Autotragic slip no slip wth?

[spoonerDee]

So I think maybe a year or so I had my tranny fluid changed. No flush no filter just fluid. The shop I trust my car with doesn't do flushes so I asked for a change and stupidly thought he'd do the filter too. My fault for not asking so no blame on him.

So here's the issue, while driving the car shifts normal for the most part. Shifts up fine shifts down fine. However if I start to slow down say from 45-30 then hit the gas again, it will shift up with somewhat of a clunk then suddenly down shift and go normally. Its almost as if it is between gears or didn't know which way to go.

The other symptom is if I get on the throttle (not flooring it) when it get above 3,000 rpm it feels like its slipping. However here is where it gets weired. If I'm at a standstill and floor it it goes to red line through first gear and 90% of second then it will start to jerk a little. If I stay on it, it just keeps jerking/slipping.

Do you think a flush and new filter might fix it, maybe theres sludge blocking channels, or does this sound more serious? She drove perfectly beforehand, shifted like butter, pulled perfectly. The fluid was changed at aboot 60-70k miles. Doubt if the previous owner did it before I bought it.

[Johnmadd]

Just guessing but maybe the guibo or center support bearing.

[az3579]

Just guessing but maybe the guibo or center support bearing.

Those would cause vibrations. I think he's mainly focusing on the slip and the odd shifting behavior. A bad guibo or CSB wouldn't cause any jerking, but it would definitely cause vibrations.

[spoonerDee]

If memory serves me right i think I asked about the guibo and other parts and he said all was fine.

[Pip]

This is why I sold my auto. Was afraid of messing with things like this. I changed fluid and filter and it shifted fine but felt like a slip between 1-2 shift. It bugged me even though it was minor. I really hated that the auto fluid needed to warm up before moving in cold weather otherwise I'd hit the gas and no go. I don't know why this happened and read it could do with low fluid levels but always filled per the book.

Best of luck figuring this out and sorry I couldn't be of more help

[wsmeyer]

After helping Rando change his fluid I just want to add that it is tricky to get the fluid level correct. We spent a good 1/2 hour checking, adding, checking, adding... so I would investigate that first.

[Pip]

After helping Rando change his fluid I just want to add that it is tricky to get the fluid level correct. We spent a good 1/2 hour checking, adding, checking, adding... so I would investigate that first.

Well that could have been my problem. Any advice for the OP for getting the correct level?

[wsmeyer]

It's the only time I have ever done it on one of our cars. We went by the Bentley manual, I'll take some pics of the instructions later this evening.

[brettbimmer]

I would start by checking the fluid level and see if there are any fluid leaks. Sounds like it may be low on fluid given the symptoms.

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[wsmeyer]

These are the Bentley instructions. I assume they would be the same as TIS.

22950

[wsmeyer]

22951

[ryankokesh]

For what it's worth, when I had an auto it was doing some funky stuff. Had the software reflashed and everything was good for years after. No idea if that has anything at all to do with this, but figured I'd throw it out there!

[TheFinanceGuy]

I think this might be relevant,

The E70 (2008 115k miles) had a small trans leak. I first noticed right after I bought the car. About 6 months after, the transmission started to slip. It was terrible between first and second. It would rev way up before finally catching, and shifting.

I dropped the car at the shop for help. He tested the following
-Reset adaptations
-Tested the electronic connections - all functioned correctly
-Removed trans pan, and fluid to inspect for metal shavings. none found - fluid was 1/2qt low
-Replaced pan, and filled fluid. Drove, topped off, drove, topped off, tested, drove.
FINALLY, after topping off three times, we finally arrived at the correct level. Everything shifts as it should Functions great. Everyone I have spoken with does not think that 1/2 qt low should cause those issues. However, it seems that was the issue.

Long suggestion short, check the fluid level. Perhaps it is low?

[BMWCurves]

That seems like an arduous process to get the oil level correct. I sort of understand though, it has to be at a specific temperature (slight expansion of the oil) and in all the parts of the transmission.

[WOLFN8TR]

I can't believe they didn't change the filter while they were in there, is so easy with the pan off. I did mine at 95K and it was the original oil and it smelled and looked nasty. I found running the car for approx 10 minutes got the oil to the proper temp for checking the level. Also what kind of oil did you use? This could be what's causing the problems. Make sure you use Redline and not Royal Purple crap. A friend of mine used Royal Purple in his Mini Cooper even thou I advised him not to and he had all kinds of shifting issues. He switched to Redline and the problems went away.

[spoonerDee]

Well I trust my mechanic, he's the best euro mechanic in the area, but perhaps something went amiss? So odd to think that perhaps fluid being a little low would cause so much trouble. Thanks for.the insight.

[johnrando]

One other thing. Supposedly the trans fluid is lifetime, so you shouldn't have to change it. So, unless they really screwed something up, that would be strange to have bad fluid be an issue as the old or the new should be fine. Maybe it is low, but that also seems like severe symptoms as you said. Worth checking, but seems like it might be something else.

[az3579]

One other thing. Supposedly the trans fluid is lifetime, so you shouldn't have to change it. So, unless they really screwed something up, that would be strange to have bad fluid be an issue as the old or the new should be fine. Maybe it is low, but that also seems like severe symptoms as you said. Worth checking, but seems like it might be something else.

"Lifetime" = 100k miles, only using OE fluid.

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[WOLFN8TR]

"Lifetime" = 100k miles, only using OE fluid.

