Transmission problem

[harold30]

Hi guys,

I know i've been asking a lot of questions here instead of using google. Honestly, this is my first car ever and i don't have any knowledge before having it. As I'm fixing problem one after another, new one appear and now it's my transmission.

My car is 89 e30 325i automatic transmission. So here's my story,
Last monday night when i drove around the city the transmission suddenly stop working. By means of not working is, the shifter is in D position and won't accelerate when pressing the gas pedal. I switched the engine off, turned it on and shift to R,D,3,2,1, press gas pedal and nothing happens. I checked the transmission fluid level and it was but it smelled burn. Since i don't have any choice i called a friend and have it towed. Now, this morning we drained all transmission fluid even in the hose that runs through the cooling system. We cleaned the valve body, filter and the pan. Attached back all the parts that has been removed to the transmission body and filled a new fluid. We started the car, the transmission shifter stuck on P and cannot be moved at all. We waited for 5 minutes or so but nothing happens.

Now, my question are:
1) Is the stuck issue normal when draining all the fluid from the transmission?
2) If it's not normal what are the causes of the problem?
3) Do you suggest converting from automatic to manual if the fix is expensive?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
harold

[Wanganstyle]

your clutches and other items are probably toast, I have destroyed a couple BMW autos myself :P

if you have a local reputable trans shop that wont charge you a fortune for a rebuild that is the easiest way.

otherwise a manual transmission conversion is inexpensive as many people sell them to change to 24V swap trans setup

[harold30]

Update: after refilling transmission fluid, we switch the engine on and leave it a few minutes for the oil to circulate through out the system. After a while the car ran for 15 minutes or so but it suddenly stop. Even the shifter is in R,D,3,2,1 but it won't accelerate when pressing the gas pedal. It's like neutral shift. Any thoughts or clue about the problem? I just want my car to be running for even 2-3 months so i can save for the conversion.

Note: I am in the Philippines, transmission is not cheap here like in the US.

[techterr]

I think Waganstyle is right, you probably have burned up the front clutch pack. Back in the nineties, people would go to emissions and the they would shift the car into neutral and rev the motor to 3000 rpms, then they would let the car idle for a bit, then pop the car into drive just to have it sit there and go nowhere... The 4hp22 transmission has a design flaw that would let the forward clutch pack stay slightly energized while in neutral if the seals had worn a little. As for the selector not being able to move out of park, that makes me think you might have something in the way of the selector valve in the valve body, such as friction material or metal shards, if you have metal shards, pull the tranny and drain the torque converter, then look down into the converter and check the splines on the stator... mine stipped out, but mine wouldn't move at all after that, just made a whinning noise from the converter.
Check out this webpage, you might be able to buy parts online and do a quick rebuild that will last a year or so

http://www.disgruntledgoat.com/content/vehicles/dakar/ZF4HP22.php

Good luck

[harold30]

After a couple of nights of making decision i finally decided to convert to manual. It charged me $1,100 for a used and almost complete set locally(lacking pilot bearing and cross member, did i mentioned i live in the philippines? so parts are expensive here. i bought most of my parts in the US and wait 2 to 3 weeks to arrive). Anyway, set will arrive tomorrow and hopefully there will be no problem after conversion. Thanks for your input.