[iturbo_bmw]

...

[The_E92_Fan]

geez this makes me cringe. regardless, don't drive the car anywhere besides straight to a lift. take off the pan, check valve body and mechatronic seal. check for shavings, check the color of the fluid. check into the condition of the solenoids. no need to really buy any parts yet until you know whats going on down there

[iturbo_bmw]

Originally Posted by The_E90_Fan

geez this makes me cringe. regardless, don't drive the car anywhere besides straight to a lift. take off the pan, check valve body and mechatronic seal. check for shavings, check the color of the fluid. check into the condition of the solenoids. no need to really buy any parts yet until you know whats going on down there

jeez now you're scaring me. i've just been driving on it lol. it had no problems this morning. I'm gonna try to hook up my Bavarian Technic cable to see if it pulls up anything

[Underground6t9]

I had similar issue, the transmission needed to be replaced.

[iturbo_bmw]

Originally Posted by Underground6t9

I had similar issue, the transmission needed to be replaced.

?

[tlow98]

What do the codes say?

[Molec]

I bought my 335d used and when I took it for a check up the dealer recommended a transmission service, because it still had the original oil/filter in it after 238.000km.

So I consulted a local BMW transmission specialist and this is what he said:

Has it been serviced before?
-No.

Do you have any problems with it?
-No, apart from occasionally holding a gear longer on uphills.

THAN DON'T TOUCH IT! I've seen oil/filter change blow transmissions that were perfectly fine. I don't need you blaming me for any problems that may occur. If you insist I'll service it but at your own risk.
-Thanks, bye!

Than he went on explaining about the oil thickness old vs new, but I don't really remember exactly what...bottom line is it's not a good idea to tamper with it if it hasn't been serviced regularly.

Sorry for this info, I hope it helps someone. And I hope you get yours fixed the easy/cheap way.

*Mine is 100% stock.

[thakid22]

Originally Posted by iturbo_bmw

is there a particular part that causes this problem? what exactly needs to be replaced?

Yes. When you pull the codes, you will likely find something about "gear ratio monitoring".
I have found the ZF trannies to be rather stout. The actual transmission parts are rather long lasting. However, the shift solenoids that control the transmissions shifting start getting lazy with age. @75k this deterioration may be evident, if you look for it. By 100k, they have most likely experienced some significant amount of degradation. Soon after this, you can feel the roughened shifts under various situations. This can go an a bit before you get actual errors and limp modes.

Many complete transmissions are replaced, when all that is really needed is new solenoids.
You can get all of the solenoids for about $500-$600. DIY replacement is straightforward. A Of course, a shop can also install them for you too.

@145k I replaced all of the solenoids on my old 06 330i sport and the tranny was literally as good as new. The first sign of tranny trouble on my car was an abrubt 2-1 downshift during the last few feet of a stop.

I reset adaptations. It would go away, for about 400 miles. But it would come back. I changed the fluid. Shifts got smoother but the 2-1 roughness was still there. Eventually, it progressed to the point there were actual errors and limp mode during hard acceleration w/shifts. When the new solenoids went in all was perfect. Additionally, the car was lightning fast shifting from Park to reverse to drive.. I bought the car used so, I didn't realize that the car was taking longer to complete those shifts before the new solenoids went in. But afterwards, I was like wow! Super fast gear engagements!

Before you let someone replace your whole tranny, pull your codes... Post them here. Solenoids may be all you need. Those things really do get lazy with time and use. My current 535i 2010 @95k could actually use a set. I can detect a bit of the same feel my 330i. Just drove my moms 08 535i @105k today... Same deal, the solenoids are a bit clumsy there too.

These solenoids really do not maintain their peak performance over an extended period of time. I suspect high heat and the constant shifting of city driving cause their downward spiral at some point.

The good news is that, though common, it is a relatively cheap and easy repair. Depending on how sensitive you are to shift quality, they may even be a good candid for preventative maintenance @ around 75k miles.

[Molec]

Hey just found this...thought it might help you with diagnosing your issue http://www.bmwlogicseven.com/?p=3738