Hello, I am a proud new owner of a 94 BMW 740i Dinan, the first and major problem with the car is that the car sticks in Park, and when it does go into any gear just sits there. The gas is pushed down, but no engagement. I have been reading about four forums out there for a week or so, and would like to know if the issue is the valvbody or other. The fluid does not look like it has been changed, which os suprising, since the previous owner seemed to take really good care of the car, it is almost perfect... Sorry, also the car has 157,000 miles on it, but for $1000.00 I couldn't pass it up.
Thanks,
Mike

Mike,
Welcome. Might be worth taking the car to a mechanic. Hope a tranny drain, flush and fill is all it will take to fix it.

Perhaps there was a reason PO was willing to let the car go for $1K???? Good luck!

Mike,
Welcome. Might be worth taking the car to a mechanic. Hope a tranny drain, flush and fill is all it will take to fix it.

Perhaps there was a reason PO was willing to let the car go for $1K???? Good luck!

+1

Don't be too hard on the previous owner, the transmissions in these cars are supposed to be "set for life" and flushing the fluid isn't as easy as changing the oil. I mean, flushing the tranny fluid isn't on the regular tune-up list for most bimmer owners.

Thank you, I did not mean to sound harsh on the previous owner. I just was trying to state that the fluid was not changed, and he stated that it had Lifetime fluid in it. Until I read some posts here, I didn't know what that meant. I will keep you posted what I find out. I will be saving up a couple of bucks to take it to a shop. So it may be a couple weeks before I get my answer. Keep up the advise that more information I have the better.
Thanks,
Mike

Kromdom, thanks, I think you are right a trip to a good mechanic might be worth the money. Now I just need to save up for the trip...
Thanks,
Mike

Mike,
Until recently, BMW preached "lifetime fluid" for the tranny...hence no dipstick. My indy recommended a flush and fill @ 60K miles while most seem to wait until 100K miles. Best of luck!

If no dipstick, then how do you get the fluid in the tranny? Will changing the fluid by itself fix the sticky shifter?
Mike

http://www.e38.org/

http://home.comcast.net/~vicent/trannye38.html
http://www.e38.org/zf-5hp30-service.html
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/29693
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/68013
http://www.bmwseven.com/e38trans.html

If no dipstick, then how do you get the fluid in the tranny? Will changing the fluid by itself fix the sticky shifter?
Mike


looks like plik already covered all the bases. here's a pic for good measure (yes, BMW did not make this simple since unit was supposed to be SEALED = lifetime fluid):
http://www.e38.org/members/mikeburnett/zf6-3.jpg

Thanks, and nice lift. :)

Thanks, and nice lift. :)

not mine (wish I had one)..pic above was borrowed from the DIY archives STICKied here: www.e38.org