X3 - 5L40E Limp mode - Lost for answers

[IronFreak]

So I bought a 2006 3.0L x3 about a year ago, have done all the required maintenance for a 100k mile vehicle.

• Coolant system
• vavle cover gasket
• desa valve
• CCV and hoses
• vanos line
• trans/diff/tranX fluids
• brakes

Its been an amazing vehicle to drive. Until this last Wednesday.... Tuesday night ended well with me test fitting some new wheels for it. I have about a 20 minute commute in the mornings to work. It was stop and go Wednesday morning due to a few wrecks, once I got past the hangups i stepped on the gas, down shifted into 3rd........and hung there.......a really long time before it upshifted into 4th.

Boom......new little yellow warning light I've never seen came on. round gear with an exclamation point in the middle. I was now locked into 4th gear the remainder of my drive.

Called my BMW mechanic, told him what the deal was. When I left for work the light was off, car drove amazing.........for 8 blocks. As I was running up the on ramp to the interstate, same scenario, 3 hung in way longer then it should, I had to lift off the pedal. It upshifted, and boom light came back on.

BMW mechanic clears all the codes, and it drives fine all day yesterday. Until late last night, same scenario. I have him run more diagnostics but nothing can be pin pointed.

clears it. drives great again this morning.......sitting in the turning lane to pull into my parking lot......light comes on.


I'm at a loss. When the light isnt on there is no indication of issues with the transmission, the mechanic even verified with a long drive of his own.


I NEED SOME HELP!

[gtdragon980]

From my limited experience, one thing I remember is that once the computer senses a fault, that is when it will kick it into a limp mode and act strange. So pretty much, what you are experiencing when the light is off and there are no symptoms is normal. It could be anything really, from the ETC to the pins in the connector. There was a 7 series at the shop I used to work at and it was stuck in limp for the longest time. I took a look at the connector and it turned out a few of the pins were not transmitting the data properly, due to corrosion, so we had to rebuild it. It was fine afterwards, nothing mechanically wrong. Given that it is only 10 years old, I wouldn't think there is anything mechanically wrong with it. Then again, this was a e38 so the computers were much older and not as complicated as the newer ones like yours.

[IronFreak]

That is what my buddy is thinking. the #3 speed sensor (something like that) has tripped a few times. He's going to look into a valve body for it. He did the 100k mile service on it and was very impressed with the condition, and with his test drive yesterday is really confident its not mechanical.

[8ball]

Sounds similar to my e39 528iT with 4L30E. The magnet in the bottom of the trans pan was fully covered in metal shavings where it wouldn't hold anymore. Loose shavings shorted out the computer in the pan. Caused this intermittent trans code and limp mode. I know you said you they did fluids but was the full pan dropped to take a look? Just draining and refilling you wouldn't see it.

[DrJosh]

You could try xoutpost.com. that's where a lot of the SAV guys hang out.

[IronFreak]

Sounds similar to my e39 528iT with 4L60E. The magnet in the bottom of the trans pan was fully covered in metal shavings where it wouldn't hold anymore. Loose shavings shorted out the computer in the pan. Caused this intermittent trans code and limp mode. I know you said you they did fluids but was the full pan dropped to take a look? Just draining and refilling you wouldn't see it.

Yes the entire pan was dropped, and replaced as the filter for these transmissions are built into the pan.

[IronFreak]

You could try xoutpost.com. that's where a lot of the SAV guys hang out.

I'll look into this, thanks

[camshaftgsxr]

might be a stupid suggestion but check your tire pressure while your messing around with it.

[Rook12V]

That light is the automatic transmission program warning light. Basically a Check Engine light for the transmission. How many total miles on the car? Did the Mechatronics adapter plate get replaced with the service?

[IronFreak]

might be a stupid suggestion but check your tire pressure while your messing around with it.

Tire pressure is fine, I have sensors for monitoring

That light is the automatic transmission program warning light. Basically a Check Engine light for the transmission. How many total miles on the car? Did the Mechatronics adapter plate get replaced with the service?

The vehicle has 117k miles on it. We did the service at about 108k. Not sure on that plate, I'd have to check with my mechanic buddy that did it. He did send in a PUMA and it came back with bad news. When he ran the diagnostic it didn't give a solution to fix, Germany said because there isn't one.

I drove it all weekend and the light didn't come on once, PUMA stated that it was basically coming to the end of its life. Now I'm trying to decide if I replace the trans, or just trade it in before it takes a shit.

I have done a lot of work to it, runs so good, I'd hate to just dump it.

[slammin.e28]

Oh man....we have a problem x3 at the shop now.

2007, 163k miles.

No codes. Trans was slipping really bad. Fluid drained...it was terrible. So got a reman trans from BMW. Installed, programmed, fixed. Done.

Car comes back 3 weeks later, slipping trans, no codes. I drove it myself...revvs up when you give it like half throttle. Can't pick a gear, hit a hill and it's stumbling and searching. Fluid level fine. Send it to BMW. No fault found. Drive it back, get a code, take it back to BMW....they install a mechatronics and have issues with programming, do the PUMA shit, etc....car is done after 10 days. On the drive back, 3 miles, it does the same fucking thing. Take it back Monday, test drive with a tech, waiting to her back.

Reading, apparently x3s are pelauged with trans issues and the BMW fix is A) nothing it wrong, you donno how to drive, B ) programming, C) mechatronics, D) toss hands up in the air.

I'd ditch the thing at carmax while it's having a good driving moment. Get a Rover.

[IronFreak]

Wife said if we dump it we're going Merica......She can beat me up, and I get to keep my e30 so I'm not going to argue to hard......

[IronFreak]

Thing is...the trans doesn't slip. at all. Mike drove the snout out of it and it seems fine, first few times it came on when downshifting on the interstate, then twice just sitting still. same fault......then I go all weekend, put a good 300 miles on it and nothing.

Just knowing it's there and could come back makes me want to wash my hand clean of it.

[8ball]

Oh man....we have a problem x3 at the shop now.

2007, 163k miles.

No codes. Trans was slipping really bad. Fluid drained...it was terrible. So got a reman trans from BMW. Installed, programmed, fixed. Done.

Car comes back 3 weeks later, slipping trans, no codes. I drove it myself...revvs up when you give it like half throttle. Can't pick a gear, hit a hill and it's stumbling and searching. Fluid level fine. Send it to BMW. No fault found. Drive it back, get a code, take it back to BMW....they install a mechatronics and have issues with programming, do the PUMA shit, etc....car is done after 10 days. On the drive back, 3 miles, it does the same fucking thing. Take it back Monday, test drive with a tech, waiting to her back.

Reading, apparently x3s are pelauged with trans issues and the BMW fix is A) nothing it wrong, you donno how to drive, B ) programming, C) mechatronics, D) toss hands up in the air.

I'd ditch the thing at carmax while it's having a good driving moment. Get a Rover.

This is exactly what my E39 wagon did under warranty and that's exactly how they reacted. Finally out of persistence they replaced the trans right at the end of the CPO. That car went through two more transmissions before I gave up and let someone else deal with it. It's a freaking GM transmission and they run fine in GM's. I think it has something to do with the TCU programming and from my horrible experiences and what I've read you either get a good car or a bad car. Speaking from experience, cut your losses and go find another x3.

[slammin.e28]

I drove this thing down an exit ramp. Was fine until I put my foot in it to merge...then it just went nuts. Revved crazy high, went nowhere. Had to let it recover. Seems to be worse when it's warm.

This same x3 had the engine replaced when the drive belt broke and went into the timing case thru the front crank seal.

I'd feel for the guy....but friends of his I know told him don't buy an x3.....