How many miles on AUTOMATIC transmission before failure? (or no problems at all?)

I have 87k miles and my slips ( or not engaging for while, whatever you want to call it) first thing in morning when cold. Unfavorable tolerances of C1 I guess.
Talked with my mechanic and he said oil change most like will not help, in some cases can make it worse. He thinks rebuild is only cure.

Well, my mechanic was right, new oil did not help issue. However it was good to change oil anyway, it was needed.
Looks like software update is next shot. I told wife to warm it up longer in morning and to hold idle higher for little bit. It works so far.

104K, and running like brand new.

98K no problems ,but after reading this changed the oil..Now for what it worth, I sent the oil to a lab and will post the results in a new Thread..

Wow! I'm surprised at the percentage that have had problems--approx. 20% so far.

My 2001 330ci has 80000 miles and the auto seems fine though it wants to "hunt" a lot between 3rd and 4th gears. It would be good to have a lock out for city driving. I haven't tried the manual mode MS. Guess I am afraid of messing with it.

178+ miles E46 2002 and still runs like a baby... =) and sometimes i use the steptronic ... =)

I do the oil filtert service every 60k in any vehicle so far never have to replace or repair one
they are to expensive

2000 323it : 230k miles and not a problem.
2001 330i : reverse gear shattered at 150k miles. had it rebuilt and running strong at 202k.

Changed fluid and filter at ~80k miles on both. Need to do it again on the 323.. ugh.

my 2000 323i transmission was completely rebuilt with 60000 and now with 140000 i have flare up @ 3000 rpm. DONE

225,048 miles and I lost reverse. I just can't decide if I should spend the money to fix it...

142k with no problems

My independent trans shop says $85 for fluid and filter ($75 if they did the rebuild/repair on it). It's so easy for them. Probably takes all of 10 min. They use Dexron VI in my ZF auto trans and suggest changes every 30K miles.

Tmack04, if you have a GM transmission with NO Reverse, then your repair may be easy to do, even for yourself. There is a DIY either here or at E46Fanatics that describes what to replace (just a servo motor in the valve body as I recall), not hard at all. It is all right there when you take the pan off.
Found the GM link:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=706809

Mine is a ZF and the reverse ("D") drum sheared from being built too thin, so although it is only a ~$150 part they talked me into beefing up all sorts of parts in there with a grand total of about $2900, ugh. Wish I has seriously considered a switch to a manual at that time.

Tmack04, what's your plan?

2003 325xi Anyone have the slipping and not going into gear when cold issue resolved. If so what was the repair and how much of my inheritance will I have to give up to get it fixed?

our (bought new and serviced at the dealer) 323i auto trans died.. not just reverse... at a hair over 50k. the dealer eventually replaced it but we had to act like lunatics to get them to pay. The root cause was a loss of AT fluid. 40k since and no problems, but I still don't have much confidence on this tranny and almost never use the selectronic anymore.

I hadn't seen this thread until I saw it linked from fanatics.

My car is a 2002 330Ci and originally had a post 2001/09 ZF auto in it. At around 145k miles I noticed an odd change in rmp at cruising. Engine revs would jump by about 200-300 rpm and stay at the higher rpm. When cold, for about 5 minutes it wouldn't change rpm at all. Then when crusing on the freeway it would jump 200-300rpm and did this constently for about another 5k miles. Then it started to randomly throw a code that couldn't be read by the Peake reader. but after a few starts the SES would turn off. Eventually I used the O'Reilly's code reader and came up with a P0741 - Torque converter or clutch solenoid.

Long story short I converted over to a manual 6-speed. Upon pulling the auto out and inspecting the torque converter, the seal had hairline cracks in it, causing it to leak under slight pressure.

I sold the transmission and it's still living on in another members car with another 25k miles on it. YMMV

2005 330Cic. No problems. Changed all fluids recently at 80K just to be safe. Runs like new, still keeps me smiling~

128k miles which is 203k km and yet to change trans fluid.

65,000miles, runs great. Original fluid

I have the same issue Rutroracing. Does that mean the transmission performance will improve in the spring, or is that just wishful thinking?

Auto trans died at 181k miles. I had a supercharger on it from 165k to 181k. Before the SC it was smooth as butter.

Originally Posted by crowz

The previous owner never changed the fluid, ugly looking stuff when I changed it around 238k or something.

Holy poop Batman..... 238k and never serviced.

Did you just do the pan and filter ......or a complete fluid change-out ??

Originally Posted by majorpeace

I received the dreaded ! signal. The limp rev in drive. No problem in reverse.
I took my 330 Ci 2003 to the dealer and was told it was a computer problem and that after they re-initialized or whatever.. that it was okay. Drove off and everything seemed fine. 24 hours and 35 miles later the ! signal returns off and on and eventually limp mode returns. I return to dealer and was told the Trans is Kaput and $7K will bring it back like new.

I am in Vienna Virginia and am in need of a second opinion and based on the forum to try a fluid change first before a complete heart replacement.

Any suggestions. Oh bought it used no trans oil changed added 35K to 110K mileage.
Currently odometer is 143K bought it in 2009. No racing.

Replaced steering pump, brakes, tires, that's about it.

Had pretty much the same thing on my 1994 E36 with only 105k miles on it, but for $4000 fix and the trans was perfect 98% of the time.....and it only takes 30 seconds to reset the trans (all by it'self, by turning off the car for 30 seconds).... I let it ride for nearly 2 yrs. Not a single problem as I drove it like I stole it.

The problem was solved when some drunk ran up my drive and totaled the car.... tis why I have 2005 330 now.

$7000 for a trans.... What a rip !!!!!!

Originally Posted by Alabama John

Mine is lifetime and doesn't have a ready way to get to it.

Dealer said not causing any problem, at 173,000 miles leave it alone.

97 BMW 540I

Ask your dealer if he's going to pay for new trans when this one fails ?

Then ask him the definition of "lifetime". Btw....there is no such thing as "lifetime" according to BMW. When it dies is the end of it's lifetime....and guess who pays for it ???

Do yourself (and the trans) a favor....... have it serviced asap.