BMW Transmission Nightmare

DIGIMANCER

MEMBER
BMW 525

1992 BMW 521I
185,000 automatic transmission
2 wheel drive
Transmission Fluid leaks

Problem:
Recently (a week after having my transmission flushed) my transmission forcefully downshifted hard while I was driving over 60mph, then my car popped up a "Trans Program" error message on the display. I have been told that this means that the transmission has gone into safety mode and that only 3rd and 4th gear will be used. Aftering getting home I noticed smoke pouring out from the bottom of my car (transmission fluid on my cat-converter). After shutting off the vehicle and starting again I get 1, 2 gear again for a very short time until the tranny goes into safe mode.

Aamco Diagnosis:
When they called this is what they told me.
1st phone call stated that the pressure sensor was broken and then flushed into the tranny.
2nd call stated that my clutch plates were bad.
3rd call a bearing was pushed through my transmission housing and my transmission cannot be replaced.

Thier solution is to find me a rebuildable core, rebuild it, install it and probably charge me a small fortune.

I didnt have enough money to rebuild my old transmission (was going to make payments) let along pay for another core to be rebuilt. What do I do? Grab my ankels and take it or argue? Everything Aamco told me seems to make sense but I am not sure its correct.

3 Replies

DOCHAGERTY

MECHANIC
9,601 POSTS

I would go back to the person who "flushed" the transmission and get satisfaction, or consider a remanufactured unit. Rebuilding a core sounds like trouble to me.

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Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 AT 4:02 AM

DIGIMANCER

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Well, it was an oil changers that did the transmission flush, also they made me sign a waiver for liability due to my vehicle since it has a lot of miles on it. So I am kind of screwed as far as that goes.

Sooo. The local aamco told me that the old transmission is not rebuildable and that they need to find a rebuildable core because the gearbox housing was not useable. After having a look at it it appears that when that seal went out the shaft from the torque converter basically dug a groove through the housing leaving metal shavings in the tre tranny.

To make a long story short, the owner of that aamco found me a rebuildable core and got it rebuilt. Total cost so far $3647. $153 shy of what I had just paid for the vehicle. On the bright side BMW wanted $5000 for just the tranny. Not installed.

Down side is when I got the tranny back it was making an odd sound similar to gear drive. So it is back in the shop again, but this time its covered under aamco's warrenty.

I cant believe the bad luck. I mean I knew I would be spending a fortune on parts and repairs, but I didnt think it would be in the shop longer than it was in my possession.

To make a long story short.
BMW = Broke My Wallet