new here and need trans help.

[blkonblk540i]

i just picked up a '95 540i. the trans is totally smoked im guessing. its starts up just fine. but while its running its making a loud buzzing noise. kinda like a power steering whine, but the buzzing goes with engine rpm. it will not engage into gear. its an automatic and every thing is like a neutral. so i gotta pull this trans out. it will be cheaper when i bring it to a shop to have fixed. im lookin right now for some kind of used trans that i can put in its place. what i dont know is what kind of trans is it? what other cars can this transmission be found in? are they similar to GM parts? somebody told me they were. i know this is gong to cost me dearly, but like anyone else, im not lookin to spend all kinds of cash. lookin for a cheap swap. or just the parts needed to make my transmission work again. some clutch packs, the hydrolic pump, whatever i need. i need a parts dealer. so when the tech opens my casing up and tell me what i need to fix the problem, i can order the parts myself. id like to just throw another used trans in it, but im not gonna find no 5 series automatic in some junk yard.

somebody please help me. point me in the right direction. i dont need a bunch of people tellin me that im gonna spend some crazy dollor amount. i know what about im gonna spend worst case scenerio. i need some guidence. mabey other resonable suggestions. i am pulling the trans out the car myself regardless. iv done it many times before, just not to a BMW. is there anything i might need to know. any important things i need to know besides its real heavy? mabey in a nut shell, directions on how to get it out. even though its gonna cost me to build it up again, i only spent $850 bux on this mint 540i. just needs a trans rebuild.

[blkonblk540i]

hey seriously guys. is there a tech here? its holloween and im in the driveway passing out candy and pulling the crossmember out of this car. i could use a basic step by step. a website i could visit. some hints and tips.

i know its my first and second post i want to keep this car. i havent even had it 24hours yet and i want it to be fixed so im under it turing wrenches. is there another thread i should have put this in?

[paulmer]

Yeah man, there are specific fourms for each series and generation. Post in the E34 or E39 section (forgot when E34 ended and E39 started).

[AwesomeIsLuke]

i just picked up a '95 540i. the trans is totally smoked im guessing. its starts up just fine. but while its running its making a loud buzzing noise. kinda like a power steering whine, but the buzzing goes with engine rpm. it will not engage into gear. its an automatic and every thing is like a neutral. so i gotta pull this trans out. it will be cheaper when i bring it to a shop to have fixed. im lookin right now for some kind of used trans that i can put in its place. what i dont know is what kind of trans is it? what other cars can this transmission be found in? are they similar to GM parts? somebody told me they were. i know this is gong to cost me dearly, but like anyone else, im not lookin to spend all kinds of cash. lookin for a cheap swap. or just the parts needed to make my transmission work again. some clutch packs, the hydrolic pump, whatever i need. i need a parts dealer. so when the tech opens my casing up and tell me what i need to fix the problem, i can order the parts myself. id like to just throw another used trans in it, but im not gonna find no 5 series automatic in some junk yard.

somebody please help me. point me in the right direction. i dont need a bunch of people tellin me that im gonna spend some crazy dollor amount. i know what about im gonna spend worst case scenerio. i need some guidence. mabey other resonable suggestions. i am pulling the trans out the car myself regardless. iv done it many times before, just not to a BMW. is there anything i might need to know. any important things i need to know besides its real heavy? mabey in a nut shell, directions on how to get it out. even though its gonna cost me to build it up again, i only spent $850 bux on this mint 540i. just needs a trans rebuild.

Did 1995 540i's have the M60 or M62?

Either way, I'm pretty sure the M60 and M62 used the same auto transmission. If this is true, any E32 or E38 740i or 740iL automatic transmission will fit. Also E34 540i's and any E39 540i will use the same transmission (if its automatic, obviously).

Good luck!

[blkonblk540i]

so i can use any 90s auto trans that came with a v8. i do belive its a 5speed auto. someone asked if it was a 4 speed auto.

about the buzzing noise. it sounds like a a pump not getting fluid. i also understand that the pump is external, and can be accessed through the trans pan.

i got all crazy gung ho about pulling the trans out. he said it needs to be rebuilt and he recommends it. what he doesnt know is that these transmissions are very tempermental to there fluid and pressures. which is why the tend to fail. that gives them their bad rep.

the fluid was checked and was said to look nasty. this is probably what the problem is. il continue to keep my journal here in this website.

id like to speak with a technition. someone who has delt with the common problems. transmission related.

[xatlas0]

The trans you have is called the 5HP30, made by ZF of Germany. It is indeed very picky about fluid, and in fact only one (hence very expensive) kind of fluid is rated for that trans. Additionally, they had a flaw in the valve body system that frequently caused reverse-first failures in higher-mileage examples. A bigger issue was the determination of "lifetime fill", which is why the car doesn't have an ATF resevoir or dipstick in the engine bay. The only way to change or add fluid is to drop the transmission fluid pan or undo the fill and drain plugs. To give you an idea, the fluid itself runs about 500$ in the quantity required by the trans.

Unfortunately, it does sound like a rebuild is in order. A whining like that is likely the internal fluid pump, or perhaps the torque converter, but that is pretty unlikely.

