97 e39 circle with teeth and exclamation point inside the circle.

since I've owned my e39, I've always had this problem. when I start the car, a light on the dash comes up, it's a circle with teeth and and exclamation point in side the circle. I have to restart the car a couple of times until the light goes off the dash board. it doesn't always come on, but most of the time it does.
I have no clue what it is or what it is telling me, I don't have an owner's manual.
could anyone tell me what it's telling me or what I need to do?

Lmao @ circle with teeth.

Its your traction control.

no, it's not that, the circle is on the far right of the dash.

That is the warning light for your automatic transmission or to quote the owner's manual-

"Automatic transmission* Because of a malfunction, the automatic transmission shifts only in the emergency program. Please consult the nearest authorized BMW center. For additional information: Refer to pages 73, 76."

Owner's manual is available online.

http://www.e38.org/2000Manual-5Sedan-SportWagon.pdf

+1 to the above stating its the transmission. How many miles on the transmission?

it has 168k miles on it

Is your transmission shifting normally? Any unusual noises or vibrations? Does it move through all the gears up and down?

the transmission shifts normally, but now that you mention it! yes, i have felt vibrations especially when I'm at a stop or driving slowly out of my drive way, it gives off a couple of random vibrations.
all the gears are okay though.

Get the code(s) read then start from there. I believe you have the GM 4L30-E transmission. Sometimes transmission errors can occur due to electrical related issues as well so it might not be the transmission. Start with the codes.

+1 on getting the codes read. If your transmission is behaving normally it's possible that you might just have an electrical fault as bkgreene mentioned. But to be safe have the codes read and you'll know for sure.