BMW "No Reverse" Transmission Problem

An automatic transmission is just that- automatic, consequently most people tend to pay very little attention to it until a major problem rears its ugly head.

Picture the scenario- you are driving along in the lap of luxury, the satellite radio blaring and the heated seats on. You have become accustomed to the comfort level and great driving experience brought to you by BMW.



You decide to stop at the local convenience store on your way home to grab some ice cream for the kids and a bottle of water for yourself. Upon returning to your car, you start it up, check your rear view mirror, put the shifter in reverse and then the unthinkable happens- the engine just revs as if it is in neutral and the car goes nowhere!

This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or steptronic transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years.

To eliminate confusion, this does not apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of its own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another.

The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by.

Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up.

Reverse is typically a major feat for any transmission to accomplish- imagine the demands that are placed on a gearbox as it is asked to reverse the torque of your engine so that you can back up your nearly 4000 pound vehicle.

By far, the most common cause of the reverse problem in BMW's is the failure of the D-G clutch drum. Specifically, the snap ring that retains the D or reverse clutch breaks out of the clutch drum resulting in an inability for the clutch pack to apply.

The good news is that there is hope in regards to a proper repair. The factory has released an updated part that so far appears to be a permanent fix for this problem.

In our testing and in conjunction with several hundred successful repairs at our facilities, the new part seems to be metallurgically superior in several ways.

We have found that there is an improved radius area as well as slightly thicker casting. In addition to this, the grove that retains the snap ring is also relocated further away from the edge of the drum.

With this issue addressed and attention to detail in several other areas of the ZF5HP19 unit, the transmission can be repaired to "better than new" condition by a competent transmission rebuilder / remanufacturer. In fact, when properly repaired, the ZF gearbox becomes quite robust and can provide an almost indefinite service life.

The Historical Of Mercedez Benz

History of Mercedes Benz, starting from a man named Emil Jellinek. He is an entrepreneur born in Leipzig (Germany) who later settled in Nice (France) and became a distributor of DMG products car.

DMG is an abbreviation of the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, the automotive company which was founded by Gottlieb Daimler.
At one point, Emil Jellinek Wilhelm Maybach begged, chief designer of Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG), in order to make the car fast, lightweight, and safe.
Emil Jellinek Wilhelm Maybach was the person who designed the first truck in the world, and directly produced in early 1896. As of October 1, 1896, a car of this design results in exports for the first time into this Maybach London.Nama later immortalized in the form of a sophisticated car Luxury Mercedes Benz saloon.

On April 2, 1900, exactly 26 days after the death of Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach to keep her promise, and began to make a car at the request of Emil Jellinek, when it could be said milestone "Mercedes Benz" dimulai.sejarah-car-mercy-retro-mercedesNama " Mercedes "was taken from the name of Emil Jellinek's daughter, who was then aged 10 years. Use of the name "Mercedes" by Emil Jellinek personafikasi affection than a parent to his daughter, also showed business instinct very high Emil Jellinek.

He values the importance of building a commercial image, by choosing a trademark name. "Mercedes" in Spanish or "Merci" in French which have a positive meaning of "gratitude", or in Latin which means "great gift".

historical-cars-retro-mercy-first 1886Mobil DMG with the name Mercedes was launched on December 22, 1900, and patented the name directly as a trademark in 1902

No half-hearted, Emil Jellinek ordered 36 units of 550 000 marks worth of gold (if compared with the current equal to 36 Mercedes Benz S 500, or more than 100 Mercedes Benz C 200 Kompressor).

Like this major corporations world-class, mergers like something that is difficult to develop the company circumvented.

And this is the form of mergers that seem to be preferred since the beginning of DMG than to forge strategic alliances with other automotive industries or acquisitions entered into

In 1926, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie (founded by Karl Benz) mergers, and his name berunah become "Mercedes Benz". Karl Benz passenger car maker which is patented under the name "Benz Patent Motorwagen Omnibus." On March 18, 1895, this car regularly take passengers to the route Siegen - Deuz - Netphen as far as 15 kilometers.

Of the merger agreement stood Daimler Benz Aktiengesellschaft (Daimler-Benz AG). His first product was a six-cylinder diesel truck world's first so called Mercedes Benz L-5.

1998 Mercedes-Benz returned to the merger with Chrysler Corporation, the giant automotive industry in the United States berlambang five stars with angular frames. This merger formed a new company registered in Germany under the name of DaimlerChrysler, based in Stuttgart and Auburn Hills - Michigan (near Detroit, USA). Chrysler name also took the name of the inventor from the United States, the Walter P Chrysler.

In Asia, DaimlerChrysler merger with Mitsubishi Motors (Japan) and Hyundai Motor (South Korea). In Africa, DaimlerChrysler will concentrate from South Africa.

Until now, Mercedes Benz has been a century old. And is one of the five leading car manufacturer in the world.

World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945)-which did not result in devastating German automotive industry meredupnya berlambang three-pointed star.

Including the outbreak of the State into two, West Germany and East Germany, did not shake the automotive industry, based in Stuttgart (South Germany) is to exist.