I was trolling local CL for cheap cars, and found quite a few LOW priced BMWs with transmission problems. Hmmm. So I did a search, trying to find a source for cheap replacement units. What I found was an indication that these transmissions are absolute junk, and cost 3-5K to replace. Is this true? Kind of sad, some of the posts I read.
Not sure on the prices to replace.. but if they are automatics... they are victems of BMW's "lifetime" fluid with no scheduled or recommended changes
what he said.
their manual transmissions are fine.
and really, the automatics they use aren't really BAD, it's just that bmw said you don't have to change the fluid. Ever. So people don't, and then they predictibly die off after 10-15 years.
yea.. it's really a shame. They are doing a good job of making their cars seem unreliable
I got my wagon 4 years ago with 107k. Had to replace the tranny 2 years ago at 130k. It was its first transmission. The unit is a getreg 5-speed. Great tranny- just wasn't driven properly.
The BMW stealership quoted my 5k to get it fixed. Ended up costing me 3k. But next time I would have sourced the tranny myself, then had them do it. the 3k also included a new clutch
STAY away from the GM automatics that BMW used for early model E46s!!
belteshazzar wrote: what he said. their manual transmissions are fine. and really, the automatics they use aren't really BAD, it's just that bmw said you don't have to change the fluid. Ever. So people don't, and then they predictibly die off after 10-15 years.
This is also very true. I even swap my tranny fluid in my manual
Unfortunately its true. The autos are just not that great. Then you combine it with the lack of maintenance that people assume and its a nightmare.
They are expensive to buy used, expensive to rebuild, expensive to everything.
I drove an auto 87 325e when I was looking at e30s... Good lord I wanted to put my fist through the windshield after driving that car!
BMW finally realized the error of their ways and changed the maintenance interval for the auto transmission in the E65/66 7 series at least from "lifetime fill" to 100k miles for fluid changes. I had mine done at 60k and need to do the pan (which contains the filter) and fluid again now that I'm at 107k. Thanks for the reminder - I'll be ordering parts on Monday.
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