Automatic Transmission Torque Converter Problems of BMW 530

At 96,000 miles the check light illuminated. Diagnosis was p0741 (BMW code 48) which is a fault with the torque converter clutch (tcc). This failure until corrected results in lower fuel mileage, and a guaranteed failure to pass the emissions test during state mandated vehicle inspections. Add to this that continued use of the vehicle will likely result in transmission damage since the tcc lockup clutch is slipping resulting in debris building up in the fluid. This fault is due to a defective torque converter clutch seal that BMW has a hidden service bulletin on. See si 24 03 06 dated February 2008. Replacement of the torque converter is expensive. BMW dealer quoted a bit more than $3000 for the replacement. I've since determined though a BMW forum that this issue is widespread with a large number of failures taking place. I was told by the dealer that the seal in question has not been updated and that failure of the seal will likely take place again in the future.

See all problems of the 2003 BMW 530 🔎.

Without any previous problems, the "service engine soon" light came on. The car is a 2003 BMW 530i with 68,000 miles at the time. Computer diagnosis returned "fault 30", "torque converter slipping". Recommendation was replacement of torque converter at cost of $2600. Online research of this problem found many complaints of the exact same nature. Due to conflicting advice, the car was not repaired, and has been driven for 3 months and over 3,000 miles without any problems or diminished mileage or performance. The "service engine soon" light that switches on in response to "fault 30" may indicate a non-existent problem that can lead to a costly repair. Meanwhile, the driver is left with a vehicle with a constantly lit "service engine soon" light. This can obviously create problems in selling the car or having it pass a smog check.

On may 28th 2012 on the highway, the BMW threw a service engine soon light. Using a scanner, a code p0741 was thrown. When I searched on google, I found it was very common for the e39 BMW 530ia cars housing zf manufactured transmissions to have the torque converter turbine shaft seal deteriorated causing the fault. It is unreasonable to have BMW to replace the transmission at a cost of over $4000 for a seal that is no more than $25. 00. Therefore it should be a goodwill replacement due to the manufacture of a faulty transmission with a known part failure in the first place.

See all problems of the 2002 BMW 530 🔎.

I recently purchased a 2002 BMW 530i on August 24, 2011 and about three weeks in to owning the vehicle the check engine light came on. It seems the code reads p0741 I. E. Torque converter solenoid circuit stuck off. The vehicle only has 107k on it however, doesn't seem to have any misfire or transmission issues while driving. I took the vehicle to BMW for an inspection/checkup to be sure there were no major issues and they gave it a thumbs up however, this was before the code/check engine light was engaged on the dashed board of the vehicle. Based on the service bulletin for BMW it appears this should be covered since it's a common occurrence. I need to find out how to get this problem rectified.

At 104,700 miles the service engine soon light illuminated. Diagnosis was p0741 (BMW code 48) which is a fault with the torque converter clutch (tcc). This failure, until corrected, results in lower fuel mileage and a guaranteed failure to pass an emissions test during state mandated vehicle inspections. Continued use of the vehicle will likely result in transmission damage since the tcc lockup clutch is slipping, resulting in debris building up in the fluid. This fault is due to a defective torque converter clutch seal that BMW has a hidden service bulletin on. See si 24 03 06 dated February 2008. Numerous postings on BMW forums indicate that this issue is widespread with a large number of failures taking place. There is no documented evidence that the seal in question has been updated, meaning failure of the seal will likely happen again during the (expected) life of the car.

Transmission code p0741 goes on, indicating slippage in the torque converter clutch. This results in lowered gas mileage and a check engine light, resulting in failure to pass state auto inspections.

At 78,600 miles the check light illuminated. Diagnosis was p0741 (BMW code 48) which is a fault with the torque converter clutch (tcc). This failure until corrected results in lower fuel mileage, and a guaranteed failure to pass the emissions test during state mandated vehicle inspections. Add to this that continued use of the vehicle will likely result in transmission damage since the tcc lockup clutch is slipping resulting in debris building up in the fluid. This fault is due to a defective torque converter clutch seal that BMW has a hidden service bulletin on. See si 24 03 06 dated February 2008. Replacement of the torque converter is expensive. BMW dealer quoted a bit more than $3000 for the replacement. I've since determined though a BMW forum that this issue is widespread with a large number of failures taking place. I was told by the dealer that the seal in question has not been updated and that failure of the seal will likely take place again in the future.

At 84,220 miles the check light illuminated. Diagnosis was p0741 (BMW code 48) which is a fault with the torque converter clutch (tcc). This failure until corrected results in lower fuel mileage, and a guaranteed failure to pass the emissions test during state mandated vehicle inspections. Add to this that continued use of the vehicle will likely result in transmission damage since the tcc lockup clutch is slipping resulting in debris building up in the fluid. This fault is due to a defective torque converter clutch seal that BMW has a hidden service bulletin on. See si 24 03 06 dated February 2008. Replacement of the torque converter is expensive. BMW dealer quoted a bit more than $3000 for the replacement. I've since determined though a BMW forum that this issue is widespread with a large number of failures taking place. I was told by the dealer that the seal in question has not been updated and that failure of the seal will likely take place again in the future.

In January of 2009, the "service engine soon" (ses) light came on. It was diagnosed as a faulty torque converter with a replacement cost of roughly $2000. Since the car was showing no sign of engine trouble, we have continued to drive the car for almost 3 years and 50,000 with no problems but the ses light continues to shine and the car will not pass emission inspection. Now faced with spending $2000 for a problem that we are not sure exists or not passing inspection.

I have a 2002 BMW 530i with auto transmission. Tranny model 5hp19. At around 85,000, sometime in mid-July 2006, I began to have an intermittent (on for maybe 300-500 miles, then off for around 7000 to 10000 miles) check engine light. The cel code was always diagnosed as p0741 - "torque converter clutch circuit performance or stuck off. " since 120,000 miles, the same code is much more frequent, maybe 600-800 miles between turning on-off. I have contacted my BMW dealership about this since the first time it occurred at around 85,000 miles, and a few times after since. They said the transmission would need to be rebuilt ay my cost, although this is a very common occurrence and there is a service bulletin on this. After talking to other BMW owners with the same problem, and getting a copy of the service bulletin, it would seem that this is a commonly known and recurring problem that should have been fixed. I believe that BMW should fix this problem at their cost, even if the vehicle is of high mileage (as mine has 160,000 miles now. ) the service bulletin says the problem is a bad torque converter seal. Here is partial text of the BMW service bulletin: this service information bulletin supersedes si 24 03 06 dated February 2008. Designates changes to this revision subject zf 5hp19 transmission - diagnosis of egs fc 048 (30 hex) model e46: 323i, 325i, 330i with m52tu, m54, m56 and zf 5hp19 e39: 525i, 530i with m54 and zf 5hp19 e85: z4 roadster 2. 5, 3. 0 with m54 and zf 5hp19 situation "service engine soon" is illuminated and fault code 048 "converter lock-up excessive slip" (30 hex or p0741) is stored in the egs transmission control module. Cause possible cause: deterioration of the torque converter turbine shaft seal service bulletin text* all I simply want is BMW to repair the problem at their cost. The problem causes the check engine light, which prevents me from obtaining a clear smog test on my car to register it.