In general, you have three ways to go about this: get a rebuilt unit, get another used trans, or get a rebuild kit and have a go at it. The first (and generally preferred) option will run you about 2500$ for a good rebuild. Do not use Phoenix Hard Parts / Rebuilt Transmissions. I speak from personal experience. The preferred source is from Kurt Koeller of Auto Sport Unlimited, and his package includes the proper amount of fluid and a rebuilt converter. The second option is more of a gamble, as then you will be inheriting that trans's problems. It would likely run about 500-1000$, not including new fluid. The last option is to try a rebuild yourself, using a rebuild kit. These generally go for ~500-700$, but they do not include fluid, filter, torque converter, or any hard parts. Additionally, if you go this route, you will want to pick up the valve body and the main transmission manual from ZF, which runs a combined 200$.

So, all in all, you are looking at a minimum 1000$ investment if you use the BMW fluid.

Acceptable used transmissions can come from another E34 540, an E32 740, and early (pre-96) E31 840s. There were 5HP30s used in other cars, but they have a variety of technical revisions and additional computer interfaces, based on what I have seen, and would more than likely be incompatible with the current chassis wiring/computers.

[02325]

need 2 know what body style E34 or E39. the hood shock will tell you if you do not know. the e34 trans may take regular ATF, but the E39 will take special high dollar fluid.

[blkonblk540i]

The trans you have is called the 5HP30, made by ZF of Germany. It is indeed very picky about fluid, and in fact only one (hence very expensive) kind of fluid is rated for that trans. Additionally, they had a flaw in the valve body system that frequently caused reverse-first failures in higher-mileage examples. A bigger issue was the determination of "lifetime fill", which is why the car doesn't have an ATF resevoir or dipstick in the engine bay. The only way to change or add fluid is to drop the transmission fluid pan or undo the fill and drain plugs. To give you an idea, the fluid itself runs about 500$ in the quantity required by the trans.

Unfortunately, it does sound like a rebuild is in order. A whining like that is likely the internal fluid pump, or perhaps the torque converter, but that is pretty unlikely.

In general, you have three ways to go about this: get a rebuilt unit, get another used trans, or get a rebuild kit and have a go at it. The first (and generally preferred) option will run you about 2500$ for a good rebuild. Do not use Phoenix Hard Parts / Rebuilt Transmissions. I speak from personal experience. The preferred source is from Kurt Koeller of Auto Sport Unlimited, and his package includes the proper amount of fluid and a rebuilt converter. The second option is more of a gamble, as then you will be inheriting that trans's problems. It would likely run about 500-1000$, not including new fluid. The last option is to try a rebuild yourself, using a rebuild kit. These generally go for ~500-700$, but they do not include fluid, filter, torque converter, or any hard parts. Additionally, if you go this route, you will want to pick up the valve body and the main transmission manual from ZF, which runs a combined 200$.

So, all in all, you are looking at a minimum 1000$ investment if you use the BMW fluid.

Acceptable used transmissions can come from another E34 540, an E32 740, and early (pre-96) E31 840s. There were 5HP30s used in other cars, but they have a variety of technical revisions and additional computer interfaces, based on what I have seen, and would more than likely be incompatible with the current chassis wiring/computers.
wow man. im gonna refer back to your post a few times. sounds like you know whats up. i asked someone if i could use a 7 series trans. they said no right away. there are a few on craigslist. im not sure exactly what model it is. il find out. thanks for the information.

mabey if no one is doing anything, they can check their local classifieds for something i can use. il have some pictures soon. i have a few on my phone, dont know how to get them to the computer. you guys will see soon. its a really nice car.

[AwesomeIsLuke]

wow man. im gonna refer back to your post a few times. sounds like you know whats up. i asked someone if i could use a 7 series trans. they said no right away. there are a few on craigslist. im not sure exactly what model it is. il find out. thanks for the information.

mabey if no one is doing anything, they can check their local classifieds for something i can use. il have some pictures soon. i have a few on my phone, dont know how to get them to the computer. you guys will see soon. its a really nice car.

Whoever told you that you couldn't use a trans from a 7 is wrong.

[xatlas0]

Whoever told you that you couldn't use a trans from a 7 is wrong.

Depends on the year / model of 7.

[AwesomeIsLuke]

Depends on the year / model of 7.

Yes, but his friend was still wrong in saying that getting a trans from a 7 isn't an option.

[blkonblk540i]

he asked what year and i said 97 and he said it wont work. something about the plug in on the side of the trans. there were different factory stamped castings from the trans i have to the one in the picture i found on chicago craigslist. only 400 bux too. my car is OBD1 and it is an E34. i guess they changed models 96/97? E39 was the next 5 series? not sure about 7 series.

i found a shop that says they could possibly do it for under a thousand. plus the fact that i un installed the bad mamba jamba that it is myself, and i plan to put it right back where i found it laying in the driveway in the cold weather thats on its way in a hurry.

[AwesomeIsLuke]

he asked what year and i said 97 and he said it wont work. something about the plug in on the side of the trans. there were different factory stamped castings from the trans i have to the one in the picture i found on chicago craigslist. only 400 bux too. my car is OBD1 and it is an E34. i guess they changed models 96/97? E39 was the next 5 series? not sure about 7 series.

i found a shop that says they could possibly do it for under a thousand. plus the fact that i un installed the bad mamba jamba that it is myself, and i plan to put it right back where i found it laying in the driveway in the cold weather thats on its way in a hurry.

7 Series changed in 95 from E32 to E38, and I believe the E34 changed to E39 in 96 or 97.