BMW 530d Auto Transmission Worries

keys11 on 02/08/2017 - 10:56
Last edited 02/08/2017 - 12:01 by 1 other user

Hey guys wondering how to go about this and if anyone has been in a similar scenario.

I just had my transmission serviced, it was about time, as some of the gears had been sticking. I had gotten the car back, and it seems to be worse than before. While driving, going up past the first gear the transmission clunks and there's big jerk and also coming down to gear 1 same thing. Took it back the next day and the transmission specialist said he will have a look at it. Called him before and he said his checking it out now and going to tell me how much it will cost.

Why should I be paying for it when this issue happened after he serviced it? What can I say to him and how is the best way to go about it?

Automotive

Comments

  • Ryanek on 02/08/2017 - 11:09

    Is this for an auto or a manual?

    • keys11 on 02/08/2017 - 11:11

      auto

      • Ryanek on 02/08/2017 - 11:16

        Is it a Rav 4 by any chance? Transmission issues can be caused by a faulty ECU so make sure you investigate all avenues before concluding its a mechanical issue.

        • k-rokfm on 02/08/2017 - 11:23
          +2

          Or a Ford Focus, these are known for having issues and there is a case with ACCC for them now

        • keys11 on 02/08/2017 - 11:31

          @k-rokfm: no its a bmw 530d

        • bobbified on 02/08/2017 - 13:35

          Funny you mention this - I had the issue years ago about a minute away from home. Rang up my local mechanic and he quoted me $2000 minimum to pull the transmission apart to find the problem.

          But I got home, did a quick google search that led me to a Toyota forum and realised it was a common issue. Ordered a $1500 computer from Toyota and literally just plugged it in under the glove box and all was well again.

  • Adz81 on 02/08/2017 - 11:10

    I don't like your chances of proving it was something they did (certainly not that they'd admit to), I had a similar thing happen years ago… Got my car serviced, drove it to work the next day… smoke seemed to be coming from the engine… took a look and noticed water in the oil (lots of water in the oil). Called the mechanic and they maintained that it couldn't have been anything they'd done, but they could fix it for me (jolly good of them :/ ). And in their defence, it may not have been anything they have done, but perhaps more noticeable that the transmission isn't functioning as normal now that it's been serviced?

    • keys11 on 02/08/2017 - 11:16

      oh sorry to hear that, the main issue for myself is that the problem wasnt there before hand and now after a service its meant to be smoother its worse -.-

      • k-rokfm on 02/08/2017 - 11:24

        it was about time as some of the gears had been sticking

        .

        problem wasnt there before hand

        Sure the "problem" may not have been there before hand, but getting the service may have broken the camels back so to say. Fixing one thing can always lead to further issues down the track which have nothing to do with the fix, but the cause of the previous problem.

        • Adz81 on 02/08/2017 - 11:38

          This.

          Also, it might pay just to check your battery terminals… Same car I mentioned above had transmission issues for literally years, where it would go into "limp home" mode (IE:- lock in third gear), I wasn't too fussed about fixing it as I didn't drive much at the time- but I was speaking to an auto-sparky about it and he asked about my battery terminals, cleaned them up and I had a different car after that.

  • keys11 on 02/08/2017 - 11:30

    thats understandable but the problem of the clunk was noticed on the day of service and taken back the next day, not really down the track

    • k-rokfm on 02/08/2017 - 11:47

      When are you meant to get the results back from the mechanic? How about we wait to see what he says before we start a witch hunt. If you could post the results up here that would be helpful

  • picklewizard on 02/08/2017 - 11:45
    +2

    Honestly mate, this is actually something that can happen when you service an auto gearbox; I don't recall the mechanics behind it but often, an older, worn box will run better with your crappy old fluid than it will with new, fresh fluid - something to do with the metal particles and general bits of worn box that float around in the fluid.

    I did a lot of forum research into the issue back when I had a dying auto box in my car; the consensus was to not service it!

    In any case, they likely haven't 'broken' the box; but perhaps they should have warned of the potential ramifications.

    • ohsotight on 02/08/2017 - 12:52

      Yep this is correct. Though BMW sell the cars saying its a lifetime fluid that’s BS. No fluid is lifetime as it disintegrates. I think now they changed it to service it after 100,000km's but people who have done it around the post 150k timeline have reported issues.

      Google about this and there is a lot of info about it. Apparently its not advisable to open the transmission after a certain period as then you are likely to have issues.

      Is it the e60 model which year of manufacture and how many km's on it?

      • altomic on 02/08/2017 - 14:07

        replacing transmission fluid after such a long time means everything moves so much better more freely. which means anything worn previously that was dampened by crappy sludgy fluid will now run normal but show up the flaws.

        consider the analogy of the white shirt you have been wearing for 6 months. it's pretty dirty but "passable" - it looks generally meh. then when you wash it the permanent stains are revealed against the stark whiteness.

        the problems now stand out.

  • Baysew on 02/08/2017 - 12:02

    What can I say to him

    Do you take credit cards?

    • Findo on 02/08/2017 - 12:17

      Did you mean "do you take Amex? Is there a surcharge?"

  • supnigs super skids on 02/08/2017 - 12:22
    -1

    id be worried too. haha!

    problem is likely worn plates. bet they changed the transmission oil. happens with worn autos. should of kept the old oil or just keep driving it and it may eventually sort itself out

  • thetrain on 02/08/2017 - 14:21

    Year/kms?

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