Transmission help

[Jneill]

I am looking to buy 1999 316ci with an automatic transmission from a friend and I have been test driving it for the past 2 days. Yesterday, the transmission light came on and I had some concern that I may be responsible. When I was traveling on the highway, I decided to switch to manual because, as I understand it, it prevents the car from shifting and I was curious what the performance would be like. The RPMs were never particulary high and I did not encounter the warning light immediately, but after about 10 minutes. So, a little advice would be useful; could I be responsible for any damage to the vehicle? Also, when I drove the car after about an hour, the light was not on. However, it came back on again today as I was driving the same stretch of highway with the transmission on "E."

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[cmy_bimmer]

First off, dont make the same mistake as me in getting an automatic (not joking). And second, I doubt it was your fault for the tranny. If it was that easy to turn on the "tranny" light (Ive never heard of it, can you explain it?), then the car is obviously faulty. Ask the owner if it turned on before.

[Jneill]

I spoke to the owner and he said that the light has never come on before. Then again, I know that he has not owned it very long and if he was not a friend then I would have been very suspicious. My only concern now is the guy who sold it to him may have withheld this information.

As for the light resetting, that was confusing to me too as it has been my experience that warning/error light do not reset.

[Jneill]

To give a little more detail on the light resetting, I parked the car after the light came on. Because I live in Germany, the auto manual was in German and I had one of my co-workers translate to confirm that the indicator light was for the transmission. When I went out later (about an hour) to put the manual back in the car, I started it and the light was out.

[cmy_bimmer]

Oh, ok. Well I know that using the manual isnt healthy for the auto tranny if you're not actually using it for the hills. But if it happened while you were just cruising, then I wouldn't be worried about who's fault it is. That is just absurd.

[E36 Phantom]

More detail on what you did please. How fast were you going, what RPM were you at, and what buttons did you push exactly? Did you leave it in drive or what? And what is "E"? Is that the same as "D" here?

It's entirely possible that you damaged the transmission if you did something wrong here. But, if you only pushed the switch to Manual mode and didn't touch the gear shift, you should be fine.

[cmy_bimmer]

I know the M3's over here has the E as well. There is "m" "E" and "S", I think the E is for economical, but I could be wrong.

[Jneill]

I was going about 110-120 KPH (about 65-70 MPH) on the autobahn; the RPMs were never close to the red line. I went from the "S" sport setting to "M" manual setting. After about 5-10 minutes, the error light came on. The shifter stayed in "D" the whole time. The "E" setting is on the side and is layed out like this--S_E_M. I assume it stands for economy or efficient.

[E36 Phantom]

Oh ok. Then no, I doubt you did anything to it at all. In theory, it shouldn't have even changed gears when you clicked into that. It didn't downshift when you clicked into manual, right? If it didn't downshift, it's impossible for you to have hurt it.

[Jneill]

Thanks for your help. No, it did not downshift.

[cmy_bimmer]

Nows a good time to Welcome you to the 'Fest. Go get yourself a manual e36 :D

[E36 Phantom]

Nows a good time to Welcome you to the 'Fest. Go get yourself a manual e36 :D

+1, and please try to find one with more displacement than a Coke bottle. :p

[Jneill]

Thanks for the advice. One further question, is it possible that the indicator light is defective? If there was a problem witht the transmission, shouldn't the light remain on? In addition, there was no performance change in the vehicle once the light did come on.

[E36 Phantom]

It's possible the light is defective, but VERY, VERY unlikely.

No, the light may or may not remain on. The light tends to do as it pleases. :rofl:

[e36mike]

First off, dont make the same mistake as me in getting an automatic (not joking). And second, I doubt it was your fault for the tranny. If it was that easy to turn on the "tranny" light (Ive never heard of it, can you explain it?), then the car is obviously faulty. Ask the owner if it turned on before.


go for a auto-manual swap. im bout to do one. all thats left to buy is a tranny and diff :D
whole thing should only cost me 800$ when done. yeee

[Musictym]

go for a auto-manual swap. im bout to do one. all thats left to buy is a tranny and diff :D
whole thing should only cost me 800$ when done. yeee

how would u do all that for 800? I'm really interested in doing the auto-manual swap because I have a 94 325I with an auto transmission and I'm really hating it, more info pleasee

[Jneill]

New question: is it possible that the transmission fluid is low? I have not noticed any leaking, but it might explian why the fault light keeps coming on (i.e. overheating?)

[cmy_bimmer]

go for a auto-manual swap. im bout to do one. all thats left to buy is a tranny and diff :D
whole thing should only cost me 800$ when done. yeee

Sshhhh!!!!!! That's supposed to be a secret :thumbup:.

I'm thinking bout it, and ill keep you guys updated soon :D.

[e36mike]

how would u do all that for 800? I'm really interested in doing the auto-manual swap because I have a 94 325I with an auto transmission and I'm really hating it, more info pleasee

just got to find good deals from people parting there cars out etc. search craigslist and bimmerforums classifieds etc etc.

i got everything minus the tranny for 350$ now i just need to get the tranny and a differential. i have already found trannys for 250$ and 300$ just didnt have the money and then ive also seen diffs for 150$-200$ you just got to search and search and when u find it have money ready.

[Monolith]

The transmission fault light typically comes on when in "limp" mode (car will remain in 3rd gear, still driveable but with greatly reduced torque). Turning off the car, waiting a few seconds, and turning it back on will clear the light. If the fault is severe enough, the check engine light (CEL) will be set and will not turn off after the engine is turned off. Low fluid level can trigger slippage in the gears and set a transmission fault light.