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Thread: 08 E60 550I 140K Miles Transmission Malfunction

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Arlington, TX
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    3
    My Cars
    2008 E60 550i

    08 E60 550I 140K Miles Transmission Malfunction

    I have a 2008 550i. I decided to get my automatic transmission fluid changed. The fluid has never been changed before. I am at 141k miles. My car kicks every now and then after it has been sitting mostly when it shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear so that's why I decided to change the fluid. I know the fluid is considered lifetime but I went ahead and did it anyway.

    I used synthetic fluid, but not the one from BMW. So as I leave the shop to go home the car was fine. I get to my designation and decide the leave again and the car barely starts. Transmission malfunction comes back on and the car's power is reduced I can only drive about 30 mph.

    I take it back to the guy and he tells me he needs to replace the crank shaft sensor. He does that and the car works for a couple days.

    A few days later I let it idle for 20 minutes. I shut the car off and go to class. When I come back an hour later and the car will barely start! Reduced power again and transmission malfunction sign comes on. I had to drive 30 mph all the way home.

    The next day the car is completely fine. No warning signs and check engine light goes away. by itself.

    Does anybody have any idea what is going on?! Already spent over $2k on it. If it's something small I will try to get it fixed otherwise am I wasting my time?

    Everything is working fine (as of now) and all lights are off. They guy checked the codes and nothing came up. However I don't know when the next time it will act up. I would hate to be on the highway and this happens. It has even shut completely off before.


    Please help! I love my car I'm not ready to let it go yet.
    Last edited by eondi66; 04-24-2017 at 11:18 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,566
    My Cars
    1998 528i; 2000 540i;
    What ATF was put in there. There are many many different types of synthetic ATF but they aren't all compatible with your transmission. Did you get the filter changed as well? Who changed the ATF? Are they familiar with the process for checking the level of the ATF, which must be with the car running and the transmission ATF temperature between 30C and 50C?

    You should have pulled codes when the transmission malfunction came on. Even now, it will be sitting in fault memory. That would be a good place to start.

    What is a crank shift sensor? Never heard of it.
    Last edited by gmak; 04-24-2017 at 07:19 AM.
    gmak: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. A journey with my new-to-me 2000 540i

    "Working on a BMW E39 is the best way to run out of time."

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Arlington, TX
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    2008 E60 550i
    I used AMSOIL Synthetic ATF Signature Series. The guy who was working on my car said this was okay as long as it was synthetic. Filter and pan was also changed. He previously worked for BMW so I am assuming he did the process right. (Temperature and correct level etc.) The car only acts up sometimes. One day it will be fine then the next it will just shut off by itself,barely start and when it does there is a loud hissing sound and "transmission malfunction & check engine light" comes back on. And the car will lose power. I can up to 40 or 50 mph at like 3000 rpm. He currently has the car so I will update when we figure something out. Might try ZF Lifeguard 6 or Mercon SP. Hopefully he can pull the codes while the car is acting up since he currently has it.

    Crank shaft sensor was changed the first time the car went into transmission malfunction. That is what came up when he pulled codes right after he changed transmission fluid so maybe it got disconnected.


  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Another one bites the dust!

    That's why I would never change the tranny fluid at that mileage. More than likely, time for a replacement transmission.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

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