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BMW 5-Series Sedans

12737 messages,  Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 11:05 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan

Messages Page 1108 of 1274

#11071 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [jhammell] by div2

Dec 29, 2005 (8:00 am)

Replying to: jhammell (Dec 28, 2005 10:50 pm)
BMW manual transmissions are known for their durability. I'm on another E39 list and I can't recall any reports of a manual failure. In 22 years of BMW ownership I've only had to rebuild one-the Getrag in my 1973 Bavaria 3.0. That one failed because the previous owner filled it with GL-5 gear oil. The popping out of gear problem should have been corrected by the 2001 model year. In any event, according to Mike Miller's Roundel article a rebuild should not be necessary to correct that problem. Do you use the shift knob for a hand rest? BMW transmissions don't endure that treatment very well.

#11072 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [jhammell] by cmybimmergo

Dec 29, 2005 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: jhammell (Dec 28, 2005 10:50 pm)
My 02 5 spd sport (built 10/01, I believe) does the same thing! It kicks out of second gear for no obvious reason, and with no discernible meaningful pattern. It's been to the dealer two times. The first time, they replaced the buffer stop under original factory warranty. It didn't rectify the problem. The second time, we went on a good 20-30 minute drive during which I passed the "but can she *really* drive a stick" test, but we were unable to replicate the problem. My indie posits that if the shifting fork is bent, it could explain why sometimes it won't go in and other times it will. But because it occurs so intermittently, BMW is not inclined to do anything about it.
 
You say your first transmission was replaced. What exactly was the reason given to do this? I need all the ammunition I can get...

#11073 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [div2] by cmybimmergo

Dec 29, 2005 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: div2 (Dec 29, 2005 8:00 am)
The popping out of gear problem should have been corrected by the 2001 model year. In any event, according to Mike Miller's Roundel article a rebuild should not be necessary to correct that problem.
 
Are you implying that this is a known problem? Where can I find the article?

#11074 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [cmybimmergo] by div2

Dec 29, 2005 (9:22 pm)

Replying to: cmybimmergo (Dec 29, 2005 12:26 pm)
Any BMW CCA member who archives their recent Roundel copies should have it. The issue has also been discussed at length on some other BMW boards.

#11075 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [div2] by cmybimmergo

Dec 29, 2005 (10:26 pm)

Replying to: div2 (Dec 29, 2005 9:22 pm)
Will you please define "recent"? I'm not a BMW CCA member; if I can track down someone who has back issues, it would be nice to know which one I need.
 
After reading your post, I looked elsewhere and found several mentions on another board, but no actual explanations or solutions. But what I don't get is how, if it's so well known, no one I've spoken to has ever heard of or experienced it.

#11076 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [div2] by cmr530i

Dec 30, 2005 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: div2 (Dec 29, 2005 9:22 pm)
As a new BMW CCA member, I only have a half dozen issues archived, but I did run across a Mike Miller answer to someone who had a 1995 525i pop out of 1st gear. Mike attributed this to a rare but well-known defect in the S5D 250G manual gearbox. He states that a number of S5D 250Gs produced up to 04/98 had an incorrectly machined guide sleeve on first and second gear. In time, this defect causes the pop out problem. I know that the car at issue here is the E39, but could it also have a similar rare defect, only that it is not that well-known yet? Mike's answer said that there was a Service Information Bulletin, 23 02 99 that detailed the problem amd limited it to the E36 3 series, but that the same gearbox is used in the E34 5 series six cylinder models. He said that "if the complaint was under warranty, BMW would have replaced the gearbox with a factory remanufactured unit. Today, the gearbox can be repaired with an updated first and second gear guide sleeve." This repair requires the technician to remove and completely disassemble the gearbox. FYI, He knows of only four BMW manual gearbox rebuilders nationwide:
Bavarian Engine Exchange (www.bmwengine.com)
Brett Anderson (www.koalamotorsport.com)
Jim Blanton (www.performancegearing.com)
Jim Rowe: (www.metricmechanic.com)
Mike says that a rebuilt from these guys will result in a stronger gearbox than stock. They might also work with you if you just want a new guide sleeve.
Hope some of this info helps in some way to get to the bottom of the E39 manual gear pop out problem.
P.S. The Roundel issue I referenced was from Sept. 2005

#11077 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [cmr530i] by cmybimmergo

Dec 30, 2005 (8:48 pm)

Replying to: cmr530i (Dec 30, 2005 5:38 pm)
This is the most helpful information I have seen. Thanks for taking the time to post it.
 
Happy New Year to you and everyone else on this board.

#11078 of 12737 Nextel Bluetooth connectivity with 530i by juniorbmw

Jan 01, 2006 (8:51 am)

I took a change and purchased a Nextel i870 bluetooth cellular phone yesterday, even though Nextel isn’t listed on BMW’s list of officially supported Bluetooth compatible phone list.
 
I enjoyed some (enough) success in that the phone paired with the vehicle with very little difficulty and I’m able to make and receive phone calls, as well as use the voice command feature to dial numbers.
 
The only limitation is that I’m unable to download my cell phone’s phonebook to the vehicle; I guess that was the reason why Nextel didn’t make BMW’s list of officially supported Bluetooth compatible phone list.
 
Still, I’m happy to report that the core features of the phone are available through BMW’s bluetooth, and can only hope in time that the technology will improve that will allow the phonebook to be downloaded.
 
I realize that Nextel’s phone service is different from other carriers, e.g. T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless, primarily because of their walkie-talkie feature, but I’ve opted to stay with Nextel and just a little happy that all the bluetooth features work save for the phonebook downloading. This offers a viable option for those BMW owners who need Nextel’s phone service.
 
I’m sure bluetooth technology will improve in the future, so there is hope for improved connectivity between Nextel (now owned by Sprint) & BMW.

#11079 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [div2] by jhammell

Jan 01, 2006 (6:13 pm)

Replying to: div2 (Dec 29, 2005 8:00 am)
This is my wife's car and she tells me that she does not use the shift knob as a hand rest. I don't either when I am driving.

#11080 of 12737 Re: 2002 E39 530i second manual transmission failure [cmybimmergo] by jhammell

Jan 01, 2006 (6:19 pm)

Replying to: cmybimmergo (Dec 29, 2005 12:16 pm)
I had this problem on every service ticket we had (probably 5 times) and finally I was able to convince the service advisor (who is a BMWCCA fan who comes to watch us run at Road ATL often (I use my 1985 VW GTi not the 530i)) to make something happen. He did and we received the re manufactured transmission although it was not installed exactly correct as some of the bolts securing the unit came loose after a few hundred miles. Constantly listing the problem worked for us.

Messages Page 1108 of 1274

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