Expert: Dr. Madhvendra T. singh - 9/15/2011

Question
Hi there, I have a 1990 318i auto (M40 engine). The car has developed a problem with the auto box. When starting off cold, the box will not change up - stays in first gear. This seemd worse in winter months and started to be intemittent. This has now worsened and takes around a mile of driving before changing normally. Once the car is warmed up, the box performs normally. The last journey I made in the car (I live in Spain and use the car when returning to England) it took longer to function normally and seem to disengage when stopping. Is this a terminal failure - or will oil and filter change help?

I look forward to your advice.

Regards,

Mike

La Herradura, Granada, Spain

Answer
Hi Mike, i am not an expert in the mechanics of a BMW , as i have mentioned earlier, but i think i can answer your question quite accurately , an automatic box tries to remain in lower gears because it has to increase the engine RPM so that the engine becomes warm faster , your car has done over a decade so i think the compression rates of the cylinders are less so it takes longer to shift up.