Has anyone had problems with their Auto trannys?

[Smoove1]

I was just wondering cause my mom wants to cheap commuter car. My family bought a 325e brand new back in 86' but that car had bad transmission issues within two years. My 89' is a manuel and has no issues. I can get her a black 88' 325is, auto for $2,500 or less. The car has 125,000miles on it and all maintaince done.

[brodee]

The auto went out of my '94 325ic at 73k miles. Was told it's not normal but still wouldn't ever have another. I know that's an e36, but just my experience.

[BavarianBimmer]

Maybe it's just a stupid fluid problem :?

[spencers]

For some reason, on my gear selector, the shifter wont go into first gear (automatic).. No matter how hard I try, it wont!

[Jay Stock E30]

don't ever rev the autos in neutral after the car has been in drive..it will burn up the clutch packs.

[Bill 84 318i]

Yeah, it kept trying to shift by itself.

[nando]

I think the E36 still uses a ZF auto transmission, but I have no idea how similar they are.

I had the tranny cooler line come loose on the bottom of the tranny a couple weeks ago, spewing two quarts of fluid all over my exhaust :( good thing the capacity is around 6-7 quarts! Before I figured that out and filled it back up, I crawled under the car and the transmission was making a little bit of noise, but it was just because the fluid was low. No harm done!

otherwise, I haven't had any problems. it did shift a little hard when I first got it, but I replaced the fluid with Valvoline maxlife and now it shifts perfectly, I'd even say it shifts quickly and solidly. I also have no problems with putting it in 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Doesn't mean I want to keep it, but I don't think it's going to die on me anytime soon.

[MR 325]

Please don't pay over $2000 for an automatic E30! Unless it's REAL special.

[MR 325]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=161990951&dealer_id=&car_year=1989&make=BMW&distance=100&max_price=2500&model=325I&advcd_on=n&end_year=2005&min_price=&certified=n&address=91214&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1984&color=&cardist=9

[M-technik-3]

Please don't pay over $2000 for an automatic E30! Unless it's REAL special.

Can't agree on that. Not all of them self destruct. Mine was a great running one and I sold it for $275. I paid $2800 for my 87 325iSa and it had 106k on it when I bought it.

[AdamF 88iS]

Yeah, it kept trying to shift by itself.

Yea I can't stand that shit.

[Avus_325is]

My old 'eta' had 160k miles on it with no problems what so ever.

[James Crivellone]

My Automatic has 203,000 miles on it, and I beat the shit out of it. Including shifting in sport mode while on the freeway so that I am in the powerband during spirted driving :D


i'm very hard on it, and with the 3.73LSD its always at a higher rpm

[spencers]

don't ever rev the autos in neutral after the car has been in drive..it will burn up the clutch packs.

So how do I fix that?

[Rob]

Yeah, it kept trying to shift by itself.

yup