I've spent quite a bit of time today, trying to figure out what transmission I have. I thought I would share the procedure to save somebody time down the road.

I read before that I was supposed to look under the car to see the transmission number. Well ... I looked and looked, and no numbers were to be found. "Under the car" is not quite where I would point people...

Picture 1 shows where the transmission label is. As you can see it is on the drives side of the transmission. It is practically impossible to see from underneath the car. It is obscured by varios pipes. There was only one particular angle, through which I could glimpse the last few numbers on that plate. I my they were 1423302. You can cross-reference this number with tables on the internet to find out that this identifies the ZD 5HP-24 transmission. The missing numbers are 24 00. The complete BMW number was therefore 24 00 1 423 302.

Another common instruction is to look for the label on the transmission oil pan. Well, for me the entire bottom of the pan was covered in thin but dense layer of dirt -- such that the entire label was covered. It is only after I spent close to an hour rubbing the dirt off that I was finally able to see the green peeking through. And about 30 minutes later, I was finally able to read the label. Picture 2.

Hope this helps.

That's great info...and love the text on the green label...but wouldn't it have been easier just to check the VIN decoder website or the tranny charts on e38.org? :D

VIN Decoder website (see 2nd frame for transmission model #): http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi

http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/Tranny/ZF1999Chart.jpg

http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/Tranny/ZF2000Chart.jpg

So I have the 5HP30 rather than the 5HP24.
Any real big difference that makes it "beefier" to handle the V12? Or maybe just the bell housing and flywheel are different to match up?

Oh, damn! I did not know that tranmission is encoded in the VIN...
That's indeed a much easier way. Thanks, Qsilver.

Generally, the engine that produces more torque should have a transmission that can handle it. It's best from the engineering point of view. 750 does not seem like a cost saver, so I would assume it has a "beefier" transmission.

Also, do not all 750 come with steptronic? That would mean a seriously different transmission from 740.

I was told the steptronic was standard starting in 99. I think I've seen two different things on the console in some cars. Just throw the gear shift to the left and start shifting, like mine, and the other is a button you have to switch and the gear shift stays in the same alignment. Does that make sense?...

Also, do not all 750 come with steptronic? That would mean a seriously different transmission from 740.

Steptronic does not use a different transmission at all, it's simply a different way of choosing gears, and has slightly different software due to the different switch.

The chart Q posted is universally true. Steptronic was not on all 750s because it was not introduced until partway through the E38's run. Steptronic was standard on the 740i Sport as well.