Blew my transmission today

DSe93 · 12-04-2009, 05:22 AM

I have a 335 with automatic transmission... I was in manual mode, downshifted to 3rd gear I believe (or 2nd) as i approached a red light... and it stayed in that gear unintentionally as I was stopped at the light... then the light turned green and I started to drive... barely pressing gas, just rollin off the line I flipped to auto-mode putting the car in D.. right then I felt and heard a big pop, then really bad metal-on-metal grinding and the car not responding to the throttle so I rolled over to the side of the road... I tried putting the car in R and D and the same grinding sound would happen and of course no response to the throttle................... so I called BMW service and they towed it.......

pony_trekker · 12-04-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSe93

I have a 335 with automatic transmission... I was in manual mode, downshifted to 3rd gear I believe (or 2nd) as i approached a red light... and it stayed in that gear unintentionally as I was stopped at the light... then the light turned green and I started to drive... barely pressing gas, just rollin off the line I flipped to auto-mode putting the car in D.. right then I felt and heard a big pop, then really bad metal-on-metal grinding and the car not responding to the throttle so I rolled over to the side of the road... I tried putting the car in R and D and the same grinding sound would happen and of course no response to the throttle................... so I called BMW service and they towed it.......

I doubt you did anything to blow it. The car is programmed to shift automatically at red line and brake to put the car in the right gear despite bad intentions.

marcel b · 12-04-2009, 06:01 AM

exactly, that is the advantage of an automatic... you cannot blow it, it has electronic safeguards.

F32Fleet · 12-04-2009, 06:48 AM

+1,0000 When in manual mode the A/T will shift into 2nd when you're stopped. There's something else going on.

theEMtoILY · 12-04-2009, 10:34 AM

Yeah, if you have an auto, you can't blow your engine; have some sense
so dont even worry about that; something else went wrong with your car though, i have no idea though, what did they have to say about it?

Topless 335i · 12-04-2009, 10:38 AM

Not your fault bro. There's no way you could leave it in a wrong gear if it's in manual mode because the transmission automatically shifts you into the right gear if you forget. Plus, there's nothing wrong with switching between D, DS, and Manual quickly.

pruettfan · 12-04-2009, 10:47 AM

I had a really weird shift several weeks ago. Situation sounds similar but my car did not stop working but had a big bang and scared the hell out of me. As soon as the shift seemed strange I took it out of manual mode and put it back into auto and the system seemed to reset. I am pretty sure the computer protects the power train so I suspect if something is not right it may shut the transmission down. Let us know what the dealer finds, I am really curious. Either way you did nothing wrong.

joec500 · 12-04-2009, 10:52 AM

Yah...that's the big advantage about modern Auto Trannies....they cannot blame you for transmission failures, as BMW builds many safeguards for things of this nature. If you still have warranty you are completely covered...Just make sure not to tell them what you did, as they might try to blame you, just say the car stopped working.

Good Luck!

T7R_Sky · 12-04-2009, 11:08 AM

I stalled my auto transmission bmw before, lol

John 070 · 12-04-2009, 11:15 AM

I agree, don't see how any action from the driver could ruin an auto, maybe going into park while on the highway....

But I don't see the point in touching anything, step should be P-R-N-D3, etc. I tried that M stuff on the Z4 and 328xi coupe, and it seemed pointless. Like shifting from 1 to 2 to 6 on your snowblower, at least that has a purpose, but it certainly is not fun....

burberry · 12-04-2009, 11:21 AM

the tiptronic for automatics is still automatic, if you dont' shift in time it shifts for you. sorry to hear what happened though, hopefully the shop can figure out what went wrong. good luck.

Kres7787 · 12-04-2009, 11:42 AM

Still under warranty? That's a bummer. Do hope it gets sorted out quickly and cheaply

aesfah · 12-04-2009, 02:15 PM

just a theory here, but that big bang could've been you running over something, which then punctured or tore through the aluminum heat shield that covers the exhaust and drive train. that torn metal could then be grinding against the drive shaft. happened to me on a road trip: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291104. if this is the case for u, its an easy fix--dont pay the dealer to repair it!

BOOSTED4DR · 12-04-2009, 02:17 PM

You probably blown the rear end....

