5hp24 compatability help please. 99 00 01 trans in a 1/97 build date 740i

[THEhomelessONE2]

So I've got a build date 01/97 740i with a bad trans. Problem is there is no 1997 1998 trans for sale at a decent price. I don't have a sport or steptronic version nor care to have it. Just want to be able to drive it again. I'm only finding 99 00 and 01. All the 97's on LKQ are most likely a 5hp30. Thank you!

[kouks]

The 5hp24 was changed from the 10/98 production forward. The valve body mechanics and electronics are slightly different.

A later model trans will mechanically work, but you will get some unusual shifting and it may reduce the life of the trans. Best advice is to look for a trans build of 9/98 or earlier. If you can't find one now you may want to install a later model one temporarily to get going and when you find the correct build date, swap them out (yes, more work) and sell the other one.

[THEhomelessONE]

Thank you! I'm okay with less than perfect shifts. Can pick up a 99 00 01 trans for under 200. Will keep an eye out for one between 01/97 and 09/98.

Any idea if anyone has been able to swap a 5hp30 in place of 5hp24? I can get those for even less. Thanks again!

Also if a mod sees this. Can you tell me what my password is lol :p

[516SC]

Last week took off 5hp24 from 11/98 and put 5hp24 from 9/97, it was limb mode with cars original box. Then changed box too from 9/97 and all good.
If you get box too that price maybe worth trying?

[THEhomelessONE]

Oh cool interesting thanks. I thought that wasn't possible because the harness was pinned differently between older and newer TCU's. Will keep that in mind. Also was yours originally steptronic, the one that has a -/+ or regular with a switch with A and M? Anyone know if I could swap my older valve body into the newer trans and maintain original shifting?

[kouks]

Oh cool interesting thanks. I thought that wasn't possible because the harness was pinned differently between older and newer TCU's. Will keep that in mind. Also was yours originally steptronic, the one that has a -/+ or regular with a switch with A and M? Anyone know if I could swap my older valve body into the newer trans and maintain original shifting?

No.

The newer valve body has different passages and the trans case is modified for those passages.

I'm not sure if you can swap the new EGS into an older car, don't have the pinouts with me now. The wiring harness for the newer cars has one extra wire, I know that much. The plug is the same.

I had a 1999 trans in my 1998 and the only issue I had was a slight hesitation downshifting from 3-2. Other than that it worked OK, maybe a few weird upshifts too. It lasted about 6 months, but the trans may have been weak to begin with. I rebuilt an older model trans in my garage and its still in the car. When I looked at the different VBs and channeling, it was obvious the two were different. You can't swap the VBs.

[THEhomelessONE]

Thanks for that, saved me a bunch of trouble. The tcu's can be found for pretty cheap. I wouldn't be against trying a newer tcu with newer box. Happen to know what that one extra wire is for? I've found a 98 box for $550, asked if they'd lower a bit if I picked it up 80 miles away, but still shopping for something under $300 local. Out of the 10 or so dismantlers I've contacted this out of the 5 that have replied is the only one with a 0016 box.

My Jeep is my money pit. Bought this e38 thinking it had the 5hp30 and just needed the check ball or a valve body rebuild, whoops. Got it for only $500 with a clean title, straight body, good paint, spotless interior, current reg and smog. Want to spend as little as possible on it. Had a 97 before and it had the 5hp30.

[kouks]

If you think your Jero is a money pit, just keep driving the e38, it will teach you a lesson in money pit. Also I find your sig comment about your Bimmers are more reliable than your friends Honda amusing. I own 5 Bimmers and that is a false statement. Every weekend one of them needs something, especially the e38. Currently mine is on jacks getting the 5-8 head re-done, blown valve, and new cats. Nothing cheap.

