Z4 35i DCT position P issue

m123

New member
Hello,

I'm a new member on the site. I purchased a used 2009 BMW Z4 35i with a DCT gearbox nearly two years ago. A few weeks ago, I experienced a fault with the transmission position P. I parked the car as normal by selecting P on the gear lever and applying the electronic handbrake. When I went back to the car 6 hours later, I received a number of messages on the Idrive. The main problem seemed to be that the position P was not available. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZPZqmW5WN0 for a video of the fault.

As per the video, the position P indication on the gearlever was not illuminated and I could not select D, N or R. The engine would start but I could not drive as I could not select a gear. I turned the car on and off a few times and somehow the gearlever indicated P allowed me to change gear and drive away.

This problem occurs intermittently but nearly every other time I go to start the car. Sometimes it can take numerous attemps of restarting the car and up to 15 minutes for the gearlever to indicate P (on a petrol station forecourt!). I have found another way of being able to select a gear is to manually override the gearbox and to put it into N (using allen key and socket under gearlever trim). I can then re-engage P, select D and then drive away.

The gearbox remains in P even when it is not indicated on the gearlever as I have removed the handbrake on an incline without the car rolling away.

Any help, experience or recommendations of garages for repairs would be highly appreciated.
 
Hello I am new to the site and have the exact same problem but the car won’t even start. Does anyone know why it has done this? It was fine one day and not the next. Now it doesn’t start at all. I have jumped it and charged the battery but still nothing. Please help I don’t know what to do! I can’t take it somewhere to be looked at as it won’t start and I don’t trust a random google search to find me someone who isn’t going to charge a fortune especially if it is something so minor. PLEASE HELP!
 
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