[bimspiration09]

My sport and manual modes are back!! Like I expected, pulled the center console off and 6 of my 8 wires were completed severed, with the other 2 very close.

My father and I spent about 4 hours on it together. Took the center console (with iDrive) off, unscrewed the 3 bolts holding down the shift assembly, and was able to easily access the wires after pulling off the side molding that was keeping it together. Ended up twisting the wires back together, doing some small solders, some heat shrink overtop, and then wrapping it all together with tape to make sure.

Saved me tons of money and really wasn't that difficult. All you need is some time and patience. I'm going to post some pictures when I get some more time. Thank you everyone for your help!

Picture of the Broken Wires (6 of 8 broken; other 2 hanging on by a thread):


Wrapping Them Up:

[bimspiration09]

I'm throwing this out there - I'd really like to create a DIY video from start to finish (I have other, non-BMW related DIY channels that are a part time job for me).

If anybody within a decent distance of Cincinnati is struggling with this fix and wants me to take a look at it, please let me know. You'll be compensating me just by letting me produce a video from start to finish

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by Tommiexboi

Hello All,

I completely forgot I even wrote this DIY! I'm glad myDIY helped you guys fix this dumb issue!

[hjs1971]

Had to do mine a month ago, any update if BMW will eventually do a recall? If so, can we get reimbursed?

[SJM67]

just did this fix yesterday as i lost DS a week ago...pretty straightforward only took 1 hour from start to finish.... only white wire was severed..all other wires were intact.only drawback was i DIDN'T get that last torx screw on the bottom of solenoid cover on...so i left it off...don't think it will be an issue.

[bmwfixr]

Followup note:

After driving the car for several thousand more miles, the hard downshift from 3rd to 2nd/1st appears to have softened significantly. It no longer exists in sport mode at all. Prior to the fix, I was considering replacement the solenoids (about $750) but that appears to be no longer necessary. Hooray for a cheap fix.

[yupetc]

Great DIY! Thanks, surely fixed my DS mode problem.



In regards to "Engage position P before leaving vehicle" issue, please read below:

After the wiring fix, you may encounter the said error code above along with a gearbox/exclamation sign in the dash. The issue arises the moment you pry out the shifter wires you're trying to fix from the solenoid wall pinch location. What happened is if you pry too much, in order to gain room to get that awkward wire bundle out, on the end of the solenoid stick, there's a slot where it's being driven by the metal rod. That rod moves when you move the shifter out of park into other positions. But there's an inclided metallic clip which when you return the shifter rod to park position, it's supposed to push the inclined clip up and push the "red/white" dotted plastic switch. That switch is how the computer knows you put it into park. Unfortunately, when you pry the solenoid to get to the shifter wire fix, you may have bent the rod out of the slot, and even when you realign it back in place, you could have missed the inclined metal clip. If this is your case, then just take the parking switch "little black plastic box where the red/white plastic dot is" and re-align the clip so that the shifter rod will drive it and click the switch again.

Sorry for the long explanation, but this may save you guys hundreds by not buying the entire assembly.

--
Pete

[Fractolier]

Great thread and thanks to original poster. I was nervous to solder as my white wire broke very close 1.25" from the grommet into the shifter assembly and not knowing what it was connected to, sensitive sensor, etc., and being short on time, I chose to use butt connectors. Not my best work for sure but I got all functionality back. That being said, I'd like to go back in and solder/shrinkwrap extensions into each wire. Is the general consensus that soldering is safe? I ask for no guarantees, just that no one who did solder ran into any issues resulting from it. Thanks again for all of the great input. --Chuck

[bimspiration09]

Checking back in. Everything still working well after a few months. Thanks again!

[ATLIEN]

Count me in for another successful sport mode repair. My shifter had completely severed 3 wires and the remaining 4 or so were frayed. I spliced the 3 wires and put a light amount of solder on them, wrapped with electrical tape and am back to normal!!! It took me about an hour or so and was the easiest diy of them all.

[ayyy]

Thanks to everyone that has shared information about this DIY. I had the usual "car won't accept DS mode but will shift manually with paddles until it randomly pops back into drive. no light on the shifter to signify DS mode." followed instructions and found that the white wire was completely cut through. rest of the wires were beginning to cut through the insulation but I wasn't worried about that yet. Pried the solenoid out just enough to slip the wire bundle out and properly reconnected the white wire.

The only thing that seemed to happen with me that I didn't read elsewhere is the lack of play the shifter assembly had with the 3 T30 screws remove. Sure it wobbled a bit, but not NEARLY enough to stick my detachable torx head kit into those T9/T10 screws. I resorted to using a TINY hex key to remove the lower T9/T10 screws while prying the assembly up and to the left as much as I could.

