Did I damage my transmission?

ihvabmr · 08-21-2010, 05:40 PM

Hello guys,
I have just had a scary encounter with my car. I was on the freeway and got on an off ramp. As i was coming toward an intersection, I stepped on the brake and gradually decelerated to about 10 mph making a right. As soon as it hit about 10mph, i felt a slight jerk, which, i assume the transmission was downshifting. At the same time, my hand was also resting on the shift knob while the transmission downshifted. Ok, so here is where it got scary. As the transmission slightly jerked, my right hand, which was resting on the shift knob, moved forward, which, also caused me to accidently shift the auto tranny from D, to N, then to R.....

When I realized that it was in R, I immediately shifted back into D. I seriously thought my tranny was toasted. After the ordeal, my car drove perfectly fine. Everything seemed to shift as usual. When I got home, i shifted from P, then to R, then to D. Then from D, to R, and to P. No grinding, everything was smooth as butter. I was wondering if the transmission suffered any internal damage, or whether BMW has designed the auto tranny to not shift in R even though the driver accidently shifts from D to R while the car is in forward motion. Any input or answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys for your help.

BoostAddict · 08-21-2010, 05:52 PM

I'm sure it's fine. I've done it a few times in my E46 in the same situations as you had. The auto transmissions in E46's are much weaker than the one in the E9X's, and mine is still going strong with almost 140,000 miles.

roadkillrob · 08-21-2010, 05:57 PM

Good news - sometimes in the late 80's or early 90's, the shift lever stopped actually directly shifting the gears. In your car, putting it in R while moving at any rate of forward speed will not actually put it in R, it will just realize that you don't want to do that, so you can put your car in R on the freeway on 100 mph and nothing will happen, it will just stay in N.

Forcefed3 · 08-21-2010, 06:09 PM

How did you manage to shift an auto transmission while driving? You might want to get it checked out.

ihvabmr · 08-21-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ***********

I'm sure it's fine. I've done it a few times in my E46 in the same situations as you had. The auto transmissions in E46's are much weaker than the one in the E9X's, and mine is still going strong with almost 140,000 miles.

I'm curious on how can BMW designed their tranny to shift from D to R without pulling down on the button on the shift knob? That is quite scary IMO. Thank you very much with your reply.

ihvabmr · 08-21-2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

Good news - sometimes in the late 80's or early 90's, the shift lever stopped actually directly shifting the gears. In your car, putting it in R while moving at any rate of forward speed will not actually put it in R, it will just realize that you don't want to do that, so you can put your car in R on the freeway on 100 mph and nothing will happen, it will just stay in N.

Now that's what I thought about BMW's tranny. It scared the crap out of me to be honest with you. My last car would not even shift to R without pulling on the shift knob button.

ihvabmr · 08-21-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbreeE90

How did you manage to shift an auto transmission while driving? You might want to get it checked out.

Are you able to push the shift lever from D to R without pulling on the button on the shift knob? If you can then that was exactly what I had experienced. I have driven many auto tranny vehicles, and none of them were able to do so without pulling on the shift knob button. I just might take to the dealer to have them check the tranny. Thanks for your reply.

tofu- · 08-21-2010, 06:40 PM

so, it will not hurt the transmission to switch from R to D or vice versa on 1-2mph rolls while parking? (while braking of course)

it happens sometimes when trying to rush. gear shifting before coming to a complete stop.

jhbodle · 08-21-2010, 06:41 PM

Don't worry, no damage done.

Years ago when I was a teenager I had an auto E36 316i. A girl I fancied asked if she could drive it and stupidly I let her. She used the '1' and '2' settings on the gearshift to redline gears 1 and 2, then mistakenly pushed the lever too hard , skipped 'D' and 'N' and selected 'R' with her foot to the floor. The gearbox shifted to Neutral and just left the engine redlining until I yelled at her to let go of the accelerator. She selected 'D' again and all was well. My nerves on the other hand were not!

ridin135 · 08-21-2010, 07:32 PM

Dont worry man these trannys are built for this to happen from time to time. I would only get worried if you tranny wasn't funcationing after this.

