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Thread: 2008 528xi Transmission Malfunction

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    2008 BMW 528xi

    2008 528xi Transmission Malfunction

    Hello everyone, I’m new here and looking for some help. I’ve got a 2008 528xi that is having an intermittent issue when driving, the RPM’s redline, the car goes into limp mode and I get a Trans Malfunction error on my idrive screen. When I turn the car off, it clears and comes back intermittently. The issue is when I bring it to the shop there are no codes because it’s cleared. I did however one time catch it in the shop with the error and the codes came back suggesting either a valve or the valve body was at fault.

    I took it to a transmission shop, they told me the transmission was good, and suggested I change the trans filter and fluid. I just did that and low an behold the issue happened again.

    The guy I bought it from is telling me he thinks it’s a solenoid. My questions to the community here is should I just buy and try new solenoids or do I just go with a new valve body and solenoids? Does the car have to be reprogrammed if I replace either? I was told if I swap out the valve body it has to be programmed.

    Any help is greatly appreciated!!
    It’s an 08 528xi with 92k miles
    The only issue again is the limp mode activating periodically…no shifting issues, slippage, grinding, etc.

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,672
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    Welcome to the forum!

    You're going to the wrong shop. The codes do not clear when you shut off and restart the car; it would seem that your chosen shop doesn't have a scanner that properly communicates with BMW's.

    I'd recommend starting by taking the car to a shop with a complete ISTA set-up. This is BMW's own diagnostic/programming system. ISTA will run a test plan on your codes, and will almost certainly tell you exactly what needs to be done. I'd likely recommend using ISTA to update the transmission computer's software while you're there. (It will update every computer in the car.)

    Were the adaptations reset when you had the fluid & filter changed?

    While it's possible you need to replace a solenoid, there's no way to know what's going on without the exact BMW codes (in words). How many miles on this transmission, and how many fluid/filter changes has it had?

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    2008 BMW 528xi
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer View Post
    Welcome to the forum!

    You're going to the wrong shop. The codes do not clear when you shut off and restart the car; it would seem that your chosen shop doesn't have a scanner that properly communicates with BMW's.

    I'd recommend starting by taking the car to a shop with a complete ISTA set-up. This is BMW's own diagnostic/programming system. ISTA will run a test plan on your codes, and will almost certainly tell you exactly what needs to be done. I'd likely recommend using ISTA to update the transmission computer's software while you're there. (It will update every computer in the car.)

    Were the adaptations reset when you had the fluid & filter changed?

    While it's possible you need to replace a solenoid, there's no way to know what's going on without the exact BMW codes (in words). How many miles on this transmission, and how many fluid/filter changes has it had?
    Thank you for the welcome and for the reply, very much appreciate it!

    The adaptations were not reset, just the filter, pan and fluid.

    There is 92k miles on the transmission and the filter looks to have at least been changed once in the vehicles life so far as it was not the OEM pan filter on the car when I changed it.

    I brought it to a regular mechanic the first time around and a Transmission shop second time. Both were not getting any codes. Is the BMW dealer the only location that is ISTA setup?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,672
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    No; German-specialist shops (like mine) often have ISTA. A typical OBD generic code reader only reads emissions codes, and can't talk to a BMW's transmission computer. Although a vague interpretation of the transmission codes may transfer to the engine computer and be incorrectly translated by generic OBD scan tools, this isn't what you want to diagnose the car.

    ISTA will often have an analysis of the codes which, when the test plan is followed, will tell you to "Update Software". I'm not saying this is what you need, but it's a lot cheaper than replacing the Mechatronics or the transmission itself.

    There are many things which can cause limp mode; some aren't even the transmission's fault.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    2008 BMW 528xi
    Thanks. I’ll have to look into other shops local to me. I was just doing some quick searches online, found a few BMW specific scanners that I could buy myself…worth the money in your opinion?

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Location
    Arlington, VA
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    2018 BMW M240i
    Go to www.bimrs.org to find a reputable independent shop that specializes in bimmers in your area.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Location
    New York
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    2008 BMW 528xi
    None near me unfortunately. I may have to take it to the dealership.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,672
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    Where in NY are you?

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2023
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    2008 BMW 528xi
    Finally had it ISTA scanned, returned a code of 4F85 - Needs Transmission.

    Was told there is a pressure issue in the e5 clutch

    I’m going to have my transmission repaired/rebuilt along with replacing all the seals and solenoids.

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