# 2006 BMW 325 automatic transmission problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** transmissions, bmw, 325\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846 "2011-01-11T21:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JHW2006](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JHW2006](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JHW2006)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/1 "2011-01-11T21:16:17Z")
Greetings, Car Talk Forumites! While on a fairly low speed road (35 or 40mph) I accelerated from a stop to about 40 mph fairly quickly and experienced what seemed to be a couple of rough, jerky shifts and then the transmission warning indicator light popped on and i was dropped down to one gear. I limped all the way back to to my mechanic’s shop at 15-20mph. He took a look and said he thinks it’s a problem inside the transmission, but that he didn’t want to take it apart yet. He said a car this new with this few miles on it shouldn’t be having transmission problems and I should call BMW and get them to take care of it (even though it’s out of warranty). I’m prepping for this unpleasant phone call, but meanwhile, when i drove the car home from the shop (a very short trip) the indicator light wasn’t on anymore, and had use of at least 2 gears (the ride home is low speed, so i never went more than 30mph). Obviously, there’s still a problem that needs to be checked out, but now I’m (perhaps naively) hoping it might not be a transmission problem. Anyone out there have any advice or ideas? Many thanks! The car is a 2006 BMW 325i automatic with less than 40,000 miles. I hit all the maintenance checks while it was under warranty, and a few months ago I had our family mechanic do a more thorough, 30,000 mile service (its first servicing since the warranty expired). There’s never been any problems, and the only significant change to the factory specs is that i replaced the original run-flats with Michelin all weather tires (not run flats) at a little more than 25,000 miles. The car is mostly used for long trips and some short trips with only a few months of commuting. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/2 "2011-01-11T21:23:39Z")
You need to get the transmission trouble code(s) read before even a guess can be made. This will likely require a BMW specific scanner (not something they have at the auto stores). It might be a small problem now, but it could grow to a very large one if you keep driving it without getting it diagnosed and repaired. ---
**Author:** ![JHW2006](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JHW2006](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JHW2006)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/3 "2011-01-11T21:33:13Z")
Thanks for the quick reply! I’m definitely not driving it anymore. I should be able to just take my key down to the dealership though, right? There’s no way I can afford to have the dealership do any work on the car right now… ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/4 "2011-01-11T23:01:09Z")
One of the problems with cars that are expensive to buy is that they are expensive to maintain. ---
**Author:** ![JHW2006](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JHW2006](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JHW2006)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/5 "2011-01-11T23:59:25Z")
That’s very helpful, thanks. Car was inherited. Transmissions are always expensive and dealerships are always more expensive than your neighborhood mechanic. Glad you weathered the recession with your folksy wisdom intact. ---
**Author:** ![EdNC878991](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@EdNC878991](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EdNC878991)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/6 "2011-01-12T00:05:52Z")
That was a 4 yr 50k warranty. How far out by time is it exactly? It’s in limp home mode most likely. The dealer may be able to extend warranty by 2 years 50k. It was around $1700 when I was at BMW. May be cheaper than a trans if it is a catastrophic failure. Which I doubt it is. The key won’t give codes. A local shop may have GT1 factory tool if they work on BMW. Dealers can be more expensive - not always. If dealer finds problem because they are familiar you save on diagnosis time. If other shop isn’t familiar they could bill you hours. Have a set diag time in mind and get the shop to stick to it. If your lucky they will figure it out\>If not they may require more cash. Same with dealer. ---
**Author:** ![JHW2006](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JHW2006](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JHW2006)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-bmw-325-automatic-transmission-problem/59846/7 "2011-01-12T00:11:03Z")
It was a new model year, so the car was actually purchased in June 2005. Four years came up first, so warranty expired in June 2009.