90 535i, tranny mode switch stuck on "S"

[Guelphguy]

90 535i, tranny mode switch stuck on "S"

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Ok, new car to me right, have to play with the buttons, well I was playing with the "E" "S" "M" mode switch by the shifter when it stuck permanently on "M", I wiggled it till it went into "S" and now it is stuck on "S" I can get it to switch modes but as soon as I let go, it reverts back to "S"....does this damn switch actually do anything? Any harm in leaving it in "S" mode for now???

[Gamite]

ok hold on, its stuck in S mode correct? so it always says "S3" right? Cuz that button on my car only says E and M, to get into S, I have to shift it down to 3 or below.

If your tranny is like mine, then its just the tranny switch on the bottom of the car, it probably is loose. Cuz sometimes mine just shows blank, but I wiggle the shifter and the "D" comes back. Charlie aka Bimmersport on max can help u.

[Guelphguy]

No mine is stuck on S-D, it used to always say E-D.

[Gamite]

o i c.. I would say its a switch malfunction in that case.. Not sure though.

[MaloventEvil]

even with a switch malfunction, it should say M-4 or M-D not S-D

[grecobeemer]

My guess is the switch. Change it and see.

[stuntride]

lately mines been poping into m for no reason, sometimes starts in m when i turn the car on and is sometimes hard to switch back or if it does it goes back, but i usually get it to go back

[Mr Project]

I've never had an automatic, but I think the tranny switch is the same switch as the sunroof switch. If they are, you could swap them temporarily to see if that's the problem.

[SC David]

Mine doesn't have 'E' or 'S', just all normal drive options without a sport mode. I don't know if it's supposed to be that way, but shifting into 3rd does seem to have a minor affect on accelleration from a standstill.

[Guelphguy]

All that switch does is change the shift points correct?? I am sure when I head to the stealer tomorrow they will have to order that switch, which means monday, I assume I would not be doing any damage to the tranny by driving it between now and then....hey at least I am stuck in sport mode!! :devillook Then again, It really did not feel like the car was shifting any different to me, I just wonder if the switch is not actually working at all so the tranny is in normal economy mode by default?

[Qsilver7]

None of you guys have owner manuals? :rolleyes

First, there are 2 types of tranny select switches...the early models (1989-90) have the choice of "S E M" (sport/economy-auto/manual) and you move the switch to select which mode you want the tranny to be in. The newer switch (which came out late 90-91) just has "A / M" as a selection (economy-auto/manual) and to go into SPORT mode...you must move the gear lever back to "3"...the gear indicator on the lower right of the instrument cluster should then display "S 3".

All e34 should have an gear indicator on the lower right if the instrument cluster...if you are in default mode...when in drive "D"...the indicator should read "E D"...if you move the gear select switch to "M" and move the gear select handle to "2"...the instr cluster should read "M 2"...and the same thing should happen when you choose SPORT mode.

When in "E" mode or the default automatic "A" mode...(E D) the transmission program shifts the tranny so that you get the best economy...when in SPORT mode (S 3) the tranny delays the upshift pattern to gain higher performance from the transmission...and when in manual mode (M 1,2,3)..the transmission will stay in the gear selected without any upshifts or downshifts...this is great for long, steep grades or when driving in snow/ice to help prevent wheel spin. Starting out in second or third gear creats more torque on the driving wheels without producing excessive wheel spin.

Disappearing gear indicator pixels and stickey tranny select switches are a common problem and very easy to fix. Don Gale has a nice write-up on his web site on how to remove the center console to clean the gear select switch to make the pixels reappear or unstick the switch.Click here to go to Don's web page for the repair... (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_13.htm) and there are some pics from his site that explains how to clean the switch. Electrical contact cleaner can be picked up from your local Radio Shack.

Oh yeah, that ealier tip about swapping out the sunroof switch is true...the switches have the same pin-out and both switches are a 3-way switch (especially for those who have the "SEM" switch.

(cleaning sticky switch)...
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/console6b.jpg

(accessing the gear indicator switch for disappearing indicator...the white plastic thing in pic below needs to be opened and the electrical traces cleaned...use electrical contact cleaner instead of sandpaper as Don suggest)
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/console4.jpg

If any of you guys have an owners manual...you might want to crack it open to check out what it says about the different transmission modes available...there's a lot of technology in these babies...even the M20 525i. :D :D

[Guelphguy]

Thanks!!! I am sure that will do the trick!!! :redspot

[grecobeemer]

QSilver7, the early switchable transmissions will they fit an M20? Any benefit to swapping the tranny to the computer controlled one?

[Qsilver7]

QSilver7, the early switchable transmissions will they fit an M20? Any benefit to swapping the tranny to the computer controlled one?

Sorry, I really don't know...you got me on this one.

[grecobeemer]

I know that the early E32 735i's had the swicthable trannys and the later E34 and E32's had the same as the E36 autos? So I was wondering if any trannys would fit the E34 M20's. Anyone know about this?

[SC David]

I know that the early E32 735i's had the swicthable trannys and the later E34 and E32's had the same as the E36 autos? So I was wondering if any trannys would fit the E34 M20's. Anyone know about this?

I'm still wondering what the deal is exactly...were the first introduced (in the US) '89 models available with this transmission? Sounds like neither of our cars have the switch.

[Mr Project]

I know the M20 and M30 cannot swap transmissions, the bolt pattern and some other details are different. I don't know about the M20 and M50.....

[sliverdream]

Hi i am looking for help finding the wire that connects to this sport switch on my 95 520i auto . I did a complete engine & wiring swap from a 95 e34 saloon to a 89 e34 saloon & i cant find this connection . I have a wire coming from engine that plugs into gearbox & another one that goes to warning lights but i dont see the connection for this switch. What colour should this wire be & which socket in footwell does it come from thanks.
661600

[whiskychaser]

The mode switch is connected to the plug on the TCM. IIRC, the plug at the mode switch end has 6 pins but only uses five. According to the '94 520i diagrams, you are looking for a plug which has the following coloured wires:
Yellow/white
Yellow/blue
Yellow/green
Grey/red
Brown