Bimmer This · 08-22-2010, 07:35 PM

The transmission shouldn't even go to R while your moving forward. Never really tired in my BMW but that how most vehicles are.

08-21-2010, 05:40 PM	#1
ihvabmr Lieutenant 20 Rep 411 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (4)	Did I damage my transmission? Hello guys, I have just had a scary encounter with my car. I was on the freeway and got on an off ramp. As i was coming toward an intersection, I stepped on the brake and gradually decelerated to about 10 mph making a right. As soon as it hit about 10mph, i felt a slight jerk, which, i assume the transmission was downshifting. At the same time, my hand was also resting on the shift knob while the transmission downshifted. Ok, so here is where it got scary. As the transmission slightly jerked, my right hand, which was resting on the shift knob, moved forward, which, also caused me to accidently shift the auto tranny from D, to N, then to R..... When I realized that it was in R, I immediately shifted back into D. I seriously thought my tranny was toasted. After the ordeal, my car drove perfectly fine. Everything seemed to shift as usual. When I got home, i shifted from P, then to R, then to D. Then from D, to R, and to P. No grinding, everything was smooth as butter. I was wondering if the transmission suffered any internal damage, or whether BMW has designed the auto tranny to not shift in R even though the driver accidently shifts from D to R while the car is in forward motion. Any input or answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys for your help.
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08-21-2010, 05:52 PM	#2
BoostAddict Banned 49 Rep 932 Posts Drives: SGM 335i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Boynton Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	I'm sure it's fine. I've done it a few times in my E46 in the same situations as you had. The auto transmissions in E46's are much weaker than the one in the E9X's, and mine is still going strong with almost 140,000 miles.
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08-21-2010, 05:57 PM	#3
roadkillrob Major General 893 Rep 5,475 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NH iTrader: (15)	Good news - sometimes in the late 80's or early 90's, the shift lever stopped actually directly shifting the gears. In your car, putting it in R while moving at any rate of forward speed will not actually put it in R, it will just realize that you don't want to do that, so you can put your car in R on the freeway on 100 mph and nothing will happen, it will just stay in N. __________________ 2025 X5 Msport 2008 E93 335i FBO 2012 Mercedes C63 Black Series Alanite Grey
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08-21-2010, 06:09 PM	#4
Forcefed3 Banned 132 Rep 4,732 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: South iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [1.00]	How did you manage to shift an auto transmission while driving? You might want to get it checked out.
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08-21-2010, 06:40 PM	#8
tofu- Banned 89 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	so, it will not hurt the transmission to switch from R to D or vice versa on 1-2mph rolls while parking? (while braking of course) it happens sometimes when trying to rush. gear shifting before coming to a complete stop.
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08-21-2010, 06:41 PM	#9
jhbodle Captain 151 Rep 905 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i M-Spo ... [10.00] 2005 E90 325i SE (E ... [0.00]	Don't worry, no damage done. Years ago when I was a teenager I had an auto E36 316i. A girl I fancied asked if she could drive it and stupidly I let her. She used the '1' and '2' settings on the gearshift to redline gears 1 and 2, then mistakenly pushed the lever too hard , skipped 'D' and 'N' and selected 'R' with her foot to the floor. The gearbox shifted to Neutral and just left the engine redlining until I yelled at her to let go of the accelerator. She selected 'D' again and all was well. My nerves on the other hand were not! __________________ F90 M5 (Marina Bay Blue, M Performance Parts) / U11 iX1 xDrive 30 (Storm Bay) Previous: F82 M4 / F20 125d M / E92 335i M Ind / E90 325i SE / E46 318i SE / E36 316i
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08-21-2010, 07:32 PM	#10
ridin135 Colonel 141 Rep 2,407 Posts Drives: Depends on the day Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greenville iTrader: (7)	Dont worry man these trannys are built for this to happen from time to time. I would only get worried if you tranny wasn't funcationing after this.
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08-22-2010, 07:35 PM	#11
Bimmer This Major General 105 Rep 6,473 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westminster iTrader: (3)	The transmission shouldn't even go to R while your moving forward. Never really tired in my BMW but that how most vehicles are.
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