Desperate need for correct part number: '97 540i auto trans gear selector. Not Tiptro

[Wallknight96]

My trans selector continues to deteriorate. There are some that might be correct on ebay, but often off of newer years. And if I recall, there were 2 5speed transmissions in model year '97. I desperately need a part number. Are there any sites that have something like exploded parts diagrams? Or anyone know how to look this up?
Here's one on ebay now. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-2001-B...3/192807232304

listed as #25.16-1421253 or 8 218 772 or 90120 203

I just need some official way to verify any of those (or some other!) number. I can't see a # on the one in the car right now, and would prefer not to completely disable the vehicle without having the replacement part in hand.

[TheAngryBear]

Realoem.com or bimmercat.com have the exploded diagrams. Put in your vin and go to town.


2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

[Wallknight96]

Thanks Angry Bear. New problem.
vin is bw52111.

Entered at bimmercat, it's showing the steptronic system. Unless I'm missing something, I don't have steptronic. There is no option to manual control the trans. Just pull the lever to the gear, that's it. No extra buttons on the cover plate.

Entered at Realoem, it shows me a diagram for non-steptronic. But no actual part # is available. What gives?

From that vin, is it possible a PO replaced a step with a non step? All the trim looks to be original. Is such a thing even possible?

[TheAngryBear]

Well looking at your build sheet (decoder.bvzine.com because bimmercat wouldn’t load it) you have the non-steptronic trans. So this appears to be a database error based on vin.
Try manually building your vehicle vice entering the vin. Be sure you are in the classic catalog...


2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

[Wallknight96]

Ah! Ok.
there are now 2 possible numbers listed. Under details, it says one supersedes the other, without a warning about backward incompatibility. So, in theory, if I can find either of those numbers at a seller, I should be good, right?

[TheAngryBear]

Ah! Ok.
there are now 2 possible numbers listed. Under details, it says one supersedes the other, without a warning about backward incompatibility. So, in theory, if I can find either of those numbers at a seller, I should be good, right?

You should be good with either. Ideally you will have a picture so you can also “validate” it is the right part.


2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

[Wallknight96]

ooh! Score! Seeing some pics online, I found the sticker on the orig. it's a 25161422013. Yippie!
So again, if realoem says 25161422559 supercedes, and was a later production, I can get a '59- which should be newer, and it should drop in, right?

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(sorry, looks like I was typing while you posted)

[Wallknight96]

More problems. I have a lot more ebay options on the ...559, the newer version. However, most of them have what I think is a slot for steptronics next to the usual P-R-N-432. Slightly different configurations from the 540 to the 740, but same base shifter. They have buttons like 'M> S<.' Isn't that steptronic? If so, how could the non-steptronic shifter have steptronic buttons? Or are those extra buttons something else? ARgHH. Driving me nuts.

[TheAngryBear]

Is this what you are looking for?
https://prussianmotors.com/bmw-m62tu...999-2003-used/


2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

[Wallknight96]

In theory, yes. But check this out. in the 5th pic, you can see the # on the sticker as a 559, but the plate is steptronic... isn't it?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-540i-74...frcectupt=true

[TheAngryBear]

I see your confusion.
No, that is not steptronic. That is the adaptive vs manual gear selection. Basically in M the gear selected is held and resists shifting. The A basically shifts according to need and the ATC settings.

Edit: I do NOT know if that function will work on your vehicle and transmission.


2001 750iL DD74441
Stock

RIP: 2003 540iA Sport GS56111
H&R front springs, Ultimate Cup Holder, Euro Dash & Armrest, Grom, BavSound Stage1

[Wallknight96]

Ahhh!
So that's a function probably not at all related to the actual shifter, but to the trans computer, not unlike '4' putting it into sport.

That said, I would imagine though it might look funny having a dummy button there, it really wouldn't matter to have the wrong faceplate sitting on it. For that matter, I could just use my original. Though the plastic frame on my leather shifter boot is shot, so it would be better to have a dummy button than a free-floating boot!

