94 530iA Tranny - Rough Shift

[shoptb]

I'm fairly new to the E34 world....and just had my 530iA Nikasil replaced with an Alusil block. I noticed before the replacement that the auto tranny was seemingly rough on the upshift compared to my 740iA. I figured that this was probably due to my degraded compression on the Nikasil block. However, I've noticed that it is still pretty rough between 1 - 2 - 3 gears after the block replacement.

Before I jump to conclusions....is a seemingly rough upshift normal for the E34 tranny? If not, what are some of the first things that I should check that could be causing this? I've got 89K on the car....just wondering what the cause might be....

Thanks
Brad

[mholbrook]

If the tranny does not have the "lifetime fluid", I would consider a complete fluid change and filter change. I did this to the 530 I had previous to my current 535. I don't recall any rough shifts but it did shift firm when under hard accelleration.

I had my trans done at a shop that unhooks the ATF cooler at the radiator and flushes something like 15 quarts of fluid plus changing the filter. I felt like it was pretty good insurance.

If you have a "lifetime fluid" trans, you pay about $300 for the fluid and that covers just what is dumped when the pan comes off to change the filter.

Mike

[Tiger]

Extremely smooth shifting here... call Kirt Koeller

[632 Regal]

not lifetime fluid like the 540. Mine does not shift rough either. Might be a good idea to call Kirt and see what he tells you. Do you have a performance chip in this thing?

Kirt Koller (616) 748-5735

[shoptb]

but it's on the "wish list"

Who's Kirt? Transmission specialist?

Thanks
Brad

[Tiger]

Yes, he is the ZF tranny specialist. Since your tranny use regular dextron fluid... flush it out a couple of times... Meaning... drain the fluid and refill it twice... and then drain the fluid for the last time and change the filter while you are at it.

This makes the world of difference for cars that never had their tranny oil changed for a long time. The logic is that you cannot complete drain the fluid in one shot... so by doing it three times, you pretty much got it all.

I suggest you do this with regular dextron, not synthetic to see if this solves your problem... if yes, then it is up to you to switch to synthetic.