Hi guys,

I have purchased a 2008 E92 - 325D sport - from a dealer, the car looks and drove perfectly, one issue that came up while on the motorway, it beeped followed by loss of power the amber gear wheel appeared on the dash and on the communication screen came up with "automatic transmission fault"

parked on the site of the road, switched on and switched off still the issues was there, on pulling away the car seems stuck in second gear. I took it back to the dealer where I bought it and its under warranty, I haven't heard anything from the dealer yet.

the car has 48k miles on the clock, its in really good nick, full service history.

as I've just bough the car, less than a week, i'm I in any postion to reject this car if i'm not satisfied/happy with the possible repair? or what should I do if I drive around and say after 2 months or more this issue occurs again, where do I stand legally as a consumer? and what action can I take, the car was 11,000 pounds and bough and I used my savings.

look forwar to hear thoughts and views as always

cheers

The first thing you need to do is to get a list of the fault codes and then post on here. Takes a dealer 5 mins to do. Once you have this you're in a much better position to decide what to do.

hi heliousuk,

yeah I have been in touch with the dealer, and apparently the issue was caused by a damaged clutch that connects 2 gear to 3rd and opens the box to get through the other gears up to 6th. the dealer said that they are taking the gear box out and send it over to transmission specialists at BMW, all costs to be paid by then. the will fit a new clutch, not just the second gear plate, and service the gear box, so far that's what they told me, the car they said will be ready next Wednesday.

I asked to have al the work documented as it would form part of the service history. lets see what they do. i'll add more information I progress.

Transmissions specialists at BMW???? They don't have any.

They are getting the box repaired at mickey mouse motors. Insist on replacement exchange box from BMW!!!!

Hi, yeah that's what they said, we are sending it to the BMW techs I have the email, with the garage details, its Spire of Borehamwood - just to make sure what that they are not fobbing me off i'll call this services centre and see what they say.

I called Spire of Borehamwood, they couldn't give me any details on the part that was brought in, as its confidential, but they said that all the work carried out will be documented and I can ask or the work sheet as it shouldn't be an issue for the dealer to give me at worse a copy for my own records. on the sheet I will be able to the work that has been done.

It's confidential as the garage is their customer not you. Unless it's a valve block change no way will a BMW dealer rebuild an Auto box, in fact I doubt any dealer will, it's just too risky these days. I have to say I'm very sceptical about this from working for them in a past life. Auto boxes now need to be rebuilt in positive atmospheres etc something a dealer just won't have.

Thanks heliosuk - I just need to see the work that has been done, once I see the paper work then I can express a factual view. in the mean time I have joined http://www.fedauto.co.uk/index.html and have been chatting to some very good guys to get their views. on the issue that I have experienced.

one of the view was that at 8 years old and with only 48,000 miles the box could do with a service, and that is 99% the reason as to why the clutch failed, I mean again they said that BMW says that its ZF auto transmissions are sealed for life but When BMW say for life, they actually mean 6 years, All legal liability of the original supplier and manufacturer ceases after 6 years. but the ZF tech says that the box should be serviced at intervals of 3 years.

Hi heliosuk - speaking to the dealer, the fault code that the box gave is 4F85 ratio monitoring clutch e. i'm not an expert when it comes to codes. as you seem more knowledgeable on the subject.

There are multiple reasons for that code as from memory it's a generic one covering a multitude of faults. In an ideal world the dealer should send the car to a BMW dealer, not just the gearbox. It might be a seal issue or that it requires a service which means a fluid drain and filter change. Under European regulations the part/assembly should last 10 years or 100Kmiles however there are exceptions to this which I'm no longer privy to.

I hear you, I'm wondering how should I approach this, I mean the local dealer seems to be doing what it should to get it fixed, I just have the odd doubt in my mind if this fault and repair will lead to further issues. the warranty is only for 30 days after which if anything goes wrong, it will be really expensive.

All Ford dealers have 'positive atmospheres'.

It's the CEM training they do that does it.

H

hi Hammy1962 - not sure I follow, how is Ford relevant to a BMW auto box fault?

hi Hammy1962 - not sure I follow, how is Ford relevant to a BMW auto box fault?

It was a double entandre referencing Heliosuk's 'positive atmosphere' quote.

Never mind.

H