E39 Steptronic

[ryanvs]

Couple of glitches with my 'box of late, any advice on what the cause is?

1. Pull off: The initial ‘take’ or ‘bite’ when pulling off is quite delayed, the revs rise but the ‘box only takes at about 2000rpm, there after the pull off is fine. Problem persists if the motor’s hot or cold. Reverse is perfect, pulls off ok every time as I reverse out of the garage.

2. Clunk: When I decelerate or tap off, there’s a clunking noise and a jerk at about 50kph, it’s generally on a downhill. This issue sounds like the torque converter.

3. Shakes: When under load, 5th gear on the freeway, when I accelerate the car shakes and emits a moaning sound, but disappears when I tap it into 4th.

 

[P1000]

Sounds like you might have multiple problems. The most pressing matter is the guibo might be on its way out, it could be causing 2 and 3, check it out and replace if necessary (guibo is the rubber flex disc between the gearbox and the driveshaft). For number 1, I suggest you see a gearbox specialist, and take your checkbook along...

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Hang on, you have a E39 530d with 580nm? In that case, I can probably give you the bad news: you need a gearbox overhaul @ ~R22000 call sparklight gearboxes, they have a good reputation. Then also check your engine/gearbox and diff mountings as well as the diff itself.

Good luck.

 

[rick540]

Actually what you describe sounds a typically like like low oil level.

Do not drive the car like that it will 100% kill the transmission if it hasnt already.

 

[P1000]

Actually what you describe sounds a typically like like low oil level.

Do not drive the car like that it will 100% kill the transmission if it hasnt already.

It actually sounds like low ATF pressure in the box, which is most commonly caused by low ATF level, but this box has an issue with the oil pressure regulator (along with lots of other things that can cause a pressure drop inluding the AFL barrel that wears and the TC lockup valve). Plus, low level on this box is almost empty sump... It could be a failed filter/filter seal or low level, but I have heard other boxes failing like this. It almost always kills the box once it has come this far, since the software will adjust the oil pressure to the max until it cannot adjust anymore... But we can speculate all we want, just take it to a specialist that can do a proper diagnosis. (that is why I suggested sparklight - they have a valve body tester, dyno etc.)

 

[ryanvs]

Had the guys at sparklight in wynberg check it, very helpful guys!
Turns out my box was overfilled. The diagnostic showed a delay in gear selection, which indicates worn clutches, which means a rebuild. Oh well...

 

[zaleonardz]

manual conversion....

 

[ryanvs]

Tempting! Was thinking of fitting a limited slip diff, but I've got my bike to be a hooligan on.
Drive my diesel like an old man, great for towing 3 bikes to phakisa or eastern transvaal (ET).

 

[MikeR]

:wave: take advice from BMW - they all say its normal and nothing wrong:hammerhead:, when did they last drive a Merc or Audi auto :thinking: