04 745Li - Transmission 5th gear issue

I have a 2004 745Li V8 6speed auto trans and i have found that in 5th gear and 5th gear only that the trans seems to check it self... feels like the driver was applying the breaks does not do it in any other gear... tech said it could be a software up grade any thoughts......

I have heard everything and nothing trans fluid flush trans filter change (which you have to replace the whole pan) software upgrade and people refer. me to hard shift from 2 to 3 As I describe before 5th gear only clunk sound and feels like a checking of some kind or like the drive is brake checking someone riding there bumper... I losing my mind helpppppppppppp!!!!

John You have several options with this car. Try to investigate the options the the board gives you, go to an INDY or the Dealership.

When you do it yourself, you still save money when you screw up as it cheaper than the dealer.

If you have a good INDY or shop experienced with your cars you can find good service and prices...

If your really not sure take it to the dealership for diagnosis. At the minimum the will give you an idea what the problem is. However its true they can sometimes just throw very expensive parts at the problem. But if you get the diag then do it yourself or take it elsewhere you can save.

Keep working at it.

Thanks Wilson I since have taken it to Ammco and they told me to bring it back and have someone else look at it their IDK i'll keep form updated

Dear JHouston04745Li:
I too have an 04 745Li with V8 and 6 speed transmission. I purchased the car in Aug of 06and have been fighting the 5th gear issue as you've described for about 3 years (it was intermittent). The dealership has been working on this problem since Jan 07'. Reset the trans twice, then reprogrammed it along with a complete drive train inspection filter change, etc. Now the stutter problem has gotten worse and spread to 4th gear along with hard shift in upper gears. Now BMW tells me the transmission needs replaced (metal in the fluid). Car is out of warranty now and BMW won't participate. They said I am the second owner, so they won't cover it. I feel your pain.

so what your saying then is its a new tranny to cure this problem ! not good !

I'm ready to have the transmission torn apart and rebuilt. Need to find the problem and source of the metal. Really sucks since BMW should have replaced it under warranty 2 years ago. The Dealer service rep and service manager agree with me, but the area rep says they won't cover it and BMWNA won't override the rep's decision. I can't decide if I should call the tranmission shop or a lawyer.

Originally Posted by jheany

I'm ready to have the transmission torn apart and rebuilt. Need to find the problem and source of the metal. Really sucks since BMW should have replaced it under warranty 2 years ago. The Dealer service rep and service manager agree with me, but the area rep says they won't cover it and BMWNA won't override the rep's decision. I can't decide if I should call the tranmission shop or a lawyer.

if you can prove they should have done that long ago !? i'd go seek legal advice ! metal shards in gear oil means big trouble is coming ! go get em tiger !!

TransMasters is an option also, they have rebuilt 7 trannys ready to go for about 3800, quality assured and everything, guess u just need a mechanic to install.

the problem for me has been really odd to it seems to come and I took it to Ammco and they said it seems like it is try to kick down or something those clowns want me to bring it back to them.... not going to happen. 74000 miles and doing ok I just switch to M mode and shift it my self 45 in 4th gear is smooth and 55 in 6th gear I just say **** 5th gear all together

Originally Posted by JHouston04745LI

the problem for me has been really odd to it seems to come and I took it to Ammco and they said it seems like it is try to kick down or something those clowns want me to bring it back to them.... not going to happen. 74000 miles and doing ok I just switch to M mode and shift it my self 45 in 4th gear is smooth and 55 in 6th gear I just say **** 5th gear all together

You're hoping it doesn't spread out, but what if it does ? If you love your car enough, it care of it or get rid of it before it's getting worse.
You sure get around the problem but the problem won't get around you.
It's your only call.
A few months ago, I bought an 04 745Li with 82K miles on it for $24K + everything else. It came BMW Free Service maintenance and the PowerTrain warranty, all up to 100K miles. ( The car was BEAUTIFUL, you won't find a better one. )
I did feel there's a problem on 4th or 5th. So they took it in and did whatever and said this and that.
To make a long story short, They ended up taking the car back after 5 weeks I got it he road... I JUST GOT LUCKY THERE, I'll tell ya
If they didn't take it back, I would have ended up with all that problem that I wouldn't want to know what to do with it.
But good luck with your car, Bud.

Is the a 2004 745 issue with the 4-5th gear stall??

Originally Posted by Wilassasin

Is the a 2004 745 issue with the 4-5th gear stall??

No, It was just a harsh shifting only at that gear. Nothing else. It was Black and beautiful.
Still not sure why I bought an 04 with 82K miles. Now that I come to think about it...

I just got myself a beautiful White 05 745Li with 50K miles on it for the same price. LOVE IT. Not sure if I should get aftermarket warranty for it. After I did a few researches, they seem to be problems everywhere you go.
Still thinking.

It is just 5th gear at this point and it was a corp. car from cali... had all maint. records. with it.... it is not a stall per say I would call it a hickup a 40 to 45 mph in 5th gear at 2000 ish rpms the trans guys said it could be a leaking seal or something that causes the car to jerk a little I did frickin know

Originally Posted by JHouston04745LI

It is just 5th gear at this point and it was a corp. car from cali... had all maint. records. with it.... it is not a stall per say I would call it a hickup a 40 to 45 mph in 5th gear at 2000 ish rpms the trans guys said it could be a leaking seal or something that causes the car to jerk a little I did frickin know

Sounds like exactly the same problem I once had with that back 7. Everything else is perfectly fine.

Oh, also with the oil leaks not sure from where, but they took/bought the car back so I don't have that prob. any more.

Originally Posted by JHouston04745LI

It is just 5th gear at this point and it was a corp. car from cali... had all maint. records. with it.... it is not a stall per say I would call it a hickup a 40 to 45 mph in 5th gear at 2000 ish rpms the trans guys said it could be a leaking seal or something that causes the car to jerk a little I did frickin know

Is this constant, or intermittnet? Does it get worse when you increase torque going uphill?

intermittnet and goes away when you torque up a hill because it downshifts into 4th gear

Originally Posted by jheany

I'm ready to have the transmission torn apart and rebuilt. Need to find the problem and source of the metal. Really sucks since BMW should have replaced it under warranty 2 years ago. The Dealer service rep and service manager agree with me, but the area rep says they won't cover it and BMWNA won't override the rep's decision. I can't decide if I should call the tranmission shop or a lawyer.

A lawyer. Let me know if you need one.

I had Transmission Planet in GA rebuild mine a few months ago. Cost me 250.00 for R&R. They did a great job and cost me 3250.00 including shipment. However you have to be careful when you call them because I called three times and got a different price each time....first time it was over 4000.00..

Any new insight on this thread? Just had the trans pan and seal changed due to a leak. No problem with the shifting before but now that it's "fixed" it shifts hard stutter in 5th. 70k miles.

I have a 2004 745 li. Does the exact same thing. 5th gear hiccups. All the rest of the gears are fine. Sometimes the car does it. Sometimes it doesn't! Pissing me off!!!! Lol