So long as the mechanicals underneath are all the same, I won't care too much.

Thanks for all your help.

[jicaino]

I think there's the option to go back and forth, provided you have the 5HP24, I mean, you could convert to steptronic. The transmissions are the same and even the EGS are the same, the wiring tho, it's another thing. I'm studying it to see if I can retrofit the regular shifter vs. the steptronic which I have and hate.

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http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...icupgrade.html

[amancuso]

I think there's the option to go back and forth, provided you have the 5HP24, I mean, you could convert to steptronic. The transmissions are the same and even the EGS are the same, the wiring tho, it's another thing. I'm studying it to see if I can retrofit the regular shifter vs. the steptronic which I have and hate.

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http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...icupgrade.html

I don't understand why you're doing that. If you don't want it to shift, leave it in D. It will act exactly the same as the non step version.

[jicaino]

I don't understand why you're doing that. If you don't want it to shift, leave it in D. It will act exactly the same as the non step version.

It's certainly not the same as you cannot pick a top gear in the steptronic version.

[amancuso]

It's certainly not the same as you cannot pick a top gear in the steptronic version.

Something must be wrong with yours because I can in mine.


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[jicaino]

Something must be wrong with yours because I can in mine.


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I mean, you can pick 4 or 3 and it won't go over the selected top gear. The steptragic in line works as should and intended, I just don't care for the feature. It makes me wish to yank the tranny out of the car. Now I could live with the auto-plain Jane shifter as it doesn't disappoint. It does what's going to do. The steptronic builds up my hopes of driving an auto not being so boring and it actually makes it worse.

[amancuso]

I’m not sure I understand what you’re describing. If I choose a gear in my step and leave it, it will not shift.


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[jicaino]

I’m not sure I understand what you’re describing. If I choose a gear in my step and leave it, it will not shift.


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No, your not understainding what it is that I want to achieve. In the regular shifter, the non-steptronic, you can pick 4th. It will shift up and down from 1st to 4th depending on the maps in the eeprom in the EGS. 3rd will do the same but up to 3rd. 2nd will stay in 2nd only, so you can get out of mud/snow. In the steptronic shifter version you have to manually up and downshift to get it to behave like that. Plus you have the S mode which is like placing a regular non-steptronic in 4th.
I just don't think that the steptronic is cool or useful and would love to get the cleaner, classier look of the non steptronic version, plus the transmission shifts better IMHO. with those maps.

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Nevermind, I read you've got a 528i not a 540i. In the 528i there's not much difference between the regular vs. steptronic. Now I get why you don't get what I want to change.

[amancuso]

No, your not understainding what it is that I want to achieve. In the regular shifter, the non-steptronic, you can pick 4th. It will shift up and down from 1st to 4th depending on the maps in the eeprom in the EGS. 3rd will do the same but up to 3rd. 2nd will stay in 2nd only, so you can get out of mud/snow. In the steptronic shifter version you have to manually up and downshift to get it to behave like that. Plus you have the S mode which is like placing a regular non-steptronic in 4th.
I just don't think that the steptronic is cool or useful and would love to get the cleaner, classier look of the non steptronic version, plus the transmission shifts better IMHO. with those maps.

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Nevermind, I read you've got a 528i not a 540i. In the 528i there's not much difference between the regular vs. steptronic. Now I get why you don't get what I want to change.

I have the 6 speed step in my X5 and had the 5 speed step in the 330i.


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[jicaino]

I have the 6 speed step in my X5 and had the 5 speed step in the 330i.


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I see why we're not understanding purposes of my conversion. You haven't driven a 540i steptronic and compared it to a regular non steptronic 540i. The non steptronic feels a lot more like a good good automatic transmission as opposed to the steptronic having several quirks that the regular verison hasn't. I asume your X5 has the N62 engine which is a whole different ball game, with the 6HP ZF tranny which also is a lot different than the 5HP24. the 330i is an e46 or an e90?