I have a 1994 540i BMW which has been slowly developing a transmission problem.
4 months ago, when I didn't have problems, I got my oil changed at the authorized BMW dealership, I told them to check the transmission oil levels while checking all the fluids. They gave the car back but didn't check the transmission oil like I asked, they said the transmission needed to be hot and they didn't have time to do it, etc. He told me to do it myself. "Just stick your finger in the hole and if I don't feel oil, add some until you feel it, then stop." These are the exact words from the front office service guy.Now, 4 months later, I have a transmission with issues, I call BMW back and talk to the parts department to buy transmission oil, I want 2 liters. He tells me the transmission is a lifetime sealed transmission, you don't add oil to this transmission.
I think I have a 5 HP 30 or A5S 560Z ZF transmission to a M60 B40 engine. Here's how the car behaves now:
I haven't driven the car it for a week. I take it out to drive, it drives slow until it warms up although I'm not gassing it either. At the stop light, when it turns green, I rev the engine to go forward and the car barely wants to move, I get out of the way for traffic to go by, then it decides to go. I drive with it urging to go buy not much go although the engine wants to and once I do get up to speed, its fine, I guess the engine/transmission have warmed up. No more issues for the rest of the day. I think its low on oil. I talk to people and they say it sounds like its low on oil. The last person told me not to drive it low on oil or I'll ruin the transmission. I'm not too sure about the authorized BMW place because they've now told me two different things and I'm scarred to take it in to them for fear they're going to turn me upside down and shake everything out of me to get it fixed.