Issues with GM auto 5 speed.

[Eaglesail]

2003 E46 wagon 5 speed GM auto...122k. Upon first start in the morning, start the cold engine then wait for the rpm to drop from 1000 rpm to around 700 rpm, about a minute then I put it in reverse and back out of my driveway...then I put it in drive and apply a little gas to move forward.....the car moves only forward slightly so then I apply more gas and only marginally moves forward as the rpm's rise to 2000 rpm and only then does the transmission slowly begin to engage after about 45 seconds. After that, I'm on my way to buy my morning coffee a couple of miles away and the transmission shifts properly, responds properly...and for the rest of the day as if nothing was wrong.

I have an odd ball BMW transmission. It's not the ZF but rather the GM. According to my research, this particular GM transmission was used in Cadillac and BMW in the early 2000's and is no longer in production. The ATF used for these limited GM transmissions used a specific ATF developed by Texaco, also no longer in production.

I have not checked the ATF fluid level yet. It seems to me that upon my morning start after putting it in drive that the transmission is starved of fluid...yet in reverse there is no hesitation, the first action demanded from the transmission before putting it in drive.

Sorry for the long read here but I feel that if explained well here some can understand better what's going on with this transmission issue. Can anyone shed a light?

[dworthy]

Have a read.

And after that get ready for a fluid replacement. That may help or maynot, but it is much cheaper than replacing the unit.

[Eaglesail]

Have a read.

And after that get ready for a fluid replacement. That may help or maynot, but it is much cheaper than replacing the unit.

Yes...I've thought about a change to Dexron 6...gotta do the torque converter too! My worry...I have read disaster for GM equipped BMW...wagons in particular 2003....when switched the original TEXACO atf....formulated exclusively for the Cadillac and BMW 3........Lots on the web..............It's better NOT to change atf.....and not because any atf change would distribute debris causing clutch-packs failures.

[dhurley34]

A manufacturing flaw in the forward C1 clutch pack tolerances cause this. Pressure bleeds off overnight. Cold weather exaggerates the delay. There is a EGS update to address this via increasing line pressure but it has mixed success. Same with fluid change. FYI, valvoline maxlife atf is a low cost fluid that is rated specifically for the GM AND ZF trans. Meets all specs.

[90turbo1]

yup, programming and fluid change.

[squirrelhill]

A manufacturing flaw in the forward C1 clutch pack tolerances cause this. Pressure bleeds off overnight. Cold weather exaggerates the delay. There is a EGS update to address this via increasing line pressure but it has mixed success. Same with fluid change. FYI, valvoline maxlife atf is a low cost fluid that is rated specifically for the GM AND ZF trans. Meets all specs.

Take a look at SI B 24 07 03 re: delayed engagement: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1135385 (post 15). I had this issue with my 04 325xit about 4 years ago and the software flash solved the problem (and it has not come back). Good luck!

EDIT: Sorry for double posting the SIB. I missed it in an earlier post.

[Eaglesail]

YES...all of you support my issue...issues...I don't want to remove and replace the TEXACO..with Dexron 6. The General Motors transmission, the 5 speed furnished with most, if not all, BMW avant...I do have! ...Understand, ATF, automatic transmission fluid...for my 2003 325xi....is, and has not been in production since mid 2000. BMW recommends a replacement in Dexron 6...yet many thousands who have converted report almost instant transmission failure....should sound an alarm here......yes?

[dhurley34]

You're not stating anything that hasnt been stated a thousand times before. Yes the ETL has been out of production for years. The dealer and trans manuf. recommended replacement is Dex-6. I've used it with poor success. It did not mix well with the residual ETL that was left in the trans during the drain/refill and caused harsh 1-2 shifts. I have used Valvoline multi-vehicle Maxlife ATF with GREAT success on multiple vehicles. It is BMW rated as direct replacement for all fluids in the GM and ZF trans. Buy with confidence.

[MarcoZandrini]

OP, you might consider a tranny flush to replace all of the fluid. Basically, the shop
hooks up a machine to the tranny fluid hoses at the fluid cooler at the radiator. In goes new fluid and out comes the old fluid.

[90turbo1]

we used a trans flush machine, It was shared with subaru on our dealership so we were constantly changing fluid in the thing. but we literally changed thousands of transmission over to dex 6 and no transmission failures. no returns other than the ones that came in leaking for some reason or another (probably poor tech issues) but no failures.