Member
GM 5L40-E...5 speed automatic transmission.
I should have known better before purchase. I did not think then that I should have done research. The 325XI wagons used GM 5L40-E automatic transmissions.....Also were used in Cadillac and many more european and domestic to US...all are plagued with many issue.....I said WAGON...not SEDAN 325......Sedans used not GM but instead ZF automatic transmission..MUCH MUCH BETTER..Sedans are spared here! Most upon my research fail at or around 100-130k range. Symptoms include...after fully warmed, juddering up hills, (highway hills at 65 mph) slam-bang up or down shiftings in town....And yes, even after transmission factory resets we can all do...key-on-30 second wait- turn to start...and yes, it does reset to factory default but it does not fix what's broken inside the GM transmission....Now I know why I got such a NICE car...with LOW miles..CHEAP!...........Actually $5000 was not cheap....I got ripped off! Repair estimates to date range between $6000 and $8000 dollars. Transmission fluid for any replacement is $300 dollars....you do not believe me...check! So if I labor to swap a rebuild..I still gotta pay $300 bucks for the fluid...NO, GM transmissions require other than Dexron's 6...much more different..so they claim! In an emergency for me in 1970, my 1963 RAMBLER leaked so much atf that I resorted to adding 30 weight motor oil....it worked...got me to and from work during the summer of 1970........It never failed...for adding such.
Last edited by Eaglesail; 08-22-2018 at 04:02 PM.
Fast
ALL SPORT SEDAN/COUPE AND XI MODELS GOT THE GM TRANSMISSION.
The "trans reset" is not a transmission reset. Its a throttle behavior reset. The trans can only be reset by resetting the adaptations within software.
Shuddering up hill is often solved with new fluid as new friction modifier is circulated through the torque converter, or the TCC PWM solenoid is replaced.
$300 for a fluid change is dumb when 8 quarts of Maxlife is $40, filter is $20, and about 2 hours work.
Member
Sorry to hear about your issue and potential costs.
I question the $300 for ATF, sounds like a bit of a rip off to me. Have a look at the bottom of the transmission pan and you'll see a sticker that tells you what fluid is in the transmission. Then check the spec's of a few ATF's and see if they are compatible. Valveoline Maxilife Multi Vehicle usually meets the specs and is cheaper than $300 a fill, even if you do two flushes before the pan drop and filter change.
Last edited by Muzz258; 08-22-2018 at 05:23 PM.
1999 2.8L Z3 Roadster,
2000 3.0L Z3 Roadster,
There is only one thing more pleasurable than working on a Z3, that's driving it top down on a fine day.
Member
Transmission fluid for these GM transmissions supplied for BMW 3 and 5 series.. 5L40-E no longer are available in BMW. A rebuilder of the 5L40-E...for the BMW E46...wagon specific, BMW also used ZF transmissions in BMW but not Wagon X drive....all were GM..5L40-E. Upon more info, General Motors extinguished the 5L40-E....now no longer in production. 5L40-E specified transmission fluid TEXACO also does no longer mfg this special atf for GM that was available up until a few years ago. A close is Dexron 3...according to some is a close second...I just want to top off if it is necessary to address my issues.
Fast
[BEATS HEAD AGAINST WALL] Alright, let the trans burn up from low fluid then throw it away. Obviously you'd rather run it low, search for 15 year old old Texaco ETL/Dex 3 fluid that you consider FAR SUPERIOR for some reason to any fluid advancements made in the last 10 years. Adding any new, spec-approved, fluid would completely destroy the transmission.
Last edited by dhurley34; 08-24-2018 at 02:52 PM.
Apprentice w/#yrs. exp.
A quick bit of research turned up this:
The 5L40-E was designated in either "M82" (rear-wheel drive) or "MX5" (all-wheel drive) versions for service in BMW vehicles from 2000 model year until the design was superseded by (for BMW) the 6L45E and (for all others) the 6L50E series electronic automatic transmissions in 2007.
Member
New info...The GM 5L40-E in BMW 3 and 5 series..2002 -2007 inherently will fail at some point prematurely beginning after 100k...no matter even as abuse....this is according to several hours of online investigation The GM 5L40-E, unlike it's ZF counter ZFZF Friedrichshafen AG
ways used for '2001-2005' in the BMW XI wagon, the GM 5 speed 5L40 automatic transmission has inherent problems...also share with Cadillac, Range Rover, and several other car makers in the early 2000 up to 2007...all using the very same GM 5L40 automatic transmissions. .......$7000 quote to replace my GM 5L40-E.........If I do it myself $3300 in parts...including a remanufactured 5L40-E transmission. I watched on 'youtube' the step by step remove and replace procedure....and for me, a life long shade tree mechanic, this is quite exhausting....and I do have a bendpak lift...I still don't want to do it!.........................So at 63 years of life ......I found an 1990 Volvo 240 wagon for $900 with 185k ?????
Apprentice w/#yrs. exp.
Maybe a new Honda or Toyota would have the maintenance free driving experience you need at 63yo.
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