$500 later, issue not fixed and transmission specialist boggled.

[AshOz125i]

Well the last couple of months I've been hearing weird noises from my 125i auto trans. Wasn't too worried as it was intermittent and everything else had been normal with the transmission (smooth shifting). So got the car scheduled in at a (recommended by my local indy) transmission specialist for a looksie.

Upon engaging reverse the car would make a grinding noise or sometimes a 'ping' or 'tink' type noise when cold (which was sounding similar to others with the GM auto trans in the 3 series forums who ended up requiring new diffs and some with new tailshafts).

Took the vehicle there about 2 weeks or so ago, they jumped in and were not hearing the grinding noise, but were hearing the ping/tink noise. Said they would get it up on the lift with the stethascope and suss it out as they were thinking it was definitely not normal.

So i'm out of town at the moment so my partner dropped the car off a few days ago and picked it up today. I had been speaking with them on the phone over the course of the days they had the car for updates.

Long story short, they couldn't reproduce the noise at all since they had received it and apparently tried many times. So they recommended some further investigation which ended up being basically checking the sump and transmission pump on top of a transmission service (added about 2-300ml trans fluid, and replaced the filter as they cracked the original one open to have a look at it to see its condition,, which proved to look completely perfect).

Partner picked it up this afternoon along with a bill for roughly $500. She drove the car home and said as soon as she shifted to reverse to go into our garage, the 'ping/tink' noise was there again

Long rant, but basically im out $500 for work which appears to have been entirely not required and for a problem that is honestly giving me the sh#ts to not be sorted out.

/end rant

[AshOz125i]

Vehicle Is out of warranty

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by AshOz125i

Vehicle Is out of warranty

So? They still know the car probably the best.....

[rking117]

did you know that you can pay the BMW dealer to diagnose the issue for you even if you dont get it repaired there?

[AshOz125i]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

So? They still know the car probably the best.....

BMW don't troubleshoot transmissions though do they? If there is an issue don't they just replace it?

[rking117]

I am pretty sure they do have to diagnose them before replacing so that when they ship the core back they have all the tech data on that tranny to repair it at the facility.

[AshOz125i]

Originally Posted by rking117

I am pretty sure they do have to diagnose them before replacing so that when they ship the core back they have all the tech data on that tranny to repair it at the facility.

Ah rightio thanks. I actually called my local stealer workshop yesterday afternoon and they said those noises sound normal, but said to bring it down for a better listen, they didn't seem to think it was anything to worry about though.