325i auto touring problem, almost SHAT myself!! Help???

Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:38 pm

Hi guys. I'm always a safe driver and stick to the limits at all times etc, but today was a lovely day, and I couldnt resist a nice fast drive along the Cumbrian roads.....so...... When out for a blast in the 325i touring today, with some fresh fuel in the tank and with the intention of an enthusiastic driving session, I opened it up and up..... and it was flying, then.......oh shit.... Sounded like it went into neutral or 1st gear or something, lost the drive etc, I shat my pants!!!!! It was ok once I'd braked, then floored it again.... Got to a good ol' speed then done it again......is there something wrong with the auto box here?? Could anyone shead some light on this problem?? It's been fine so far, but when giving it the beans its real scary..... Thanks.....

Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:14 am

First check the oil level in the box as low oil can cause werid poblems.
but it sounds like the torque converter is on its way out. How does it behave in heavy traffic ?

Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:07 am

lucky i had just written this!

check the auto box fluid. to do this you start the car, run it up to normal temp by driving. stop on level ground, keep engine running. handbreak on select each position on the autobox from R through to 1, pausing for a few seconds in each position. then retrun to P. open the bonnet and locate the dip stick (just below the windscreen next to the throttle body) remove and the fluid level should be between the marks. also rub some fluid between you fingers, it should not be gritty, smell it - it should not smell burnt, it should also not be foamy.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:25 am

No Problems in heavy traffic mind, no other problems to report. The fluid is as clean as a new bottle should be, no problems with the fluid, it's at normal, no smell or grit!!! ....it only seemed to do it when it's floored and feels like its jumped into 1st gear or something? What now???

Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:11 am

You haven't just discovered what "kick down" is, have you?

Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:51 am

I was going to say the same thing as Brian from reading the first post...

Are you sure its not the kick down button under the accelerator your hitting? It drops the gears back down so you can get more revs, although I dont think it takes it to first when at a very good speed, more like 3rd?

Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:53 am

To replicate it to see if its the same problem, drive at around 30 then push your foot right down on the accelerator to the floor, then some more and it should click and the kick down will activate and you'll fly away at warp speed...

Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:19 am

Ok guys, I'm not daft!! I know what the kick down is!! It's not that, it's when your flooring it to high heaven, got to about a ton then it happens.... Like its in neutral.....any thoughts??

Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:51 pm

Dont go over 100 and you'll be reet

Have you checked the oil level in your gearbox? With the same guide as what mrLEE30 said?

Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:16 pm

Could the kick down switch get stuck in any way?? my foot was nailed to the floor like! I can't totally rule it out as it's my first auto e30.....do you reckon??or could it be that I've hit the kick down again when flying? Surely it wouldnt kick down to third from fifth at a ton?? The gear oil is fine, topped up and like new... Seriously!

Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:32 pm

Exactly like the kick down pedal...

Planting your foot at any speed with drop the gearing, if your hitting the limiter in the highest gear and hit the kick down it would still geardown...

Its worth going for a drive and getting to a good high speed by gradually building up your speed, then when your going at a good speed, drop the pedal to the floor and see if it does the same thing to what your referring to. But not at 100...

Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:07 pm

Jim320i wrote:Exactly like the kick down pedal... Planting your foot at any speed with drop the gearing, if your hitting the limiter in the highest gear and hit the kick down it would still geardown...

Its worth going for a drive and getting to a good high speed by gradually building up your speed, then when your going at a good speed, drop the pedal to the floor and see if it does the same thing to what your referring to. But not at 100...

do what jim said and then try it in sport mode
i have never known mine to go into 4 gear in sport mode never driven it fast enough
feel sure have had it to wards a ton in 3rd though

Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:21 am

E uses all gears and shifts at a reasonable level of RPM
S only uses 1-2-3 and does not go into Overdrive
1-2-3 holds the car in the gear selected by the gear lever

If you have a fifth gear then you have a very special autobox.

The kickdown is still governed by the engine speed, thus if you are already at a high RPM it will NOT kickdown, at 100mph it is likely you are at about 4-5krpm (depending on the diff)thus possible it will kick down into 3rd, but unlikely.

Whe you say it goes into netural do you loose a lot of drive or only the RPM jump up, loosing all drive (ie a disconnect between engine and drivetrain) at 100 mph will really be noticable - it will feel like hitting the brakes, and the tachometer will almost certainly jump upto the rev limiter and stay there as the engine is working very hard to maintain that speed, the loss of drive will free the engine quickly and the RPM will jump up.

So next time it happens try and see what it does, and try to keep your foot down when it happens. if your speed drops quickly and the RPM bounce of the rev limiter (a safe thing to do for a few seconds) then you have lost drive and theh check the oil etc, if the RPM just jumps upto 6k but speed remains constant then its the kickdown