Stiff auto trans.. Normal or faulty?

[klim17]

Hi all

I recently purchased a used E36 325ci and prior to purchase I noticed that the transmission stick is quite strangely stiff when changing from Park to any other transmission and vice-versa. Anyway, I still purchased the car because it was from an auction and assumed everything will be fine. Now I find myself wondering if I did the right choice.

As this is my very first BMW and am a very conscious when it comes to cars I noticed a few things and I hope someone out there can please tell me if these are normal or if it might warrant some attention:

1. Engine produces a hissing noise at idle from cold or warm start. My theory is one of the belts make this noice but don't really know for sure. I checked the oil and it was caramel-colored so I don't think that's the problem.

2. My steering wheel seems a bit heavy compared to my Jap car although PS fluid is at max and with standard wheels.

3. Last but not the least and actually the most bothering thing is the automatic gearbox is really stiff and there is no engine check light to indicate whether there is something wrong or not. Is this normal for this type of vehicle?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

[Chris S]

my auto trans is stiff SOMETIMES when i first start the car in the morning and move it from park but after that its pretty smooth so i wouldnt think its normal but then again i dont know the cause... at a guess transmission fluid?

[B/\/\W]

On a side-note, ATF should be changed every 20,000 miles if you want the gearbox to last. It's less of an issue with the manual boxes, but still a good idea for them of course. Same applies to the final drive if you want the diff to last. If you don't change the fluid regularly, millions of microscopic ground off metal particles float around in the fluid and cause premature wear of the remaining moving parts.

Whether changing the fluid will reduce the stiffness I don't know.

Sooner or later your gearbox will fail though, because you went with an auto instead of a manual.

[klim17]

Hey thanks for that. Will check ATF asap. hopefully that will solve that issue at least till I resell it.... Note to self: Buy a manual bimmer

[B/\/\W]

Hey thanks for that. Will check ATF asap. hopefully that will solve that issue at least till I resell it.... Note to self: Buy a manual bimmer

Good idea on the manual! You might be low on ATF, which could be why gear change is stiff especially when cold (and what oil that is there is still very viscous because it is cold).

If you are low, you could just top-up and see if that helps, or you could replace the fluid which would be more ideal.

The first thing I did when I bought my car was replace the trans and diff fluid because I knew it hadn't been done in many tens of thousands of miles! It's just like engine oil, it needs changing, just less regularly.