Transmission slow to go into first gear unless auto is warmed up

E39 (1997 - 2003)
The BMW 5-Series (E39 chassis) was introduced in the United States as a 1997 model year car and lasted until the 2004 when the E60 chassis was released. The United States saw several variations including the 525i, 528i, 530i and 540i. -- View the E39 Wiki
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soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage 03 530i brakes locked up help please
03 bmw 530i, was driving it yesterday and the car started to viberate bad, then the car started to slow, it seems the brakes all locked up, and the car slow and then would not move. i could hit the gas and the car would not move at all. let it sit for a few hours went back to it and it drove about a mile and then the same thing happened again. a roll back came and got it, and when they winched it up on all 4 wheels were locked up. when we got to my place i was able to back it off and pull in spot but then locked up again. Any ideas of where to start looking, and what could be the problem? thanks for your help. This car has been nothing but problems, are these cars usually problematic? thanks
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rush_ad
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Location: Tampa Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 59
Mein Auto: 2003 530i
View My Garage Can you describe the lock up in detail? It is hard to believe the brakes are locking up, they are a simple mechanism.

I also have a 2003 530i and I did the brakes yesterday in fact. Are you sure it is not an engine problem?
#3
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage when the brakes start to lock, and i stop, i can press the gas and the rear tires will spin a little but it wont move. Also when the pulled it onto the roll back, it was in neutral and all 4 tires where locked up and dragged all the way up. but after it sat for 30 mins (i guess they cooled down) and it would move just a little more. hope this helps.
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cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,439
Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage First thing first:
Jack each wheel up (don't remove tire), spin the tire, does it spin.

Otherwise what you described above may be a failing transmission.
#5
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage i dont think its the transmission as the front wheels are locked up and the car is rear wheel drive, so that would take the transmission out of it. i know for a fact the front wheels are locked up.
#6
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage If it is truely locked wheels, the only thing I can think of is the caliper seals seized.
But usually this happens one caliper at a time, not all 4.
Last edited by cn90; 12-20-2011 at 08:49 AM.

#7
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage Another thought is the Master Cylinder.
#8
rush_ad
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Location: Tampa Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 59
Mein Auto: 2003 530i
View My Garage Take off the tires and play around with the brakes. May be you can identify the problem.

Take off the pads and reinstall them...
#9
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage also when they lock up, the pedal is VERY VERY HARD. can only push it maybe a 1/2-1"
#10
Fudman
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Location: Sudbury, MA Join Date: Apr 2007
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Mein Auto: '02 530i Sport auto
View My Garage Pull your codes. It might be ABS related.
#11
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage tried the codes, and no codes...
#12
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
also when they lock up, the pedal is VERY VERY HARD. can only push it maybe a 1/2-1" Buy a new Master Cylinder. #13
bluebee
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Location: San Jose, California Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 25,236
Mein Auto: 02 BMW 525i M54 auto 130K
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
i know for a fact the front wheels are locked up. If 'my' front wheels were locked up, the very first thing I would do is jack up the car, & spin the wheels by hand.

Then, I'd remove the wheels, and spin the rotor by hand and take a good look at what's happening.

If I still needed information, I'd have a light person sit in the vehicle to gently press on the brakes as I spun the wheels

What happened when you did that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fudman
Pull your codes. It might be ABSrelated. Just one caveat: Not all ABS faults show an error code using a 'typical' run-of-the-mill code scanner.

One test of the ABS that 'might' work is simply to disconnect the ABS control module harness to see if that changes anything.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cn90
Buy a new Master Cylinder. I don't disagree that it could be the master cylinder ... but wouldn't that usually affect all four wheels? Last edited by bluebee; 12-20-2011 at 10:29 AM.
#14
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage Just to clear things up, all 4 wheels lock up when this happens...
#15
soloblazer
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Location: NC Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11
Mein Auto: 03 530i
View My Garage just looked at codes and have the p0600 code only.. any ideas?
#16
bluebee
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Location: San Jose, California Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 25,236
Mein Auto: 02 BMW 525i M54 auto 130K
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
just looked at codes and have the p0600 code only.. any ideas? I, for one, don't memorize Pcodes, especially since some are specific to the engine computer model, version, & date.

What's the description for the P0600 fault code for your particular engine computer? #17
cn90
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Location: Omaha NE Join Date: Mar 2006
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Mein Auto: 1998 528i 5-sp 140K+
View My Garage Quote:
Originally Posted by soloblazer
just looked at codes and have the p0600 code only.. any ideas? Have you tried google?

It could be incorrect fluid level or the fluid & filter may require changing

Heater core is cloged. Try flushing the anti freeze and changing the thermostat

you have a GM 4l30e transmission. sealed. replace the filter and fluid.

could be a solenoid problem as well, but go for the filter and fluid 1st.

Check to see if your brake pads and rotors are in good condition. Or if you have replaced the pads yourself and have not reset the wheel sensors this would cause the ABS Antilock Brake System light and the ASC Automatic Stability Control light to stay on as the ASC uses the ABS brakes with computer assistance to control the traction of the car if not fixed it can affect your rev limiter and slow performance

Sounds like a bad motor mount, pop the hood and see if the motor shakes or moves rapidly when u put it in gear holding down the brake.

unfortunately, it sounds like you need a new transmission 200k is very good, you may try to find a rebuilt one.

hello there

Thats interesting considering these BMW auto boxes have about 10 quarts of oil in them, when chainging the trans oil not all of it comes out but it should be at least 5/6 quarts. You need to get the oil level checked asap.

Hope this helps, please don't forget to rate me.

If you let it warm up first it should not run ruff .Its the car staying in low gear to warm up the catalytic converter faster so that it can cut the amount of pollution that the is car producing .For the clean-air laws.

I bet the problem can be corrected by installing a new or repaired Transmission computer