Thread: Now Entering Impact Area.

So I'm young and stupid, bought an 04 GP GT N/A(FIRST CAR!!!!) for way too much little over a year ago and the dealership's warranty just ran out. Now I'm looking at a lot of little problems that I don't want to grow into big expensive problems, which become bigger and even more expensive considering I'm an expat in Germany for about another year. I've been here for two years already, learned a lot more than I thought I would, and now I need to learn much, much more. I fell in love with this car at the first turn of the key and I'm stubborn as flippers about making things work. So now that introductions are out of the way, I'll jump right into it.

#1: I can't toot my own horn.

When I bought her, she had a hole cut into the lower dash with a big, ugly black button. Right where my knee usually touches when I get in and out. That button led to a homebuilt harness and an aftermarket horn, with an entire relay, straight off the battery and grounded to the strut tower. Naturally, I hate jury-rigging that is not my own creation and I like it when I can hear if my car is actually locking when I press the button. So it went bye-bye within 15 minutes of me seeing it. So I started crawling through the car to find the offending fault and...still looking. I can hear a click every time I hit the steering wheel, that sounds like it's getting to the horn relay, but from the relay to the horn.......no idea. and the black & green wires that seemed to be in the proper place had been cut. Or chewed. So I can't be for sure that those wires are for my horn.

#2: I like it smooth. Not bumpy.

The front end has given me trouble since the beginning of this little love affair. Right off the bat the front passenger side wheel bearing needed replaced, which the dealership has one shop that their warranty is valid through. And this being Germany, the mechanics know their BMW's and nothing else. So I don't know what damage they did, and I didn't have the money or the time to do anything myself. Again, young and stupid, kicking myself, etc. So front passenger wheel bearing, transmission fluid(just fluid, no filter as I found out later), and rear driver's side brake caliper rebuilt. My baby runs fine, gets me to work and back, and doesn't complain...Until a month after the warranty expires. So now the transmission is shifting hard into first when I slow down, or second when I go again; the rear caliper is leaking(again), and my ABS/Trac light is yelling at me. In the span of two months I've replaced: All brake pads, front stabilizer links, ball joints(factory rivets are a PAIN to remove!) tie rod ends, wheel bearings/hubs, and a CV boot(me being a derp).

So if someone can point me in a direction, or tell me where I went stupid, it would be amazing.



p.s. I tend to be very passionate, so if I talk too much... I'm sorry.

For #2 do some reading in the transmission section of this forum - get familiar with the "search" option. You'll likely want to drop the transmission pan and change your transmission filter, potentially install a shift kit, potentially install a transmission cooler. You'll likely read about a shift solenoid - which I know nothing about - but this may need to be replaced.

Buy a rebuilt caliper and install. It's more expensive but should save you a lot of time.

For future reference, buy the entire lower control arm rather than replace the ball joints. Again its more expensive but you get lots of additional parts and an easier install.

already have the filter, gasket, and working on getting fluid...kinda hard to find legit Dextron over here. I was looking at the Thrasher kit from ZZP, but I was gonna ask if anyone had experience with it. The fluid is about 6 months old and its already starting to change to a nasty brownish red.......and I'm probably gonna have to replace most of the front end anyways. But its a chance to make some improvements. any idea on the horn though?

I know the Transgo shift kit has worked well for quite a few, including me - bought it from Amazon. I thought I heard some people were annoying that the ZZP shift kit was just some spacers that can be found at the hardware store, which is what SnowTh1ef is describing.

If your fluid is brown after 6 months, I'd guess you have a problem brewing.

I'm no help on the wiring issues.

At 90k I wouldn't be overly concerned about having 2 transmission fluid changes. That is about right per the maintenance schedule I believe.

It is highly recommended to NOT get a transmission flush. Just drop the pan, change filter and refill fluid to the correct level. That will exchange a good amount of the fluid.This recommendation is even stronger if the vehicle has a questionable maintenance history or the car is showing ANY shifting issues. DON'T FLUSH IT!

It sounds like you are more knowledgeable than I am with the internals as I would not take apart my own transmission. The following is purely speculation on my part:

In reference to adding parts, it sounds like your transmission is on its way out more than anything. I wouldn't spend money on any of the items you've mentioned (even though I don't know what those could improve). Trans medic seems to be hit or miss, some people advise it along with a shift kit, fluid and filter, and trans cooler. Others say it is snake oil. In reference to your buildup theory, many people have claimed the buildup in a sketchy transmission is the last thread holding it together. That is why a flush can ruin your transmission - it removes all the particulate and material the trans was depending on to function. Very technical, I know ...

I'd do the shift kit, trans cooler, fluid and filter, trans medic and see what happens.

Buy the whole control arm because overtime the bushings on the OE control will wear out and the new control arm will have everything you need