now seen your location - I am in Sherston (SN16) so probably not that far from you.

Martin.

[MattTheHat325]

Thanks mate, I have Thursday and Friday off this week so I'll do a bit more digging regarding the ecu, connections etc. Sherston doesn't ring a bell but that's a Swindon-ish postcode right? I'm in the forest of Dean so not a million miles! I've yet to tax and insure the tank, but if I haven't got any closer when that happens I may well take you up on the offer to have a poke around it!
Shame I can't fit it in the cab of my lorry as I'm often up that way tipping at Thamesdown recycling at kingshill

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

If you are ever over my way, feel free to pop in and you can borrow the laptop and leads and do the diag back at your place.

I'll PM you a phone number.

Martin.

[MattTheHat325]

Pm recieved. That would be more convenient as I wouldn't fancy driving to Swindon in 3rd! That's a very kind offer my man, if I can't sort it out soon I may well be in touch. Thank you very much mate

[MattTheHat325]

Well. little update, my E32 is now the proud owner of 12 months test and 6 months rent. Thats where the joy ends if i'm honest. Still no further into fixing the gear shifting issue (although i have yet to take Martin up on his kind offer of the carsoft treatment!) and now she seems to have a habit of getting rather hot toward the end of my 25 mile commute to work. The idea was to not spend much money on her which i can envisage soon spiralling out of control, so i'm unfortunately thinking about moving on
Such a shame as it really is a nice way to get down the road, but the never ending e30 project, my stancecockspec e36 and a poorly cossie are proving to be enough to tackle at present!

I hate admitting defeat but this usually leaves me thousands out of pocket and stuck with a car which i've become so attached to i hoard it somewhere I guess it would be easy fixes all round for somebody who had the time and means to do the work but alas, thats not me right now

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

Great news on the MOT.

I know these old barges can be a pain, but look it another way, selling a car like this with issues only leads to laughable sale prices.

Overheating is possibly air in the cooling system (check coolant level, crack open the 8mm bleed bolt on the thermostat housing with the engine running and up to temp to expel any air) or more likely a failed cooling fan clutch (see if you can stop the fan with a rolled up newspaper when the engine is hot, you should not be able to if the fan clutch is good).

Martin.

[Andyboy]

The overheating will probably be a shagged viscous.

[MattTheHat325]

I discovered a water leak! So that's one worry out of the way! Viscous coupling is brand new so all good there. I was never planning to keep this for long but I will try and fix all of it's little niggles before it goes, heaters are schizophrenic, steering has some tight spots and the brakes are nothing short of terrifying. I'm loving the way it floats along though, unbelievably refined for something only 2 years younger than me!

[MJJ_ZX6RR]

A nice, loved, well maintained E32 is a thing of joy.

A poor one that has been through 17 tight walleted previous owners is a surefire route to poverty, or at least frustration.

Martin.

ps: If the heater on one side of the car stays permanently hot or cold, it is almost certainly the underbonnet heater valve. Google is your friend.
pps: Brakes on all my E32s are easily, and repeatedly capable of standing the car on its front number plate. New pads and a fluid bleed may help.