Bmw e39 gear box - United Bimmer Community

**bmw535i** · 10-13-2007, 12:19 PM

hi, my bmw 535 e39 steptronic won't drive. when placed in gear the engine revs drop slightly as you would expect, but when you go th accelerate nothing happens and the idle speed returns to normal.

Can you help

(do you know the gear box pressures so i can test it)

witeshark · 10-13-2007, 12:38 PM

Have you checked the transmission fluid level?

**bmw535i** · 10-13-2007, 02:50 PM

Can you tell me how to check the transmission fluid level, as i thought that it was a sealed unit. Do you know what the level should be. It dosen't appear to have a dipstick.

thanks

witeshark · 11-17-2007, 02:05 PM

There should be some way (I'll look at my mom's auto Jetta to see what that's like, I have a 5 speed) Do you have the owner's manual?

**Numark318i** · 11-17-2007, 10:48 PM

the tranny fluids level works by removing a screw. you use a pump and fill till fluid comes out.

**sniper** · 06-18-2009, 09:31 PM

ive got the same problem here with my 5 series e39 v8, now ive done a transmission fluid change and i can tell you this was not the problem i still cant get my car to move in forward gears,all i get is transmisson failing, starting failsafe program on the heads up display inside the car,so ive got a fault diagnostics machine hooked up to my pc then to the cars obd,and i done a full diagnostics check and this is what it said = AUTOMATIC GEARBOX CONTROL UNIT ( EGS) ERROR then it said DIGITAL PETROL ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (DME) ERROR,

Big Evil · 06-19-2009, 02:46 PM

Find the module, check the connectors to and from, check power and ground (you'll need a diagram to find the right pins). If all the connections, wires and power and ground are good, then it's a signal problem from the shifter or a dead module. Did ANYTHING happen while driving just before it all stopped working? Hit a rock or debris in the road, have an oil or other service? Get a stereo or something else installed? You may find your answer by backtracking.

**3050rpm** · 06-20-2009, 12:17 AM

Not sure how relevant this is, but probably worth a look http://www.continentalimports.com/ser_ic100076.html .

**sniper** · 06-21-2009, 07:56 PM

thanks 3050rpm i read that report and it was very interesting,at the moment ive removed my auto gearbox controller (egs) and its going in for repair ,so ill report my findings on this transmission problem i have to.

**sniper** · 07-10-2009, 08:12 PM

The reason the car will not move when placed in drive when the engine is running is more than likely to be the clutchs inside the autobox broken,apparently the ends of these clutches spin off and then the gears dont work , so its eather a rebuild or a second user box,i will never buy a automatic car that has over 100k on it as thay last just as long as a manual gearbox so people be aware that auto boxes have the same life span as manul boxes 150k tops