Noob needs auto transmission help - United Bimmer Community

**Dueller** · 12-06-2006, 10:34 PM

First post...great site

I recently purchased a well maintained 318ti for my daughter. 120K miles, auto, immaculate inside and out. I picked it up in Miami and drove it 972 miles home in 13 1/4 hours. A great little car that suprised me with its comfort and economy.

In an effort to make sure it would continue to be reliable I serviced it with all fluid changes, belts, plugs, atf/filter/gaslets, etc.

Now that the tranyy fluid is fresh it shifts hard, especially on the down shift to 1st when coming to a halt. It seems to "short shift" and go in to each higher gear at too low an rpm range. When you depress the accelerator to go into passing gear, it wants to shift all the way back to 1st regardless of the speed you're travelling but then immediately upshifts through the gears.

In "manual" mode it shifts up and down fine with positive engagement and no slipping. However it still goes into the gears pretty hard.

The CEL came on as well as the tranny "(!)" warning light. The cel code reads 1274 (pressure control solenoid). I talked to the dealer parts/service department and they were somewhat suprised as this part rarely fails and as evidence it is not even stocked by any dealers...must come from germany.

Someone has suggested it may be an improper (low) fluid level causing this problem. Logic (HA!) tells me if it were low it would be more likely to slip rather than engage harshly, but what do I know?

Sorry for the long post...any ideas?

Thanks
Jim

witeshark · 12-06-2006, 10:43 PM

I think that code could be right...

**Dueller** · 12-06-2006, 10:48 PM

Thanks White shark...is this common when a high mileage car is serviced. I know I had the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" internal debate. It shifted fine coming home before the atf/filter change.

Just shows to go ya

**QcMarque** · 12-06-2006, 10:57 PM

Yeah... I had that issue on other cars before. Shifted smooth, no issues. Figured, "Meh, I'll just do an all over service" Then the tranny started shifting real hard, and eventually not shifting at all. Never had that problem except on my Caddies (the Cougar shifted much better afterwards) - one was at only 70k ('77 Sedan DeVille), and the other at 165k+ ('81 Eldorado). I've since stuck with the ''if it ain't broke'' addage.

Hopefully it is just the solenoid... best of luck!

witeshark · 12-06-2006, 10:58 PM

I think I'd start with changing that solenoid part Oh! And welcome to the forums

**Dueller** · 12-06-2006, 11:10 PM

Thanks for the welcome, WS...

Yeah, the solonoid replacement is probably gonna fix it.

Its a dealer only part and goes for around $450 + airfreight from Germany...grrrrrr

BTW, this is not my first Bimmer. My "beater " is a 1992 525 touring wagon...I also owned a 1985 Euro (small bumper grey market) M6 that dynoed at 365hp...one of my favorite cars ever ever ever. That is until I handgrenaded the top end on a missed shift. But dayum was it fun for the 2 years I had it....loved smoking detroit pony cars with it.

My current toys are a daily driven 87 911 Carrera and a 76 911 with a 3.0 SC motor that I'm building into a Carrera 3.0 replica.

Back to the 318ti....I'm gonna take it to my tech guy and double check the fluid levels before I try the solonoid.

Thanks again

Jim

witeshark · 12-06-2006, 11:20 PM

Nice rides

Good luck!

**RSF5** · 12-07-2006, 12:44 AM

Yeah that sounds good, and welcome!

**Dueller** · 12-07-2006, 09:57 AM

Thanks, RS...glad to be here.

Pic of the new acquisition...M3 wheels, lowered with Apex springs, Bilstein sports, etc. Noit bad for a first car, eh?

nick_318is · 12-07-2006, 10:47 AM

Welcome to the site, Great little car you picked up there and a damn nice first car. Hope you get the tranny straightened out.

**Dueller** · 12-19-2006, 10:45 AM

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your replies...a brief recap:

Initially it was throwing a code indicating "pressure control solenoid A" (a $400 dealer only part on the throttle body). Double checked the fluid levels (Dex III confirmed as Ok for this tranny as oposed to dealership saying only use BMW lifetime fluid at $20/litre). Then it started throwing misfire codes, mis-key codes, cam position sensors etc etc etc. In an effort to aviod the "dealership" I consulted several different tranny "experts" and got answers all over the place. Most concluded that I had to solve the engine misfire codes which they thought would clear up the tranny codes on reset. Only my original BMW tech thought it was in the tranny and the engine was not misfiring.

Finally after clearing the codes on all systems a dozen or so times did a new tranny code come up: "005 Presuure control valve" along with a variety of engine management/misfire codes. This what my BMW guy thought it was all along....a $75 retail part readily available and easily installed on the valve body.

Results: Tranny now shifts like new and ALL codes on all systems are clear. Strangely, this move even cleared my airbag warning light that had been on the car for several months. If I had an auto that was shifting kinda soft, it might be worth trying this repair to see if it restores some of the crispness in shifting...car now seems to shift much better than before this problem arose.

**RSF5** · 12-19-2006, 10:54 AM

Glad to hear it.

**celsdogg** · 12-19-2006, 11:49 AM

nice job troubleshooting. its always nice when it works out

nick_318is · 12-19-2006, 02:01 PM

Congrats on getting a cheaper fix.