1989 535i ZF auto transmission issues (Whirring)

[Cje34]

Hey everyone,

as some of you may know, I recently bought an 89’ 535i to add to my collection. It’s been a handful and after finally getting it running, it died on its maiden journey.

I drove it about a mile with 0 issues, hit speed ok, shifted fine. I turned it off to get gas and then on once again before hitting the road. Once on the road, the car immediately started to rev (no power to the ground) while in gear and basically went nowhere. A quick restart let me use 2nd-3rd gear to limp home. Once home, nothing worked, not even reverse! I charged the discharging battery and found that the car was able to shift and move just fine…. However, I have the weirdest whirring noise that I would love another opinion on.. check the link below.

checked fluid, it seems to be fine… somewhat brown/red fluid but NOT burnt fluid. Ordered a new filter + fluid that gets here tmr morning.

here’s the noise: it is only present in park, not drive or reverse.


is it the torque converter? Low on fluid? Let me know what you think!

[shogun]

4HP22 ATF level is checked at higher temperatures than others: 4HP22/24 with dipstick and filling from top thru dipstick pipe: 1988 E32 owners manual states on page 63: automatic transmission, checking oil level: the car must be standing on a level surface with the transmission at operating temperature 80 degree Celsius. Allow the engine to idle with the selector lever at P or N. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it with a non-fluffy cloth and push it back to measure the oil level. It must be between the two notch marks.
The quantity of oil represented by the space between the two marks on the dipstick is approx. 0.3 liter when the transmission is at operating temperature. If necessary, add fresh ATF at the oil level check pipe.

others: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...lication-Chart

On my website is a ZF 4HP22 fault finding table http://twrite.org/shogunnew/diagnosis/gearbox.html

[ross1]

Sounds like pump cavitation. Perhaps low fluid or a loose or clogged filter.
Your valves desperately need adjustment.

[shogun]

check the ATF filter gasket, if that does not fit, the trans pump sucks air where the filter goes into the valve body, normally it should suck the ATF thru the filter, here some pics we found on 4HP22
correct http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tCh1jOqX6-...0/P1160536.jpg
wrong http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OAlWaVkmQc...0/P1160542.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ayoQl2doBG...0/P1160548.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVPL8rNLbV...0/P1160543.jpg