auto issues

Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:43 pm

hi guys coming home today, i dicovered an irritating problem with my auto box.
When accelerating ,as if to join the motorway it will kick down as normal,revs will rise and it picks up speed nicley, however heres the problem usually once i have reaced the required speed i will back off to allow the car to change into a more suitable gear and let the revs drop to around 2000rpm, this time it just holds the revs and wont change no matter how long i take my foot off the pedal.
Anyone experience this and/or know why it is doing this?
many thanks guys
'96 528i

Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:01 pm

Try checking and cleaning the throttle adjustment cable

Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:14 pm

might sound a little silly, but if its a switchable auto it aint in S is it

Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:25 am

That happened to me once, I wondered what the hell was happening. Turned out i'd put the gear selecter into "3rd" instead of "Drive"...d'oh!

Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:45 pm

no its definatly in D

as i had to shift it in to S to get it to change down
i will give the throttle cable adjustment a clean and see what happens along with a box oil and filter change

Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:50 pm

i thought the box is sealed for life but i can't remeber if that is 98 onwards. Poss a fluid and filter change could do it good. Plus if you are that worried a diagnostic check could be done to check all the modules.
Give A-tech a bell(01959534718) as he has had a few E39 doing this and unfortunatley both needed gearbox rebuild/ replacement but both were 535i and later cars.
he is only 20mins down the road in oprpington. i
f you can wait till mon i will come down ther with as i am only in south croydon and see if he could plug it in for you
Kind regards
Ben ( A-Tech workshop Biatch "apprentice")

Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:56 pm

they are supposed to be sealed for life but they have got the drain and filler plug on them as well(shows how sealed for life they were)!!!
if i wasnt working on monday i would love to take your offer up as i know A-Tech is good and i need a good specialist.
if the gearbox was kaputen then it would mean bye bye car as it would cost pretty much what the car is worth to fix.

Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:59 pm

its ounds like a module to me but i am an amatuer at e39 at the mo give a buzz this afternoon mate
see if he can come up with a vaild suggestion could be something really simple you never know ????

i think he is open sat mornings too

Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:41 am

sorry fowler i did not see your message until now, my pc was playing silly buggers