How To Identify A BMW Gear Box Problem

If you’re the owner of a BMW, then you’re probably familiar with the marque’s famous Ultimate Driving Machine slogan. But if your BMW isn’t performing as well as it should, then it might not be your driving skills lacking, but rather something wrong with your car. A misbehaving gearbox could very well be to blame, and it’s essential to know how to identify a BMW gearbox problem so that you can take the appropriate measures before driving becomes more of an ordeal than it needs to be.

Here are four steps to help you identify a BMW gearbox problem.

Feeling Of Grinding Or Shaking In The Gears

The grinding and shaking sensation that you feel when you change gears in your BMW could be a sign of a problem with transmission fluid. It could also be due to a mechanical issue, so if it doesn’t come and go with gear changes or happen on every gear, then you don’t have to worry about any major trouble just yet. Just make sure to take your vehicle to a mechanic ASAP!

In Gear, The Car Does Not Engage Or Respond

If your BMW doesn’t want to move when in gear, or you have difficulty selecting a certain gear, there’s most likely a problem with your gearbox. It could be due to a faulty gearbox or could mean that there is an electrical fault. BMWs are known for having their transmission fluid replaced quite regularly, as it’s never good to leave transmission fluid in for too long, and there are indicators on your dashboard and signs when driving that tell you if there is a problem with your gearbox.

Wheezing, Humming, Or Clunking, Especially In Neutral

Is your BMW making noises, or is there an unusual vibration when you put it in gear? You might have a transmission problem. BMWs are especially prone to transmitting problems, especially with earlier cars that don’t come with full-service histories. If you hear the loud whine, humming, or clunking from inside your car when you put it in gear, there could be a variety of issues: poor fluid flow, internal damage, and burnt clutch plates being some common causes.

Smells Like Its Burning

If you notice a burning smell coming from your BMW, it could be an indication that your gearbox is on its way out. The oil lubricating your transmission system works hard to keep temperatures under control, but leaks can form when it starts to wear and break down, which gives off an unpleasant odor. The best course of action is to have an expert inspect any smoke emitting from your BMW before taking a trip.

Gears Slipping

If your car feels like it is not getting enough power or hesitates to change gears, your gearbox may have a problem. This could be caused by either having a dry transmission oil or other problems such as having low transmission fluid.

Leaking Or Low Transmission Fluid

A low or leaking transmission fluid can cause your gearbox to be damaged. It’s important to keep an eye on your transmission fluid and make sure it’s neither too low nor leaking out of any point in your vehicle. If you catch any issues early, you can save yourself a lot of money down the road by not having to repair or replace more serious parts.

Check Engine Light Is On

One of your first warning signs that you may have a BMW gearbox problem on your hands is when you check your engine light, and it’s illuminated. If you are sure that there isn’t any other potential cause for an illuminated check engine light, you can be fairly certain that one of your transmission sensors is damaged or malfunctioning in some way.