[THEhomelessONE]

My friend told me to thrash his Integra TypeR, rod knock 2 weeks later. They're constantly going through rod and main bearings when abused. Rings too. Sold my e30 318is with over 500k. I had it chipped and would hit the 7100rpm limiter everyday. Get that slow 4 banger to 120mph, jam the brakes, hard right turn at 45mph. 5 days a week. Would only blow diffs from sliding it around too much, which were cheap and plentiful. Same deal with my other e30's. My old e38 had the 5hp30 and she was sweet as can be. Only issue I had was my heated steering wheel quit. I've had about 10 bimmers and never had an engine let go. Abused all of them. Used parts were cheap and easy to come by and I knew how to work on cars so I didn't care.

The craziest time was the same 1991 318is. I was having a bad day when my radiator blew. Wasn't going to stop for a tow. Drove that thing with the needle pegged past max for at least 15 mins? Was waiting for a bearing to seize. Somehow it survived fine. Drove it another 150k miles after that happened. Passed CA smog great every time with a tune and original cats. Even took it to tahoe in a blizzard and people couldn't believe the way it drove. LSD diff helped big time.

My jeep for example, cracked heads, 1500, new built axles done right 7500, built trans 3000, top end perf mods 2000, suspension 4000, bumpers 1200. Still saving for the damn axles and rear long arms. Driveline bits another 1k. Plus I still have audio and interior stuff to take care of.

What year is your e38? I didn't know m62's had head gasket issues. Wasn't sure about leaking valve stem seals either.

[kouks]

Its a 98 with 211k miles, driven in LA traffic alot.

Usually they do not have head gasket or valve/seal problems, but mine had a failing cat, which caused heat and back pressure to fail a valve and gasket.

[Thuppu]

Aah, wish I saw this thread earlier... My -00 740ia trans went bad, so I bought an trans from an 540ia -96/97. Now it seems not to work properly. It goes in limp mode(trans failsafe prog) and I get error message 15 pressure actuator EDS, total current, and the gear shift doesn't need the brake to switch. Also gear indicator in the cluster is dead.

Here someone changed the harness inside the transmission, and it solved the problem: http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/...53/index2.html

Any way to get this working?

[Thuppu]

We shall see if switching the loom helps. I don't see how it would, as Realoem tells same part number for both transmissions. But there is some small difference in these orginal looms.

Year 2000 5hp24


Year 1996

[THEhomelessONE]

So I got a cheapo trans with brain included from a dismantler. Will install in a couple weeks. He assures me the 01 trans will play just fine with my 97. Says he's done it before on his own car. Said the only thing was to use the brain from the donor vehicle. He even told me he's done 5hp30 into 5hp24 cars. Same deal, swap the brain with the trans. I think v12's have a different bellhousing and early year 5hp30's won't work. Said it would go into trans failsafe mode without the correct brain.

I made him put it in writing with a warranty. Will report back.

[Thuppu]

Switching brain is no option for me

This kind came with the trans:


And this is what I have in the car:

[THEhomelessONE]

Damn that sucks, I'm sure this will help someone in the future though. I haven't even checked mine either, will do that before swapping. Just saw you're in Finland, maybe check some salvage yards for another tcu out of an older v8 with the same plug? There's a bunch of salvage yards here in the states.

[THEhomelessONE]

Lol well I'm an idiot for believing an auto dismantler. Checked the egs in my 97 and it's the black one. Glad I made him put it in writing and used paypal, just in case. Phew, close one.

[Thuppu]

Ok, so it really seems that the trans is now working prefectly fine after just switching the solenoid harness. Everything work right now. No trans failsafe prog. message, no limp mode, gear shifter needs the brake before shifting and the cluster shift indicator started to work.

https://youtu.be/0aquSJAz18Q

[THEhomelessONE]

Very nice! Thanks for letting us know it works and taking the time to try it out. What's the difference in the looms? Can't tell from the pics, the wiring colors look the same between the two.

[THEhomelessONE]

Lol anyone ready to get a 5hp30 to work in a 01/97+? Hahaha