318ti.org forum - View Single Post - auto will not downshift to 1st when stopping

R111S · 12-19-2013, 08:42 PM

Thanks for posting your low trans fluid info BlackMagic. I had replaced the Auto Trans Fluid and Filter on my '97 318ti @95K Miles back in SEP2008. I refilled it with Redline D4-ATF.

Now here it is DEC2013 @159K Miles and it was having the same symptoms as yours. I had recently made a ~2200 Mile trip at mostly expressway speeds (and lots of passing slower traffic) and I suspect this may have pressurized the Transmission such that some of the fluid leaked out past the pan gaskets? At first I thought it might be a dirty electrical ground (it's located behind and inboard of the RH Strut Tower) to the Transmission Control but cleaning it up didn't help.

So after reading your post I added ~1 Quart of Redline D4-ATF and now there's no more 1st gear engagement problems at stop signs.

12-19-2013, 08:42 PM	#7
R111S Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 59 iTrader: (0) Photo Gallery	Thanks for posting your low trans fluid info BlackMagic. I had replaced the Auto Trans Fluid and Filter on my '97 318ti @95K Miles back in SEP2008. I refilled it with Redline D4-ATF. Now here it is DEC2013 @159K Miles and it was having the same symptoms as yours. I had recently made a ~2200 Mile trip at mostly expressway speeds (and lots of passing slower traffic) and I suspect this may have pressurized the Transmission such that some of the fluid leaked out past the pan gaskets? At first I thought it might be a dirty electrical ground (it's located behind and inboard of the RH Strut Tower) to the Transmission Control but cleaning it up didn't help. So after reading your post I added ~1 Quart of Redline D4-ATF and now there's no more 1st gear engagement problems at stop signs. Last edited by R111S; 12-31-2013 at 05:03 PM.