Still, all is well now and car shifts into DS mode no problem. Thanks again!

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by ayyy

Thanks to everyone that has shared information about this DIY. I had the usual "car won't accept DS mode but will shift manually with paddles until it randomly pops back into drive. no light on the shifter to signify DS mode." followed instructions and found that the white wire was completely cut through. rest of the wires were beginning to cut through the insulation but I wasn't worried about that yet. Pried the solenoid out just enough to slip the wire bundle out and properly reconnected the white wire.

The only thing that seemed to happen with me that I didn't read elsewhere is the lack of play the shifter assembly had with the 3 T30 screws remove. Sure it wobbled a bit, but not NEARLY enough to stick my detachable torx head kit into those T9/T10 screws. I resorted to using a TINY hex key to remove the lower T9/T10 screws while prying the assembly up and to the left as much as I could.

Still, all is well now and car shifts into DS mode no problem. Thanks again!

great to know... this happened to my in 2012. Fixed it thanks to this thread...

[mantis]

just got quoted 14072 dollars to fix this issue, glad i knew about the issue from this very thread, i told them i could fix it for nothing. also filing this issue with the recalls department at my dealership, i will be linking this thread to them to show how long this issues has been troubling owners, as well as the obvious design flaws

[Jedi_Romeo]

I had the no sport mode and no lights on "D" and not recognising "DS".
My broken wires were yellow,white,purple. I have repaired and all is good.

[mantis]

did this repair today, didn't use any extra wire just twisted each wire together and put both into the same side of a red butt connector, works perfect. I did get an error of a gear with an exclamation mark inside, come to find this is the lock out solenoid causing that, it was not engaging when in park. so some wiggling freed it up and you could see it snap back into place, just gets bound a lil when prying it off to free up the blue clipped wire. oh and all my wire were cut but the red one, love having DS back

[gapotter]

Originally Posted by yupetc

Great DIY! Thanks, surely fixed my DS mode problem.



In regards to "Engage position P before leaving vehicle" issue, please read below:

After the wiring fix, you may encounter the said error code above along with a gearbox/exclamation sign in the dash. The issue arises the moment you pry out the shifter wires you're trying to fix from the solenoid wall pinch location. What happened is if you pry too much, in order to gain room to get that awkward wire bundle out, on the end of the solenoid stick, there's a slot where it's being driven by the metal rod. That rod moves when you move the shifter out of park into other positions. But there's an inclided metallic clip which when you return the shifter rod to park position, it's supposed to push the inclined clip up and push the "red/white" dotted plastic switch. That switch is how the computer knows you put it into park. Unfortunately, when you pry the solenoid to get to the shifter wire fix, you may have bent the rod out of the slot, and even when you realign it back in place, you could have missed the inclined metal clip. If this is your case, then just take the parking switch "little black plastic box where the red/white plastic dot is" and re-align the clip so that the shifter rod will drive it and click the switch again.

Sorry for the long explanation, but this may save you guys hundreds by not buying the entire assembly.

--
Pete

Found this thread while looking for a related problem. I think I need to clean this parking switch as my e90 isn't making good contact. The Park indicator is sometimes dull orange like it's not fully engaged or switched.

It is/was preventing my car from going to sleep. It finally shuts off power to the transmission after an hour (Thanks KL 30G)

Thank you for your explanation, 5 years ago, Pete!

[gapotter]

Found a DIY repair video if this helps!

[yomismo]

Thank you so much

[pardeapriete]

Originally Posted by yupetc

Great DIY! Thanks, surely fixed my DS mode problem.



In regards to "Engage position P before leaving vehicle" issue, please read below:

After the wiring fix, you may encounter the said error code above along with a gearbox/exclamation sign in the dash. The issue arises the moment you pry out the shifter wires you're trying to fix from the solenoid wall pinch location. What happened is if you pry too much, in order to gain room to get that awkward wire bundle out, on the end of the solenoid stick, there's a slot where it's being driven by the metal rod. That rod moves when you move the shifter out of park into other positions. But there's an inclided metallic clip which when you return the shifter rod to park position, it's supposed to push the inclined clip up and push the "red/white" dotted plastic switch. That switch is how the computer knows you put it into park. Unfortunately, when you pry the solenoid to get to the shifter wire fix, you may have bent the rod out of the slot, and even when you realign it back in place, you could have missed the inclined metal clip. If this is your case, then just take the parking switch "little black plastic box where the red/white plastic dot is" and re-align the clip so that the shifter rod will drive it and click the switch again.

Sorry for the long explanation, but this may save you guys hundreds by not buying the entire assembly.

--
Pete

Exxaaaactamente, es usted muy observador👍👍

[yupetc]

Originally Posted by pardeapriete

Exxaaaactamente, es usted muy observador👍👍

You're welcome.