BMW E60 Auto Transmission Problems – Typical Issues and Solutions

BMW E60 is the 5-Series model that was manufactured between 2003 and 2010. In 2003, this vehicle became a real revolution in the way we see luxury sedan cars. The car was one of the most wanted vehicles on the European market and it was actually quite popular in the US. Hundreds of thousands of E60s were sold up to 2010 before the 5 Series changed its generation.

BMW E60 automatic transmission highlights

• Average lifespan:180,000-220,000 miles
• Reliability Score:High
• Prone to minor issues:No
• Price for repair after failure:$1,500-$2,500
• Price for replacement:$5,000-$7,000
• Availability of parts:Good
• Common problems:overheating, slipping, strange sounds, limp mode.

What are the main symptoms of the BMW E60 transmission failure?

Well, everything that is different from the usual behavior of your E60 transmission is thought to be a sign of a problem. We have to be specific because the BMW automatic transmissions are not usual. But the simple rule is once you feel something is wrong with the transmission, you should check it in the repair shop, otherwise, problems may be even worse.

We've read some forums on this topic and we found out that people describe their problems with the 5-Series transmissions very differently. We tried and categorized these symptoms to get an overall understanding of how these gearboxes actually fail and what you should pay attention to when driving.

Here are some of the most important signs:

1. Slipping transmission. The BMW E60 gearbox doesn't have a clutch, but there are still some parts that may sleep. The torque converter and some other units may die and cause these problems.
2. Sharp stop when braking. When you brake and want to stop, your vehicle may stop much sooner than you expect it to stop. This happens because of problems with the E60 gearbox and this may lead to accidents on the road.
3. Sudden acceleration. Usually, when you almost come to a stop and then start accelerating, the broken transmission may feel like it acts in a wrong way - it accelerates abruptly with a punch.
4. Wavy acceleration. If you try to accelerate from 10-20 mph to 60-70 mph quickly with a broken gearbox, you will feel the uneven acceleration. The RPMs will still go up as they should.
5. Any unusual sounds from the BMW transmission. The sounds will mean that something is happening with the mechanical part of the gearbox. This sign should warn you that immediate repair is needed.
6. Limp mode and fault codes. Well, the E60 is not that clever in terms of self-diagnostics, but the system can tell you something is wrong with the transmission. Just read the fault codes.

These are the main signs that something is happening with your transmission. Also, we can add some common signs of problems with automatic gearboxes:

• the car doesn't go forward, only reverse is working;
• the vehicle doesn't want to apply a certain gear;
• the gears are applied differently from what you are used to;
• some modes (like Sport) don't work properly;
• the engine rotates too much before the transmission changes gears;
• the RPMs are too low when the gearbox is changing gears.

If you just follow these signs, you'll be sure that your transmission is going to be broken soon. Don't experience at least one of these issues? Your gearbox is probably OK. But we should add that the E60 automatic transmission is not that simple and it can offer some unusual signs of its soon death. So be careful.

SMG-II and SMG-III transmissions

SMG stands for Sequential Manual Transmission. But actually, these are automated manual transmissions made by Getrag and offered in many BMW cars including the BMW E60. These transmissions basically have two mods - auto that works just like any automatic transmission and also manual where you can apply gears sequentially just by moving the stick shift forward or backward.

These transmissions are not bad but they don't have good mileage. We mean, they are going to be broken much earlier than a traditional automatic transmission. Some small problems like relay failure or pump issues may bring this unit to its quick death.

If you are choosing a used BMW E60, you better find an option with a simple ZF automatic transmission. This one will be much more reliable and durable. Of course, it will also be repaired much easier in any repair shop while the SMG transmission should be taken to a specialized BMW shop for repair or maintenance.

What can cause problems in BMW E60 ZF transmissions?

The 6-speed automatic transmission by ZF that was used in the E60 could come in three different models: 6HP19, 6HP26, and 6HP28. All of these gearboxes were really good and were coupled with certain engines. The E60 was offered with 5 gasoline engines and also 3 diesel versions, not all of them selling in America, of course.

The main problems of these transmissions came at 150,000 miles which is not bad for a traditional automatic gearbox. But the problems weren't very easy and cheap to repair. If you are experiencing problems with one of these transmissions, you better start saving up money for parts and labor.

Here are the weakest links that can cause trouble:

1. Fluid leaks and low level. Unfortunately, this minor problem can quickly develop into a huge breakdown. A low fluid level in your transmission will mean that the trans isn't getting enough lubrication and some systems cant' work properly.
2. Faulty sensors. If diagnostics show that the sensors in your transmission are dead, you are a lucky person. In this case, the repair will not be very expensive and you will be able to drive your vehicle for more years and miles.
3. Transmission Control Unit failure. BMW electronics is one of the most important things to take care of. If something goes wrong, you will have to worry and spend a lot of money. The transmission control unit is going to die at about 150K miles.
4. Mechatronic problems. The BMW E60 is among the most affected vehicles and this problem is not rare here. Unfortunately, locating and repairing this issue is only possible with the help of professionals.
5. Transmission software. The defects with software may come from the very first day of your vehicle. Maybe, you just haven't noticed them but after some time the trans started glitching even more. This may be decided at a BMW dealer by reprogramming the gearbox.

These problems may seem very bad and hard to solve. But they are just some common problems that can happen with your transmission.

Before you go to the repair shop or to the dealer, try resetting the transmission. Turn on the ignition, then press the gas pedal for 30 seconds, then release the pedal, turn on the engine and start driving. Nothing changed? Welcome to professionals for diagnostics.

How can you save your BMW E60 transmission from failing?

For driving your E60 longer, you need to maintain the transmission. Fluid change is needed (with a filter) according to requirements. Also, any small issues with the transmission shouldn't be just overlooked. Pay attention to any small changes and always consult with a specialist in terms of possible repair and maintenance.

If the fatal things have already happened to your transmission, think of what you can do. There are three options:

1. Repair. Sometimes, it's going to be very costly, especially in terms of labor. Parts for BMW trans are not going to cost you a little, too.
2. Used or remanufactured trans. You can buy a gearbox that was taken off a crashed vehicle at a good price.
3. New transmission. The cost of the new transmission will be around $4-5K which makes this action economically insane.

We would look for a good remanufactured transmission which will cost about $1500 or $2000. Also, plan some money for labor because replacing a transmission is not that simple task. But in the end, replacing the gearbox may be cheaper than repairing it.

Final words

Unfortunately, not all BMW transmissions are really cool and long-lasting. The automatic gearbox in the E60 made by ZF is not bad, but they are certainly not the best options you can expect in a BMW car. They have a lot of common issues, small problems that can easily become huge fatal problems.

So, take care of the transmission, service it regularly, and don't forget to order diagnostics from time to time. Otherwise, you can just find it broken once and spend thousands for getting your BMW E60 back to its wheels.