Johndong888 · 12-04-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

I stalled my auto transmission bmw before, lol

Hahah i've done that too. I had a beater IS350 and totally destroyed that car. I would just randomly engage into sports and mode and start to shift like a lunatic. Stalled a few-times, ohh good times.

shoes · 12-04-2009, 02:25 PM

Sounds similar to what happened in my previous car.
Turned out being the differential.

DVDA · 12-04-2009, 03:32 PM

Hmm it isnt possible to blow an auto-tranny? I am sure we can find a way...

Lets all give me $1 and ill buy a beater car to test it out. I will go 60 mph then put the car into Park see if that does the trick. Go 100 mph and put the car into L (L1) see if that does it lol

CHCCubs · 12-04-2009, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDA

Hmm it isnt possible to blow an auto-tranny? I am sure we can find a way...

Lets all give me $1 and ill buy a beater car to test it out. I will go 60 mph then put the car into Park see if that does the trick. Go 100 mph and put the car into L (L1) see if that does it lol

Doesn't even have to be that fast, a few years ago I was a little ways behind someone in a Neon that somehow slid their car into reverse while it was slowing to stop at traffic light. Suffice it to say, once the light went green the Neon didn't go anywhere.

jhbodle · 12-04-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHCCubs

Doesn't even have to be that fast, a few years ago I was a little ways behind someone in a Neon that somehow slid their car into reverse while it was slowing to stop at traffic light. Suffice it to say, once the light went green the Neon didn't go anywhere.

I let a girl I liked drive my E36 316i auto once and she got it to 70MPH in 2nd and moved the stick too hard, skipped 3rd, D and N and hit reverse instead. Revs went to redline but the transmission went to neutral and refused to select reverse (thank god).

SnEeKy4LiFe · 12-04-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVDA

Hmm it isnt possible to blow an auto-tranny? I am sure we can find a way...

Lets all give me $1 and ill buy a beater car to test it out. I will go 60 mph then put the car into Park see if that does the trick. Go 100 mph and put the car into L (L1) see if that does it lol

I tried it once with a rental car put it into reverse right away doing about 60 mph, the car ran kind of funny after. It is possible to do it. I felt so bad after ward but it was a rental car. oh well i had fun in it..LOL

DVDA · 12-04-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnEeKy4LiFe

I tried it once with a rental car put it into reverse right away doing about 60 mph, the car ran kind of funny after. It is possible to do it. I felt so bad after ward but it was a rental car. oh well i had fun in it..LOL

ANNNNND this is why you buy the $5 insurance & never purchase a "Certified Pre-Owned" Rental Car

CaptainDang · 12-04-2009, 07:31 PM

Might be something more simple... like a broken axle.

