Automatic Transmission Problems

[Taxevasion]

Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what could be causing my problems. Recently, I was able to take out my 93 320i autotragic for a drive after 3 months of sitting and although it started fine, it wouldn't shift into reverse or drive. Applying throttle with either selected was the same as doing so in neutral. Also, I'm not too sure if it's related, but in park I found that the car was able to roll the entire length of my garage, and when I bought it it was somewhat difficult to physically select park. My initial thoughts was the TCM, but the neutral safety switch works properly, and I also thought it might be trans fluid but I didn't see any leaks under the car. Any help would be very much appreciated and thanks in advance

[shogun]

check the bowden cable from shift handle to transmission side. Also check the manual shift valve, that is connected to the bowden cable and goes into the valve body, so actually you can select any gear, but nothing happens inside the valve body when the manual shift valve is broken, see pic I posted here https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...al+shift+valve
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...al+shift+valve

[Taxevasion]

Hey sorry if its a stupid question but how do you access the valve body/bowden cable?

[whiskychaser]

One end of the bowden cable is attached to the shifter inside the car. The other end goes to a lever on the side of the trans. It is that lever which operates the manual valve inside the trans as well as the 'park' locking pawl. If the manual valve breaks, you won't get any gears except park as that is purely mechanical. But if the car is not driven for a couple of weeks, the inner cable at the trans end can simply rust. So when you try to move the shift lever, it can jam. You only get part of the range of movement of the shift lever - or none at all. As your car has been standing for some time, try spraying the cable inner at the trans end with penetrating oil and then moving the shift lever. The photo at post 9 in the link below shows the end of the bowden cable where it attached to the lever on the side of the trans. It also shows a broken shift valve. Part of it is still stuck in the valve body. To see that, you would need to drain the ATF and drop the pan.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...t+valve+broken

[Taxevasion]

Hey again replying a bit late but do you know what the part number is called/where I can buy it? (Specifically in canada)

[Taxevasion]

Oh and how exactly do i pull out thr valve?

[shogun]

when someone posts links, click on the links, p/n is given in the links posted above, and it does not matter if you live in Canada or somewhere else, the ZF part number is always the same. I assume you car has a A5S 310Z in BMW language = ZF 5HP18, Selector Valve Product ID: 1056 327 173 01, The selector valve will fit the following transmissions: Transmission Designation 5HP18-5HP18A-5HP19-5HP19FL-5HP19FLA-5HP19HLA-5HP24-5HP24A-5HP30. Also there is info how to pull the valve out. Double check the transmission type, there is a label on the side of the trans with serial number, Stucklistennummer and the model, here in this thread is a pic of such a label https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...5HP-18-A5S310Z

ZF transmission ID guide, Transmission Identification Guide For Genuine ZF Transmissions, For Series:4HP, 5HP, 6HP https://aftermarket.zf.com/us/united...s-id-guide.pdf
5HP18
Make.. Model.. Style.. From - up to.. Code ZF Part # OE Part #
BMW E36 320 M52 1992 - 1995 ZLW 1056 000 081 24 00 1 219 955
BMW E34 530 M60 03/93 - 08/93 ZMG 1056 000 087 24 00 1 421 214
BMW E34 530 M60 09/93 - 11/95 ZMN 1056 000 088 24 00 1 421 411
BMW E36 M3 S50 02/95 - 01/96 ZOK 1056 000 097 24 00 1 421 946
BMW E36 M3 S52 07/96 - 08/99 ZRE 1056 000 099 24 00 2 228 375

also see the pics and info in the last post https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ed-in-D-solved
and here https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...r-hard-to-move

quote: waynemelllo, I just did this job a couple of months ago. Pretty easy. Just messy. Ya gotta pull the pan and lower the valve body a bit. Just loosen the bolts. Slide the new one in. Order the shift valve online about $25. You'll see the broken one inside the tranny. Oh there's only certain bolts that are removed. You'll need a little pump from Autozone to pump the fluid back in. unquote

fluid level checking procedure, Drain and filler plug location. https://www.thectsc.com/5hp18-transm...vel-procedures

complete valve body rebuild kit ZF 5HP18 https://www.thectsc.com/products/val...18-162-18.html
where to buy? Ebay, local transmission shops, online shops, for example here https://www.thectsc.com/products/sel...alve-84-3.html

[Taxevasion]

Last question, do you need to replace the trans pan gasket?

[shogun]

that depends on the condition of the trans pan gasket, I have no idea if that on your car is already in there since > 20 years and how the condition is. I usually change it