Or BMW factory Warranty Lifetime. [emoji2]

[Dave1027]

I dropped the car at the shop for help. He tested the following
-Reset adaptations
-Tested the electronic connections - all functioned correctly
-Removed trans pan, and fluid to inspect for metal shavings. none found - fluid was 1/2qt low
-Replaced pan, and filled fluid. Drove, topped off, drove, topped off, tested, drove.
FINALLY, after topping off three times, we finally arrived at the correct level.

No need for this multiple drive, top off thing. That would be way too much hassle for anybody who does not have a lift. All you have to do is start the car cold and cycle through all the gears while warming it up and filling it. That's how I do it. I have my atf hose in the fill hole, start car, start atf pumping in (I use a garden sprayer to auto pump the fluid in). Get in the car and begin going through the gears. I go through each gear, pausing in each for 10 seconds, three complete cycles. Then I get out and monitor the filling process and pan temperature.

Also, about the type of ATF, the best I tried was Mobil 1.

[DasDave]

I'd start with a flush and filter change. I had a truck with similar symptoms. I thought the tranny was done for. Took it to for a flush and filter and it didn't do it again. Start with the cheapest solutions first and work your way up is what I have always been told with transmissions


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[WOLFN8TR]

Do Not Flush the Steptronic. Fluid filter change only is recommended.

[spoonerDee]

Do Not Flush the Steptronic. Fluid filter change only is recommended.

Why no flush?

[Johnmadd]

Never power flush an automatic transmission, it hurts the transmission.

[spoonerDee]

Update: Tranny fluid is not low and problem persists. Could it be a clogged filter, or bad clutch. Any more ideas?

[Johnmadd]

Swap the filter and see if that helps.

[Dave1027]

Update: Tranny fluid is not low and problem persists. Could it be a clogged filter, or bad clutch. Any more ideas?

A year later? Or did the problem go away then come back with the cold weather. BTW, have you scanned for codes?

[spoonerDee]

No codes come up. Never went away. But I barely drive the car, less than 10k miles a year and i baby it since the issue started.

[Dave1027]

Ever thought maybe the problem is not with the transmission? I have to say, your original post is a little ambiguous. Can you more clearly list your symptoms? The first complaint kinda sounds normal. I mean if you decelerate then accelerate, the transmission will downshift. It then will upshift when it senses it's correct to do so. What happens when you shift it in manual mode?

[WOLFN8TR]

What kind of oil was used on the refill?

[spoonerDee]

Ever thought maybe the problem is not with the transmission? I have to say, your original post is a little ambiguous. Can you more clearly list your symptoms? The first complaint kinda sounds normal. I mean if you decelerate then accelerate, the transmission will downshift. It then will upshift when it senses it's correct to do so. What happens when you shift it in manual mode?

Here is what happens. I'll slow down say to take a turn. The car will be in let's say 3rd gear. I take my foot off the brake, press on the accelerator then it "falls" into 4th gear, then suddenly downshifts back to 3rd and accelerates properly.

When in manual mode, shifting works as expected, no issues at all. However the hesitation is there at higher rpm's, anything above 3,000 rpm.

One other thing I noticed. If at a stop and I gun it,1st doesn't seem to hesitate, 2nd gear and on will.


What kind of oil was used on the refill?

OEM BMW fluid.

[az3579]

Here is what happens. I'll slow down say to take a turn. The car will be in let's say 3rd gear. I take my foot off the brake, press on the accelerator then it "falls" into 4th gear, then suddenly downshifts back to 3rd and accelerates properly.

Try this in DS mode, which is where you tip it over to manual mode but you don't shift. As long as you don't shift manually, it'll still be automatic, but will hold gears longer before shifting (and allow it to fully rev out).

If it holds the gear and doesn't do what you described, I'd be inclined to say this isn't an issue but instead operating normally. Every automatic car I've driven upshifts when you let off the throttle as long as the revs aren't too low. Braking and cornering is no exception in any of those cases. If it holds the gear for you in DS, I wouldn't worry about this part.



However the hesitation is there at higher rpm's, anything above 3,000 rpm.


One other thing I noticed. If at a stop and I gun it,1st doesn't seem to hesitate, 2nd gear and on will.

Sounds like a different (non-transmission) issue to me. What kind of engine/drivability maintenance have you done? Plugs/coils, vacuum hoses, DISA valve, VANOS seals?


Just out of curiosity, what is the shop that you mentioned? I might know them.

[spoonerDee]

Try this in DS mode, which is where you tip it over to manual mode but you don't shift. As long as you don't shift manually, it'll still be automatic, but will hold gears longer before shifting (and allow it to fully rev out).

If it holds the gear and doesn't do what you described, I'd be inclined to say this isn't an issue but instead operating normally. Every automatic car I've driven upshifts when you let off the throttle as long as the revs aren't too low. Braking and cornering is no exception in any of those cases. If it holds the gear for you in DS, I wouldn't worry about this part.





Sounds like a different (non-transmission) issue to me. What kind of engine/drivability maintenance have you done? Plugs/coils, vacuum hoses, DISA valve, VANOS seals?


Just out of curiosity, what is the shop that you mentioned? I might know them.

Believe me this isn't normal operation, I've never seen an autotragic act like this before. It doesn't shift normal when it does this. Like I said it "falls" into gear, like it feels like it's hanging in the gear then suddenly lets go and up shifts all in like 1-2 seconds.

As for "sport" mode don't remember. Usually if I'm doing a lot of slow and go traffic I'll go manual. I'll try sport mode for a few days and see how it goes.

And the shop is Autobahn in Great Barrington, MA. Always been satisfied with them.