Your BMW is a high-performance automobile that makes driving a breeze. RSW European Auto Repair is going to list the signs of a bad transmission below so you know what to look for before too much damage is done. The sooner you have your BMWs transmission serviced or repaired the fewer chances of additional problems with the transmission.
Check Engine Warning
One of the first things that might happen if your BMWs transmission is going bad is the check engine light may turn on. This is because the transmission does not have a dashboard warning of its own. Therefore, when system sensors report errors, the engine control unit turns on the check engine light.
Hot Transmission Odors
Another sign that your transmission is going bad is if you smell hot odors coming from underneath your BMW. This can be an indication that the transmission fluid level is low, and that the transmission fluid needs to be replaced. You do not want your BMWs transmission overheating. Changing the fluid every 30,000 miles helps to prevent this.
Leaking Red Fluid
The transmission fluid is red and can leak out of the transmission system from various parts including the transmission pan in the transmission hoses. Generally, if your transmission is leaking fluid, you will see spots on your garage floor underneath the center of your BMW.
Odd Transmission Noises
The transmission may also make strange sounds if it is going bad. For example, if you have your BMW in neutral and are sitting at an idle, you may hear humming sounds if the transmission is going bad. The transmission may also squeal or grind as it shifts through the gear cycle.
Rough Gear Shifts
If the gear shifts are rough, i.e., your BMW shakes or vibrates, you need to have the transmission checked right away to make sure there isn’t something wrong. This can be a sign that the transmission fluid level is too low or that some of the transmission’s internal mechanisms are wearing out.
Won’t Shift the Gears
A faulty transmission will struggle to shift through the gear cycle. There may be extended periods of hesitation before it shifts gears. The transmission may also slip out of gear if it is going bad. In addition to these two things, a malfunctioning transmission may also skip gears.
Unresponsive Transmission
Finally, your BMW’s transmission may get to a point where it fails to respond at all because it needs to be replaced. It won’t respond when you put it in gear and it won’t be able to shift through the gears.
Call RSW European Auto Repair in Green Brook Township, NJ, at the first sign of transmission trouble with your BMW or other European automobiles.