1997 740i Transmission Failure

My 1997 740i (104K miles) transmission suddenly will not work properly...slips, not driveable. What has happened?

Are you getting a 'Trans Fail Safe' warning? Low battery condition will cause this. It keeps the car in 3rd gear I believe. Been thru it myself.

Battery is OK. Transmission problem started following a routine oil/lube at an independent garage. From a start, it would buck a little prior to transmission engaging. The bucking disappeared, but a couple of days later, it quit in a local errand...will not engage forward fully in to first gear...had it towed to my home a mile away...just got back into town...problem solving time starts tomorrow. (:-(

There is an engine malfunction light present as well.

Start with the simple first, fuses, connections, relays and sensors, etc. You said it started after service. Was tranny fluid and filter part of this? If so, they may not have gotten the fluid level correct...must know the steps. If not, your '98 may want the tranny filter and "life-time" fluid changed. I would do this and see if it makes a change. Typically, a radical failure like yours would indicate more problems or very low fluid or very dirty filter, but it is worth a shot. What code are you getting??? Excuse me..1997...

Sounds like low fluid in the tranny.

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Going to be checking the fluid in the tranny and working back from that, including check engine message on dash. Here's hoping...I love the 740i, but I can't afford to put a new tranny in for a quoted $5,200.

$5200??? This sounds like a mechanic who doesn't really want the job, but if you insist at $5200, he will laugh all the way to the bank. You can buy a 1997 740il for that. Did you check AAMCO?

Yeah, I am going to go the AAMCO route later this week after I get my daughter from college. I bet that AAMCO will be a better choice than the independent BMW garage. It would be nice if the problem turned out to be a top off of the tranny fluid or a simple drain/refill and adjustment. Thanks.

Check the harness from the tranny to the switch on the side and the harness where it connects to the body harness... I have a thread on this.. mine was related to a slice in the harness and water penetration.

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