Good buy or not? 97 trans issues

[snow663]

Guys got a 96 7 series with a v12, automatic. It won't move in any gear. Doesn't even try to spin the wheels with the car off the ground. Could this be a simple electrical problem or is the transmission doomed?

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[Renzo520]

Is there any fluid in the transmission? Is the shifter linkage moving? Both questions you should ask before going any further into the diag. Also, how much is it?

[snow663]

Is there any fluid in the transmission? Is the shifter linkage moving? Both questions you should ask before going any further into the diag. Also, how much is it?

He's didn't say a price but he said he paid 5k for it when it worked so I'd probably start at 2500 if it's not like it needs more than 500 to fix it. Yes it has fluid and it's clean and I just asked him if the shifter itself is a possible culprit. I'll update with info when I get it.

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[jclausen]

Run don't walk away from this

[BimmerBreaker]

Sorry but if you cant diagnose and determine this problem on your own, a neglected bmw v12 is not for you

[snow663]

Sorry but if you cant diagnose and determine this problem on your own, a neglected bmw v12 is not for you

I haven't even seen it. I'm going off of what he told me about it. He wants 800$ for the car.
When I have time to look at it I will.
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[pbonsalb]

For $800 you could probably part it out. My guess is it needs $10k worth of work but there is a minute chance you coud get lucky and find a simple repair everyone else has missed. I am an advanced diyer and I would not want to mess with a 20 year old 750i.

[snow663]

For $800 you could probably part it out. My guess is it needs $10k worth of work but there is a minute chance you coud get lucky and find a simple repair everyone else has missed. I am an advanced diyer and I would not want to mess with a 20 year old 750i.

Touché it runs fine now but who knows I could put a tranny in it then have to do suspension then have to do new gaskets and hoses. I was thinking about flipping it. I got a guy that's got $$ and I do the work. I've never messed with an automatic transmission though I've always done manual transmissions. To me it sounds like the shift lever is moving but the transmission isn't responding to it. And if it's that easy then yeah itd be decent but like I said I am not an expert on transmissions. The interior is immaculate and the cars in great shape besides some of the clear coat peeling in spots.

I've had Chevy's do things like that and it be a weak ignition switch or a blown fuse. I just need to know if it "could" be anything like that with this car so when I get there I can look at it and test some things out before we consider purchasing it. I don't want to get there and realize it's all mechanical or it's something I can't test in the feild. Is there a known issue with these cars specifically? What kind of electronics are in these transmissions? Is there a computer that controls it? Is there a good better or best place to start narrowing it down? Is the shifter electrical or mechanical? That's what I want to know. I've never owned a BMW with anything other than an m50 with a manual tranny.

I don't think it's likely that a torque converter would fail without transferring any power to the tranny at all. All the bad ones I've seen still jolt/judder under power. Absolutely no power comes out of the tranny. I think it's also unlikely that all the gears would fail simultaneously as well. No reverse or forward gears. I have that gut feeling that says the tranny is fine but the solenoids/valves whatever is in there isn't getting power. But that's just what I know from Chevy's.
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[MIKYZZ4]

Have a diagnostic scan performed with BMW diagnostic software/tool,
preferably at a BMW specialist shop, to get an estimate of what you may be getting yourself into.
Confirm this is a good deal, before it's too late to back out.

[ross1]

Good buy @ $800? The current owner already knows what he is facing. A simple fix? Keep dreaming. With a bad trans it's a refuge from the junkyard.
If you part it out you could potentially earn some money if you consider working hard for a minimal return making money.
If you have the ability to repair the trans(likely not since you've posed this question) it could be a swell deal. Otherwise expect to pay $2k minimum for a professional trans overhaul and the privilege of owning a $2k car. As already stated RUN!

[ptarditi]

It is a common problem with the connector to the trans having corrosion issues. It could be as simple as a that, or a loose pin on the connector.

[MauiM3Mania]

Moved from General BMW sub-forum to correct area.

[racer2086]

I think this just got moved to the E38 subforum, so hopefully you get some 750 owners input. Having a 740, I can only offer what I remember reading in passing.

To start, the first thing to ask the guy is if the dash cluster displays "Trans Failsafe". The most common reason for odd transmission issues in all of these E38s is a dead or dying battery.

That being said, the 5HP30 transmission in that car I believe is also known for the valve body cracking and losing pressure in the transmission. It is considerably easier to swap valve bodies than transmissions.

There is a transmission computer that controls the transmission, so it would be a good idea to get some BMW software and scan for codes. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to scan the whole car, as there are surely plenty of other codes in there.