12-04-2009, 05:22 AM	#1
DSe93 DANNY 45 Rep 608 Posts Drives: E93 335i AW/CR Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW X5M F85 [0.00]	Blew my transmission today I have a 335 with automatic transmission... I was in manual mode, downshifted to 3rd gear I believe (or 2nd) as i approached a red light... and it stayed in that gear unintentionally as I was stopped at the light... then the light turned green and I started to drive... barely pressing gas, just rollin off the line I flipped to auto-mode putting the car in D.. right then I felt and heard a big pop, then really bad metal-on-metal grinding and the car not responding to the throttle so I rolled over to the side of the road... I tried putting the car in R and D and the same grinding sound would happen and of course no response to the throttle................... so I called BMW service and they towed it.......
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12-04-2009, 06:01 AM	#3
marcel b Lieutenant Colonel 132 Rep 1,898 Posts Drives: F31 340i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	exactly, that is the advantage of an automatic... you cannot blow it, it has electronic safeguards.
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12-04-2009, 06:48 AM	#4
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3616 Rep 10,377 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	+1,0000 When in manual mode the A/T will shift into 2nd when you're stopped. There's something else going on.
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12-04-2009, 10:34 AM	#5
theEMtoILY Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: bmw 328xi Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: south ozone park iTrader: (0)	Yeah, if you have an auto, you can't blow your engine; have some sense so dont even worry about that; something else went wrong with your car though, i have no idea though, what did they have to say about it?
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12-04-2009, 10:38 AM	#6
Topless 335i Captain 39 Rep 984 Posts Drives: AW E93 335i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	Not your fault bro. There's no way you could leave it in a wrong gear if it's in manual mode because the transmission automatically shifts you into the right gear if you forget. Plus, there's nothing wrong with switching between D, DS, and Manual quickly.
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12-04-2009, 10:47 AM	#7
pruettfan Brigadier General 1622 Rep 3,402 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, LBB, DCT, Exec Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	I had a really weird shift several weeks ago. Situation sounds similar but my car did not stop working but had a big bang and scared the hell out of me. As soon as the shift seemed strange I took it out of manual mode and put it back into auto and the system seemed to reset. I am pretty sure the computer protects the power train so I suspect if something is not right it may shut the transmission down. Let us know what the dealer finds, I am really curious. Either way you did nothing wrong.
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12-04-2009, 10:52 AM	#8
joec500 Brigadier General 125 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: it has 4 wheels Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (10)	Yah...that's the big advantage about modern Auto Trannies....they cannot blame you for transmission failures, as BMW builds many safeguards for things of this nature. If you still have warranty you are completely covered...Just make sure not to tell them what you did, as they might try to blame you, just say the car stopped working. Good Luck!
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12-04-2009, 11:08 AM	#9
T7R_Sky "I know you know that I know you know..." 24 Rep 795 Posts Drives: Sparkling Graphite E90 328i Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Escondido, CA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 E90 328i [0.00]	I stalled my auto transmission bmw before, lol
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12-04-2009, 11:15 AM	#10
John 070 Lieutenant General 1707 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	I agree, don't see how any action from the driver could ruin an auto, maybe going into park while on the highway.... But I don't see the point in touching anything, step should be P-R-N-D3, etc. I tried that M stuff on the Z4 and 328xi coupe, and it seemed pointless. Like shifting from 1 to 2 to 6 on your snowblower, at least that has a purpose, but it certainly is not fun....
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12-04-2009, 11:21 AM	#11
burberry Caffeine Addict 46 Rep 1,987 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY iTrader: (3)	the tiptronic for automatics is still automatic, if you dont' shift in time it shifts for you. sorry to hear what happened though, hopefully the shop can figure out what went wrong. good luck. __________________ '07 E90 335xi ► '09 E90 335i ► '08 E93 M3 ► ???
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12-04-2009, 11:42 AM	#12
Kres7787 Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 229 Posts Drives: BMW X1 sD 18d JB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Croatia iTrader: (0)	Still under warranty? That's a bummer. Do hope it gets sorted out quickly and cheaply
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12-04-2009, 02:15 PM	#13
aesfah Max Powers 29 Rep 271 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MoCo, MD iTrader: (0)	just a theory here, but that big bang could've been you running over something, which then punctured or tore through the aluminum heat shield that covers the exhaust and drive train. that torn metal could then be grinding against the drive shaft. happened to me on a road trip: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291104. if this is the case for u, its an easy fix--dont pay the dealer to repair it!
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12-04-2009, 02:17 PM	#14
BOOSTED4DR Captain 29 Rep 932 Posts Drives: 07 335i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: BK,NYC iTrader: (6)	You probably blown the rear end....
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12-04-2009, 02:25 PM	#16
shoes Captain 25 Rep 635 Posts Drives: 07 BSM E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (1)	Sounds similar to what happened in my previous car. Turned out being the differential. __________________
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12-04-2009, 03:32 PM	#17
DVDA Major 126 Rep 1,419 Posts Drives: women crazy Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tamarac, Florida iTrader: (0)	Hmm it isnt possible to blow an auto-tranny? I am sure we can find a way... Lets all give me $1 and ill buy a beater car to test it out. I will go 60 mph then put the car into Park see if that does the trick. Go 100 mph and put the car into L (L1) see if that does it lol __________________ '10 E92 335i\|Le Mans Blue\|Black Dakota\|Light Burl Walnut Trim\|Premium\|///M-Sport\|Steptronic\|I-Drive\|Comfort Access\|
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12-04-2009, 07:31 PM	#22
CaptainDang Private First Class 8 Rep 194 Posts Drives: 335i,911,ISF Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Socal iTrader: (4)	Might be something more simple... like a broken axle.
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